The Bridge School Research Program

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Peer-Reviewed Research Articles 

• Identifying Needs of Children with CVI and Severe Speech and Physical Impairments who use AAC  
• Retrospective Review of Educational Records at The Bridge School – 2012-2019 
• Upright Hands-Free Supported Mobility: Children with CVI, Complex Speech and Physical disabilities who use AAC 
• Gaze Patterns in Children with Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) – Penn State University 
• Medical Perspectives: CVI and its impact on vision and children – LA Children’s Hospital 

Web-based Materials:

• TBS CVI Webinar Series 
• TBS University Module: Increasing Awareness of CVI  
• TBS Website 
• CVI/AAC Institute 
• Books/Chapters 
• Presentations/Conferences/Webinars

RESEARCH COUNCIL MEMBERS – THE BRIDGE SCHOOL  
2019-2023 

• Aileen Arai, MS, Special Educator 
• Craig Abaya, Video Technology Specialist 
• Gabriela Berlanga, Associate Executive Director 
• Sarah Blackstone, PhD., CCC-SLP, Principal Investigator, Board Member 
• Vicki Casella, PhD., Executive Director 
• Tike DeMarco, MS, Associate Director of Transition 
• Fei Luo, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Senior Researcher 
• Elisa Kingsbury, MS, CCC-SLP, Program Specialist 
• Christine Wright Ott, OTR/L, MPA, Private practice   
• Jennifer Yeh, Director of Technology and Outreach 
• Frank DeRuyter, PhD, Board Member 
• Suellen Miller, PhD, RN, CNM, MHA, Board Member 
• Mary Frances Allen, Executive Assistant 

RESEARCH COUNCIL MEMBERS –  COLLABORATORS  
2019-2023 

• R. Michael Barker, PhD, Statistician, CDC 
• Jesse Canchola, MS, PStat, Statistician, StatComm 
• Tara McCarty, MS, CCC-SLP, Doctoral Candidate, Penn State University 
• Melinda Chang, MD, Pediatric & Neuro-ophthalmologist, LA Children’s Hospital, Kerk School of Medicine, USC  
• Lynn Elko, MA, Parent, Advocate   
• Christine Roman Lantzy, PhD, TVI & O&M, Pediatric View–The Children’s Home-Lejeune, Pittsburgh, PA    
• Mary Ann Romski, PhD, CCC-SLP, Regents Professor, Georgia State University 
• Rose Sevcik, PhD, Psychologist, Regents Professor, Georgia State University 
• Krista Wilkinson, PhD, Psychologist, Pennsylvania State University

Our Current Efforts

Studies in progress at TBS

1. Hands-Free, Upright, Self-Directed Mobility – Survey of professionals and family members 2022-2023
2. Impact of Self-Directed mobility on communication and self-determination of children with GMFS IV and V who use AAC (some with CVI)
3. The use of C-BiLLT to track comprehension in children with complex speech, motor and sensory challenges.
4. Development of manuscripts/webinars, etc.

Manuscripts under review (Penn State)

1. An evidence-based team approach to the design of AAC interventions for individuals with Cortical Visual Impairment.
2. “It’s like a guessing game all the time:” Parent insights on barriers, supports, and priorities for children with cortical visual impairment and complex communication needs

Studies in progress at Penn State

How do different cues influence: the latency/speed of visual attention to a stimulus (attention capture) and the duration of visual attention to a stimulus (attention maintenance)