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 Massachusetts.
Q: What influenced your Easterseals affiliate to join the Expansion project?
A: Our Assistive Technology team has already been using BridgingApps resources for a long time: they’re valuable to both our staff and the people we support. When we heard about the expansion, we were excited to take part.
We’ve also collaborated with Amy Fuchs [BridgingApps’ Program Manager] in the past, so we knew every session would be high-energy and full of idea sharing. As it turned out, the whole BridgingApps team has been helpful and fun to work with. This has been a highly engaging project.
Q: What did you initially hope to get from the program? Where were your expectations surprised or exceeded?
A: We started off just hoping to learn more about BridgingApps, including how to submit app reviews. The number and variety of apps presented definitely exceeded expectations. We now feel extra confident sharing information about BridgingApps resources.
Q: What are the most valuable things you learned? How will they benefit your clients?
A: It’s very important that our clients can access every possible resource to make their lives a little easier and increase their independence. Our favorite takeaway resources from the Pilot program:
- The App Search Tool’s options for creating app reviews and curated apps lists, plus new ideas for finding apps and determining their appropriateness for our clients/community
- The BridgingApps YouTube channel
- BridgingApps itself, and everything it offers us to share with others looking for assistive-technology tools
Q: Can you share any examples of how what you learned has already helped you help your clients?
A: Recently, a professor from the MGH Institute of Health Professions brought a group of doctorate students to our Assistive Technology Regional Center, as part of an occupational-therapy course on Assistive Technology for Daily Living. One student mentioned wanting to set up accessibility features for a client with low vision. We instantly thought of the Morphic Toolbar, which organizes a device’s built-in accessibility features. The student later reported that he had set up Morphic on the client’s computer, and they loved that it was free!
Also, we shared the BridgingApps website during a recent training for college students with disabilities, at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. The presentation focused on assistive technology for executive functioning skills and making independent choices: students learned to navigate the website, find reviews, locate curated lists, and pinpoint their own best options among what often feels like an overwhelming number of apps and websites.
Q: How will your affiliate continue building on what you’ve learned?
A: We will continue to utilize BridgingApps as a primary resource when looking for apps to recommend and review.
See also:
- “BridgingApps” video from Easterseals Massachusetts website
- Expansion Pilot Update: From Easterseals Massachusetts
Thanks also to Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation, whose generous support made the Expansion Pilot possible.