Bridgeway House

BRIDGEWAY HOUSE OFFERS TREATMENTS, DEVELOPMENTAL THERAPIES, ENRICHMENT COURSES, AND SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING AUTISM AND RELATED ABILITIES, REGARDLESS OF INCOME. THIS INCLUDES, IN-HOME THERAPY, DIETARY PROGRAMS, INTENSIVE CLASSROOM-BASED SCHOOLING AND INTEGRATIVE SOCIAL AND SUPPORT GROUPS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY AUTISM IN OREGON.

BRIDGEWAY HOUSE SCHOOL - APPROXIMATELY 14 YEARS AGO, BRIDGEWAY HOUSE BUILT A SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR ONE STUDENT WHO NEEDED INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION. THE STUDENT WAS STRUGGLING IN PUBLIC SCHOOL, AND THE CHILD'S CURRENT SCHOOL DISTRICT PLACED THE STUDENT WITH BRIDGEWAY HOUSE. THIS WAS THE INCEPTION OF THE BRIDGEWAY HOUSE SCHOOL PROGRAM. IT HAS GROWN RAPIDLY, AND IS BY FAR THE AGENCY'S LARGEST PROGRAM INCURRING THE MOST EXPENSE AND GENERATING THE MOST REVENUE ANNUALLY. THE SCHOOL HAD 79 STUDENTS AT THE END OF 2021. OF THOSE, 68 WERE DISTRICT PLACED AND 11 WERE PRIVATELY PLACED. THE SCHOOL HAD 11 CLASSROOMS IN 2021. THE UPPER CAMP CREEK LOCATION HOUSED 6 CLASSROOMS. THE DOWNTOWN EUGENE LOCATION HOUSES AN ADDITIONAL 4 CLASSROOMS FOR STUDENTS FOR WHOM A MORE TRANSITIONAL, COMMUNITY-BASED CURRICULUM HAS BEEN DESIGNED. THE SCHOOL PROGRAM IS STAFF-HEAVY AND INCURS THE HIGHEST AGENCY EXPENSES, PRIMARILY IN PAYROLL.

TREATMENT SERVICES - BRIDGEWAY HOUSE PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATIONS AND IN-HOME THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY AUTISM. THE COST OF THESE SERVICES ARE OUT OF REACH FOR MANY CLIENTS SO SCHOLARSHIPS ARE OFFERED USING A SLIDING SCALE (USING THE HUD SCALE AS WELL AS A THOROUGH APPLICATION PROCESS) DEPENDENT UPON EACH FAMILY'S NEED. EARLY INTENSIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPIES AND WHOLE FAMILY INVOLVEMENT OFFER THE BRIGHTEST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES FOR CLIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE AGENCY'S ABA/EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GROW AS DEMAND INCREASES AND RESOURCES FOR THIS THERAPY ARE LIMITED IN THE COMMUNITY. MOST INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE NOW ACCEPTED FOR ABA, SPEECH, AND SOME OF THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY OFFERED. EVEN A FEW SOCIAL GROUP PARTICIPANTS ARE ABLE TO BE BILLED UNDER INSURANCE.

SOCIAL GROUPS - BRIDGEWAY HOUSE OFFERS SOCIAL GROUPS DURING AFTER-SCHOOL HOURS TO HELP STUDENTS LEARN SOCIAL SKILLS AND EMOTIONAL SELF-REGULATION THROUGH INTEGRATED TEACHING AND SUPPORT WITH EMPHASIS ON BUILDING LASTING CONNECTIONS AND FRIENDSHIPS BETWEEN STUDENTS. SPECIAL INTEREST SOCIAL GROUPS, SUCH AS THE EVER POPULAR MINECRAFT SOCIAL GROUP, HAVE ALSO BEEN DEVELOPED TO BRING STUDENTS TOGETHER. THESE GROUPS ALLOW STUDENTS TO COMMUNICATE AND DEEPEN FRIENDSHIPS OVER THEIR SHARED PASSIONS. MOST FAMILIES PARTICIPATING IN THE SOCIAL GROUPS PROGRAM RECEIVE A SCHOLARSHIP AND THE STAFFING IS RELATIVELY HEAVY. GRANTS ARE WRITTEN ANNUALLY TO HELP COVER THOSE SCHOLARSHIPS AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. ALONG WITH SPECIFIC SOCIAL GROUPS, THERE ARE ALSO SUMMER CAMPS OFFERED FROM JUNE THROUGH AUGUST AND GAME NIGHTS MOST FRIDAY EVENINGS DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR. THE SOCIAL GROUP PROGRAM FOLLOWS CURRICULUM WHICH HELPS CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS CREATE LASTING SOCIAL BONDS IN A SAFE LOW-SENSORY ENVIRONMENT, WHILE UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF TRAINED FACILITATORS. OTHER SERVICES OFFERED THAT FALL UNDER THE SOCIAL GROUPS PROGRAM ARE SHAPE (SEXUAL HEALTH AND PERSONAL EXPLORATION), THE ANNUAL PLAY PRODUCTION, HOLIDAY FAMILY EVENTS, AND THE TEEN DANCES.

INFORMATION RESOURCES BRIDGEWAY HOUSE OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE WEBSITE WITH AUTISM FAQS, AN EVENT AND CLASS CALENDAR AND LINKS TO OTHER RESOURCES ON THE WEB. THE WEBSITE CONNECTS FAMILIES IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE WITH EXISTING COMMUNITY RESOURCES USING THE INTERNET. THE WEBSITE IS OFTEN THE FIRST CONTACT OUR CLIENTS HAVE WITH OUR SERVICES, AND PROVIDES ANONYMOUS INFORMATION REGARDING AUTISM AND RELATED SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE AT NO COST TO THE USER. ADDITIONALLY, BRIDGEWAY HOUSE OFFERS A PARENT SUPPORT GROUP CONSISTING OF 11-WEEK COURSES, 3 TIMES/YEAR. FREE CHILDCARE IS AVAILABLE, AND THE GROUP IS ALSO NO-COST.