BRIDGE Consultant Team
Van Buren Intermediate School District
Who We Are
The BRIDGE Consultant Team is a group of professionals at Van Buren Intermediate School District who are dedicated to supporting local district teams in their work to meet the needs of all learners. A part of the VBISD Special Education Department, BRIDGE focuses on providing consultation, intervention, and professional learning around students with behavioral, communication, and instructional needs.
BRIDGE Team Services
General Consultation Services
The BRIDGE Team accepts Requests for Observation and Consultant Services (ROCS) for both student-specific and systems-level concerns. When submitting a ROCS, a team can request support in the areas of:
Assistive Technology Devices & Supports
Behavioral Interventions & Supports
Communication Interventions & Supports
Instructional Intervention & Supports
Secondary / Post-Secondary Transition Services
The BRIDGE Team is also available to provide short-term, direct, on-site coaching and/or intervention if more intensive services are required.
BRIDGE Team members will work closely with the local team to develop a schedule of review meetings and a plan for implementation of the intervention(s) as part of the consultation process.
Student Transition Services
The BRIDGE Team provides case consultation and on-site support for students who are transitioning back to or entering their local district for the first time.
Through this process, BRIDGE team members will first work with sending teams to review case information, develop a rapport with the student, and to outline transition needs.
After the initial framework has been established, BRIDGE Team members will then work with the receiving team to develop a cohesive plan for the transition that fits both the receiving environment and the student’s individual needs.
Transition services are time-limited, with the assigned BRIDGE members working closely with the receiving team to develop appropriate timelines and to ensure that needs are addressed prior to the closure of transition supports.
The BRIDGE Team is committed to providing quality professional learning in the areas of:
Assistive Technology
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)
Data Collection & Analysis
De-Escalation Strategies
Effective Teaming & Meeting Mechanics
Mental Health Friendly Classrooms
Paraprofessional Role Development
Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports
Unique Learning Systems & Instructional Strategies
These topics are often available via county-wide offerings and are also available as in-district training via the ROCS process.
The BRIDGE Team asks that training requests be submitted a minimum of 4 weeks prior to the targeted training date. This provides trainers the time needed to coordinate and prepare materials to ensure a quality learning experience.
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