BridgingApps is wrapping up the first year of our Expansion Pilot project, which introduces Easterseals affiliates across the country to our App Search Tool and to apps we recommend for Easterseals clients. This week, our 2025 affiliates share about their learning experiences and future plans.
For today’s post, we interviewed Easterseals of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Q: What influenced your Easterseals affiliate to participate in the Expansion project?
A: Joy McGowan, our Director of Assistive Technology and Augmentative Communication, had already served on a Net Inclusion 2024 panel with Amy Fuchs, BridgingApps’ Program Manager. That was a great experience that provided insights into a variety of disability programs. So our administration saw the BridgingApps Expansion project as another excellent opportunity to collaborate with Easter Seals Greater Houston [ESGH], to exchange ideas and share resources. ESGH is well staffed with knowledgeable professionals, who have years of experience curating resources for individuals with disabilities.
Q: What did you initially hope to get from the program? Where were your expectations surprised or exceeded?
A: Although we were already familiar with several of the apps and devices covered, we consistently discovered new tools—and creative new ways to use familiar tools. The depth of the content and the engaging discussions were exceptional.
Q: What are the most valuable things you learned? How will they benefit your clients?
A: One memorable experience happened when the 2025–2026 school year began. Using what we’d learned, our Assistive Technology team developed a “preview list” of apps to complement our preschool’s monthly educational themes. By identifying and sharing these engaging apps, we were able to support and reinforce important concepts.
Q: How will your affiliate continue building on what you’ve learned?
A: Using information from the trainings, our staff has set up accounts to access the BridgingApps database [App Search Tool: it can be used without an account, but an account is required to contribute app reviews or curate apps lists]. We learned to:
- Search for apps by diagnoses and other keywords
- Refine our searches with lists created by others
- Curate our own lists to support specific curricula
Our staff was able to share all this with their work teams—both the how-tos of searching, and new apps found through the BridgingApps database.
See also:
- BridgingApps link on Easterseals of Southeastern Pennsylvania home page (fourth banner from the top)
- Expansion Pilot Update: From Easterseals Southeastern Pennsylvania
Thanks also to the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation, whose generous support made the Expansion Pilot possible.