The Bridge School, a non-profit organization, is an international leader of education for children who use alternative and augmentative communication. Founded in 1986, the school has trained highly skilled professionals in the use of assistive technology, and has developed unique programs to serve their students.http://www.bridgeschool.org/

With no schools that could meet the needs of their children, Pegi Young (wife of musician Neil Young) and Jim Forderer, with the help of speech and language pathologist Dr. Marilyn Buzolich, proposed the Bridge School, which would provide an environment that would help children with complex communication needs to learn, thrive and grow. The school would help these special needs children develop the skills they would need to become successful adults and to lead meaningful lives.

With funding hard to come by, the Bridge School almost didn't get off the ground. The parents and professionals pushing for the school were not going to be deterred easily, though. Thanks to an October 13, 1986, concert by Neil Young and his friends, the funds needed to get started were secured. Young, whose sons have cerebral palsy and whose daughter has epilepsy, remains a strong supporter today.

The Bridge School's mission is to ensure that individuals with severe speech and physical impairments achieve full participation in their communities. With the use of augmentative and alternative means of communication (AAC) and assistive technology (AT) they have been able to provide a service that in 1985 didn’t exist. The school was able to give its students the very best chance possible to grow into productive adults.

The Bridge School was founded and established on the beliefs that:

• • Everyone should have the opportunity to achieve his or her potential
• • Everyone should have the opportunity to share knowledge
• • Everyone should have the opportunity to express feelings
• • Everyone should have the opportunity to be heard
• • Everyone should participate in his/her own learning
• • Children should have access to a quality education that covers a broad base of knowledge and experiences
• • Children and their families, as well as educators must work in partnership to effectively support learning
• • Everyone should have access to a communication system
• • Technology can assist in the communication and learning process