The ultimate goals of Bridge to Life include:

  • serving individuals with physical and/or communication impairments from birth through adulthood, locally, nationally and globally 
  • providing professional development opportunities in our areas of expertise 
  • contracting with families, agencies and school districts to offer direct services to students with severe physical impairments and complex communication needs

Save the Dates for Spring 2025!
Conversation Series on CVI and AAC with Dr. Christine Roman Lantzy

Browse Programs @The Bridge School

Webinar 9: Effective Interaction Strategies for Children with CVI and CCN

CVI@The Bridge School

Adapted AAC-CVI Framework – Adapted from work at Penn State University

Latest Events CVI@The Bridge School

2023 Summer Workshop – Addressing the Needs of Students with Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) and Complex Communication Needs (CCN) in the Classroom Setting.

The Bridge School is excited to announce the AAC-CVI Framework, adapted from work at Penn State University.

CVI: Cortical Visual Impairment

Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) is a major cause of low vision in children in the developed and developing world due to increasing survival in pediatric and neonatal care (Phillip & Dutton, 2014). CVI is also the most prevalent visual impairment for students at The Bridge School.

Vision has a vast and profound influence on all aspects of learning and school participation

Shaman, 2009

LATEST NEWS

The Bridge School is excited to announce the AAC-CVI Framework, adapted from work at Penn State University described in “An Evidence-Based Approach to Augmentative and Alternative Communication Design for Individuals with Cortical Visual Impairment” by Wilkinson et al. (2023).

LATEST NEWS

Bridge to Life Services, a division of The Bridge School, in collaboration with The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh, is hosting a conversation series with Dr. Christine Roman Lantzy and other experts in CVI, language development and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Find out more on this series…

Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) is a major cause of low vision in children in the developed and developing world due to increasing survival in pediatric and neonatal care (Phillip & Dutton, 2014).  CVI is also the most prevalent visual impairment for students at The Bridge School. Our students with CVI and Severe Speech and Physical Impairment (SSPI) have challenges that require specialized and appropriate vision accommodations that support them in meeting their educational potential.

Meeting the educational goals necessary to provide Bridge School students optimal opportunities for participation in areas of communication, education, and literacy, requires assessments and interventions that specifically address the unique needs of our students with CVI.

Working collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team involving vision specialist, Dr. Christine Roman-Lantzy, parents, doctors, OTs, PTs, vision clinics and teachers of the visually impaired, The Bridge School team of teachers and SLPs are guided in the ongoing creation and implementation of CVI educational materials, teaching strategies, and AAC and AT accommodations that support a Bridge School student’s development of language and communication within an educational setting.