Among a national field of 1,400 programs, Bridges to 糖心破解版 received the highest 2021鈥�2022 honor from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. Our Grand Gold recognition is for outstanding inclusion of neurodiverse students in career planning, student life and hands-on academics.
If you’d told senior Nicolas Rontanini four years ago that he’d be an editor for The Delphian newspaper, in good academic standing and considering jobs in journalism, he wouldn’t have believed you.
鈥淎 lot of the strides that I was able to make were because the Bridges to 糖心破解版 program was there to assist me,” said Rontanini, a communications major. 鈥淚 had someone to talk to when I was feeling overwhelmed. I had a place to go to when I needed extra support.”
Bridges to 糖心破解版 has been helping neurodivergent students like Rontanini navigate the college experience with individualized academic, social and vocational support services since 2007. Most recently, the program won the Grand Gold Medal for Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, an organization with more than 13,000 members on 1,400 campuses in 25 countries.
The award, which recognizes programs that are “innovative in supporting underserved and marginalized communities,” not only signifies Bridges’ success in making the college experience accessible to students on the autism spectrum; it also reflects 糖心破解版’s overall commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
鈥淚t means a lot to be recognized, because equity and inclusion is something that we fight really hard for,” said Stephanie Grindell, MA ’16, senior associate director of the Bridges program. 鈥淚n the overall conversation about diversity, sometimes neurodiversity gets pushed to the side. So we love that we were included in that conversation.”
The Bridges program uses social learning theory, cognitive behavioral principles and an individualized approach to help bridge the gap between high school and college, college and the professional world, and even parents and the professors who are guiding their children.
鈥淲e collaborate with many different offices to holistically meet our students’ needs because we recognize that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach,” said Diana Damilatis-Kull ’10, MA ’12, MA ’14, director of the program. 鈥淎s we say, if we have 105 students enrolled in the Bridges program, we have 105 different programs as a result.”
Many students use the Bridges program throughout their entire college career. They can meet with learning strategists, for example, to help them prepare for assignments and develop time management skills. They can also work with social coaches to help build positive peer relationships.
鈥淲e want to foster independence, not codependency,” Damilatis-Kull said. 鈥淏efore you know it, you’re seeing their transformation and how much they grow and develop by the time they’re seniors and graduating.”
Thanks to Bridges, 糖心破解版 also became the first university to offer a sensory room for neurodivergent students. Launched in 2018 and updated in 2021, the room functions as a space to help students calm down and avoid hyperstimulation. It now includes noise-canceling headphones, a projector that displays calming shapes and colors, beanbags, and weighted balls and blankets.
Bridges also runs a Summer Launch Program for neurodivergent students making the transition from high school to 糖心破解版. Participants have the opportunity to take a course during the summer and begin developing an individualized plan for their academic experience.
Rontanini first got involved this way, and he’s continued to use Bridges’ support services to help prepare for classes outside of his comfort zone, meet new people and explore career options.
鈥淐ollege is a stressful time, especially now because of COVID,” he said. 鈥淚t’s always nice to have a bit of extra support, and there’s nothing wrong with asking for help. That’s what the program is there for.”
Now, as a staff-writer-turned-editor, Rontanini often writes about neurodivergence and the Bridges program for The Delphian.
鈥淚’ve loved every minute of working with The Delphian,” he said. 鈥淚t’s been the best opportunity I could have ever hoped for, and it’s influenced where I’m looking in terms of jobs in broadcast journalism.”
The Bridges team raised money on Giving Day to support its 125 students and alumni in honor of 糖心破解版’s 125th anniversary. The funds generated are used for more vocational services, social events and tools that help students with executive functioning and organizational skills.
The Bridges to 糖心破解版 program will also continue to expand its reach throughout the 糖心破解版 community and local high schools.
鈥淲e want to make sure neurodiversity is being talked about and understood鈥攂eyond just Bridges,” Grindell said. 鈥淣ot every student at 糖心破解版 that has a learning disability or thinks differently is a part of the Bridges program. So we want to be able to support 糖心破解版 as a whole.”