THE BRIDGE SCHOOL

What THE BRIDGE SCHOOL does

The Bridge School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1986–1987 in Hillsborough, California, that operates a year-round educational program serving children ages 3–13 with extensive speech and physical disabilities. Its core instructional model centers on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Assistive Technology (AT), including Voice Output Communication Aids (VOCA), communication boards, eye-gaze access, and switch-based interfaces. The school has developed proprietary clinical and educational frameworks, most notably the C-BiLLT (Computer-Based Instrument for Low Motor Language Testing) language comprehension assessment — currently being adapted for U.S. English in collaboration with Texas Children's Hospital — and an Adapted AAC-CVI Framework for children with Cortical Visual Impairment. Specialized programs cover Communicative Competence, Self-Determination, Cortical Visual Impairment, and Transition planning, delivered by an interdisciplinary team of special education teachers, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and a RESNA-certified Assistive Technologist with 35 years of tenure.

The organization extends its reach through the Bridge to Life division, which delivers contract services, assessments, and consultation to individuals from birth through adulthood, families, agencies, and school districts. Professional development offerings include the four-day AAC Bootcamp ($800 per attendee), the Use it on Monday archived workshop series ($25 per session), and the CVI Webinar Series funded by Ability Central Philanthropy. The annual AAC by the Bay conference (April 30 – May 1, 2026) bridges research, best practice, and families, while the International Teacher in Residence program, run in collaboration with ISAAC, has trained professionals from Mexico, India, South Korea, Singapore, Poland, South Africa, Romania, Argentina, and other countries.

The Bridge School's revenue model combines charitable donations, proceeds from the annual Bridge School Benefit Concert organized by Neil Young (held since 1986 at Shoreline Amphitheatre), professional training fees, Bridge to Life contract services, planned giving and stock donations, and royalties from iTunes album sales. Marketing is community-led, operating through direct admissions for the Hillsborough campus, multi-channel digital presence (website subsites for curriculum, communication, CVI, and Bridge to Life), social media, and conference-based professional outreach. Governance rests with a small leadership team led by Executive Director Gabriela Berlanga, Chief Executive of Bridge to Life Dr. Vicki Casella, and Director of Education Caitlin Sale.

Name

THE BRIDGE SCHOOL

Legal name

The Bridge School

Website

https://bridgeschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Bridge School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Hillsborough, California, serving children ages 3–13 with complex communication and physical disabilities through an AAC/AT-focused educational program, with Bridge to Life extending services from birth through adulthood.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Assistive Technology (AT) & AAC Services (EDAJAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transition Services (Secondary to Postsecondary/Employment, Life Skills) (EDAJAKAG), Special Education Vocational & Transition Programs (18–22) (EDAKAAAG)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Augmentative communication therapy
• Assistive technology services
• Speech language pathology
• Professional development training

Headquarters

HQ city

Hillsborough

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Bridge School Benefit Concert: Annual all-acoustic charity concert organized by Neil Young and Pegi Young, held at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. All proceeds directly benefit the operations of The Bridge School. First concert held October 13, 1986.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The Bridge School is a 501(c)(3) organization (Federal ID: 95-4068784) that relies on charitable donations from individuals and organizations. Various giving options include one-time donations, planned giving, stock donations, and sponsorship programs.
3. Professional Development Services: Revenue from professional development offerings including AAC Bootcamp ($800 per participant), webinar series, conversation series on CVI and AAC, and other training programs for educators and therapists.
4. Bridge to Life Services: Contract services for families, agencies and school districts offering direct services including CVI assessments, receptive/expressive language therapy, positioning/seating consulting, and speech-language services for AAC users.
5. iTunes Album Sales: The Bridge School Collection volumes 1-5 featuring songs from 30 years of benefit concerts available on iTunes. Portion of proceeds benefit The Bridge School.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Bridge School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit special education school that delivers individualized educational and therapeutic programs to children ages 3 to 13 with extensive speech and physical disabilities, centered on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Assistive Technology (AT). The school also operates the Bridge to Life division, which provides consultation, training, and professional development services across the lifespan from birth through adulthood to families, educators, and therapists. Together these divisions form a lifespan model of service that integrates AAC and Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) supports.

Product overview

The Bridge School is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization offering a comprehensive educational program for children ages 3-13 with severe speech and physical impairments. The organization operates as a unified portfolio of programs including: The Bridge School (core educational program), Bridge to Life (services for individuals from birth through adulthood), AAC Bootcamp (professional training), AAC by the Bay Conference (annual event), CVI Webinar Series (educational webinars), and the International Teacher in Residence Program. The school specializes in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Assistive Technology (AT), supported by specialized programs in Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI), self-determination, and mobility. The Bridge School also administers the C-BiLLT assessment tool and hosts the annual Bridge School Benefit Concert fundraiser.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bridge to Life: A division of The Bridge School providing professional development, assessments, and direct services for individuals with speech and physical disabilities from birth through adulthood, including CVI assessments, AAC services, and training.
• AAC by the Bay
• CVI University Module

Products and services

• The Bridge School Educational Program Full-day individualized special education program for children ages 3 to 13 with extensive speech and physical disabilities, integrating Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Assistive Technology (AT), and Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) supports throughout the school day. Designed for students typically excluded from mainstream education due to the complexity of their communication, mobility, and sensory needs.
• Bridge to Life Professional Services Professional development, consultation, and training services delivered by The Bridge School to educators, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, assistive technology specialists, families, and agencies. Services span the lifespan from birth through adulthood and focus on AAC, AT, and CVI integration, including access to proprietary frameworks such as the Adapted AAC-CVI Framework and the C-BiLLT cognitive assessment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Improved communicative competence through proficiency with AAC/AT tools creating access to participation and achievement in all curricular areas.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Texas Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaboration with Texas Children's Hospital on developing a formal U.S. English version of the C-BiLLT assessment. Currently conducting norming study with survey of typically developing children across the U.S. to identify culturally appropriate images and language.
• The Children's Home of PittsburghmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Bridge to Life Services, a division of The Bridge School, collaborates with The Children's Home of Pittsburgh to host the Conversation Series on CVI and AAC with Dr. Christine Roman Lantzy.
• ISAAC (International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1986The Teacher in Residence program is presented in collaboration with ISAAC. ISAAC is an international nonprofit organization of professionals, families, manufacturers, researchers and consumers working to improve quality of life for people with complex communication needs through research, education, networking, and information dissemination.
• Cisco SystemssupportingTechnology or IntegrationCisco provided WebEx conferencing accounts for all Teacher in Residence participants to enhance their outreach potential and enable consultations with professionals in their home countries after returning from the program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Texas Children's Hospital: A pediatric hospital system conducting the US English norming study for The Bridge School's C-BiLLT assessment tool. Comparable as a regional research and clinical partner in AAC and CVI, overlapping in clinical and assessment work rather than direct school-based competition.
• Smartbox Assistive Technology: A UK-based provider of AAC software and hardware (Grid, Grid Pad) for individuals with complex communication needs. Comparable as an AAC specialist serving similar populations, but operating primarily outside North America.
• Children's Home of Pittsburgh: A Pittsburgh-based pediatric care provider collaborating with Bridge to Life on the Conversation Series on CVI and AAC with Dr. Christine Roman Lantzy. Comparable as a regional pediatric services organization that works in the same CVI/AAC training ecosystem as The Bridge School.

Direct peers

• AAC Institute: A Pittsburgh-based nonprofit dedicated to advancing augmentative and alternative communication through research, education, and professional development. Directly comparable to The Bridge School's AAC specialization, professional training focus, and nonprofit operating model.
• Ivymount School: A nonprofit special education school in Maryland serving students with learning disabilities, autism, and other complex needs through individualized programs. Comparable as a nonprofit NPS with similar interdisciplinary model, transition services, and assistive technology focus.
• Perkins School for the Blind: A Massachusetts-based nonprofit special education school for students with visual impairments, including CVI, with extensive professional outreach and global training programs. Comparable as a special education school with deep CVI expertise and an international teacher training mission similar to The Bridge School's Teacher in Residence program.

Broad incumbents

• Tobii Dynavox: The global leader in AAC hardware, software, and clinical support solutions, serving individuals with communication impairments. Comparable because it operates in the same AAC ecosystem and increasingly bundles assessment, training, and clinical services that overlap with Bridge to Life.
• PRC-Saltillo: A leading AAC device manufacturer offering speech-generating devices, apps, and implementation support. Comparable as a major AAC industry incumbent that increasingly competes in training and clinical support adjacent to The Bridge School's professional development offerings.

Others

• ISAAC (International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication): An international nonprofit professional society advancing AAC through research, education, and networking. Directly comparable because it co-presents the Teacher in Residence program with The Bridge School and operates in the same AAC ecosystem as an enabling/ecosystem partner.

Emerging players

• CVI Now: A nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of Cortical Visual Impairment and supporting affected children and families. Comparable as a CVI-focused emerging organization operating in an adjacent niche to The Bridge School's CVI/AAC integration work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BridgeSchooler
• Facebookfacebook.com/SupportBridgeSchool
• Instagraminstagram.com/thebridgeschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-bridge-school

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about THE BRIDGE SCHOOL