Bridges to the Future supports youth with physical disabilities in making the transition into adulthood.

What's New

BC Program Changes - March 2009

Bridges to the Future BC will see some changes in the next few months.  Due to funding constraints, the Program Manager contract will not be renewed.  As such, all Bridges youth in BC (excluding Vancouver Island) can now contact Maggie Kissel, Muscular Dystrophy Canada Director of Services, Westrn Canada.

 

If you have any questions, are looking for information, or need a referral to another community organization, Maggie is more than happy to help you.  She can be reached by email or by calling 604-742-2151.  Maggie will work with volunteers to continue to provide information.  Make sure to check out our partner's events such as the ongoing BCPA Peers events to stay active in the community.

The program on Vancouver Island will continue to run in its current capacity with Nate Schwartz continuing as the Community Youth Leader there.

In the interim, Bridges to the Future is going to undergo a program evaluation to help us run the program most effectively and to provide transition services to BC youth in the best way.  After completion of the evaluation andwith renewed funding, we hope to hire another Program Coordinator again some time in the next year.

Amanda would like to extend her sincere thanks to everyone she has worked with in the past year.  She wishes you all the best in your future endeavours!

 

 

 

Bridges To The Future Program

Bridges to the Future (Bridges) is a community-based resource program developed to support youth between the ages of 17 and 24 with physical disabilities. The program was created in 2002 in BC's Lower Mainland and continues to be supported by Muscular Dystrophy Canada, the BC Paraplegic Association, the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC and the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association.  The program is not solely limited to supporting youth from these agencies, as the program supports any youth in living with a physical disability, and has expanded to include Vancouver Island, Alberta, and Manitoba.

Every youth faces challenges when moving from adolescence into adulthood. Youth that have physical disabilities face increased barriers during this transition, and support systems can be numbered and daunting for youth and their families to access. Bridges was developed to close the gap between services for children with physical disabilities and services for adults with physical disabilities. Bridges transcends this division by assisting and empowering youth with necessary skills to move forward into adulthood as independently as possible. The success of Bridges is largely due to its focus on motivating, supporting and coaching youth as they work toward their goals. Like a coach, the Bridges Program Manager works with each youth to develop a realistic and personal plan, and then steps back while the youth takes action. The youth are supported and monitored by the Bridges Program Manager through their trials and tribulations that undoubtedly come up during this time. Areas in which youth can be coached and supported through are endless, as each individual’s own set of skills and goals need to be recognized. Some examples where youth can be supported include:

• Preparation for Post-Secondary School
• Pre-employment or employment opportunities and workshops
• Volunteering
• Life-skills development
• Finances
• Recreation
• Transportation/Mobility
• Social Networks
• Housing issues
• Application for Person With Disabilities status

 

Download our PDF brochure. To become a participant in the Bridges program, please contact us at 604-788-7124.

CONTACT THE BRIDGES PROGRAM!

Contact Bridges to the Future, to chat, ask questions or score information on projects or goals you would like assistance with.  Feel free to either set up an in-person meeting, share a phone call or just send a quick email to get your questions answered and discuss your upcoming plans and goals. Call 604-788-7124 or call 1-800-366-8166 or contact us via email.