Bridges to Independence Academy

Bridges to Independence Academy Bridges to Independence Academy is a post-high school program for students aged 18-21 based in Star Valley, WY.

Giving students opportunities to learn and grow in becoming more independent.

In honor of Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week, we’re shining a spotlight on our "Out of this World" incredible team. Tak...
05/06/2026

In honor of Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week, we’re shining a spotlight on our "Out of this World" incredible team. Take a moment to get to know the people who make such a difference every day! Today we recognize Mr. Ryan Henderson.

In honor of Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week, we’re shining a spotlight on our "Out of this World" incredible team. Tak...
05/05/2026

In honor of Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week, we’re shining a spotlight on our "Out of this World" incredible team. Take a moment to get to know the people who make such a difference every day! Today we recognize the wonderful Patti Cazier!

In honor of Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week, we’re shining a spotlight on our "Out of this World" incredible team. Tak...
05/04/2026

In honor of Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week, we’re shining a spotlight on our "Out of this World" incredible team. Take a moment to get to know the people who make such a difference every day! Today we recognize the amazing Stephanie Sloan!

Happy Holidays to all who celebrate at this time of year, and, to those who don't, Happy Wednesday! We recognize that ou...
12/17/2025

Happy Holidays to all who celebrate at this time of year, and, to those who don't, Happy Wednesday! We recognize that our posting has been sporadic at best as we continue to set up new ways to educate our students here at the Bridges to Independence Academy. I guess that means our New Years resolution will be to be better at keeping to our posting schedule!

Regardless, we wanted to take this time to wish all of our businesses, families, students, supporters, and everyone else a happy holidays! We know that these can be really fun times and really stressful times for a lot of people, so make sure to take care of yourselves during this time and travel safely if you plan on traveling.

Attached to this post is our monthly newsletter! Just a reminder that Tuesday December 23rd will be a half day and we will be letting out around 11 am like we did for Thanksgiving. We are hoping to do a December Photo Drop next week before we start our Winter Break, so check our page next Monday or Tuesday for that!

Our tip this week for building a community for our people with special needs has two parts today! First, if you see an a...
11/13/2025

Our tip this week for building a community for our people with special needs has two parts today!
First, if you see an adult individual with a disability and you think they need help, it is always appropriate to ask them first. Many people with disabilities are trying to be independent or are learning how to be independent. Asking them if they would like help gives them an opportunity to practice self-advocacy skills and to maintain their dignity.
Second, most of the time it is better to address the person who is struggling directly instead of addressing their caretaker or translator. This again helps to maintain their dignity and helps them to feel like equals with their peers. Obviously there are cases where this may not be appropriate, but it is a good rule of thumb to treat our peers with disabilities with the respect, dignity, and consideration that we would show to anyone else.

Attached to this post is also our monthly news letter!

Shanidar I is the name of a set of remains of a Neanderthal found in the year 1957 in Iraq. Analysis of these remains te...
11/05/2025

Shanidar I is the name of a set of remains of a Neanderthal found in the year 1957 in Iraq. Analysis of these remains tells us that this man lived around 45,000 years ago. It seemed this individual had taken a crushing blow to the head that left him blind his left eye and made it so he had limited control or partial paralysis in his left arm and left leg. There is also evidence of healed fractures in his right foot, which probably exaggerated his already prominent limp. Studying these remains showed that these wounds healed over many years, which means that they were not what killed this person. Scientists believed he lived until about the age of 40, which is rather old by ancient neanderthal standards. This is significant because the community around this person with severe injuries and disabilities cared for and supported him for decades until he passed away.

Caring for differently abled people or people with special needs isn’t some new invention of our current day. It is not a modern trend for us to care for those who need it, but a human tradition that has outlasted any country or civilization.

This November we give thanks to all of our associates, families, community members, employers, school staff, and friends who join us in this very human endeavor!

Happy Halloween / Happy Friday Eve! This month has been very busy and eventful for our program and we have missed a coup...
10/30/2025

Happy Halloween / Happy Friday Eve! This month has been very busy and eventful for our program and we have missed a couple of weeks of posting. Our 5th Wednesday of the month is reserved for our monthly photo dump, so here it is! Pictures from all of our adventures this month along with some of our festive fall crafts. Have a great weekend and, if you are celebrating Halloween, please be safe and have fun!

Due to the weather forecast for Thursday, our Fall Star Valley Games (formerly the Special Olympics) has been reschedule...
10/14/2025

Due to the weather forecast for Thursday, our Fall Star Valley Games (formerly the Special Olympics) has been rescheduled from Thursday October 16th to Thursday October 23rd. We thank you for your patience. Within this post is the official correspondence from our Star Valley Games committee.

Monthly Tip for Interacting with Special Needs people in your community: Remember that they are People with Disabilities...
10/08/2025

Monthly Tip for Interacting with Special Needs people in your community: Remember that they are People with Disabilities, not Disabled People. Sometimes the first thing we see in our Special Needs peers is their disability. One of the best things you can do is change your perspective and try to see the person first! This simple change can help us approach our Special Needs friends with a more constructive and person first attitude!

Bridges to Independence Academy, October Newsletter
10/07/2025

Bridges to Independence Academy, October Newsletter

10/01/2025

🌟 Welcome to Bridges to Independence Academy page! 🌟

We are so excited to open this space and share our journey with you!

At Bridges to Independence Academy, we are dedicated to supporting students ages 18–21 with special needs as they take their first steps toward adulthood. Our mission is to help each student grow in independence, build life skills, and prepare for a successful future at home and in their community through individualized educational and vocational training.

Here, you’ll find updates on our programs, student achievements, important dates, and resources for families. We will also be posting updates on our Friday Activities, Special Events, and other news here. We believe every milestone, big or small, is worth celebrating, and we can’t wait to share those moments with our community! 💙

Our posting schedule is as follows:
- First Wednesday of the month: Motivational Quote or Story
- Second Wednesday of the month: Tip or Advice on how to interact with Special Needs people in your community.
- Third Wednesday of the month: Student Highlight
- Fourth Wednesday of the month: Photo Drop for the Month
Fifth Wednesday of the month: Crafts, Activity, or Recipe

Thank you for following along and being part of our Bridges Team! Together, we are building Bridges to brighter futures!

Follow us to stay connected and support our amazing students!

Address

444 E 4th Avenue
Afton, WY
83110

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 4pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 4pm
Thursday 7:30am - 4pm
Friday 7:30am - 4pm

Telephone

+13078857154

Website

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