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. Our 2025 affiliates continue to share about their learning experiences and future plans.
For today’s post, we interviewed Easterseals Rio Grande Valley (RGV), which serves the southern tip of Texas.
Q: What influenced your Easterseals affiliate to join the Expansion project?
A: Easterseals Rio Grande Valley was introduced to BridgingApps in 2012-ish, when BridgingApps itself was a new project! [BridgingApps officially became part of Easterseals in February 2012.] As an Easterseals affiliate, we were invited to participate and share the assistive-technology information with our client families.
BridgingApps traveled to the Rio Grande Valley [nearly 350 miles!] to host several training sessions, introducing families with young children to iPad technology. The team helped families vet and identify apps that addressed specific needs.
Q: What did you initially hope to get from the Expansion program? Where were your expectations surprised or exceeded?
A: Speech-language pathology is an important part of our services, so our initial goal was to learn about apps related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). However, the trainings also introduced many other useful apps and resources, all available through the database [Search Tool]. The trainings and the resource options definitely exceeded expectations.
Q: What are the most valuable things you learned? How will they benefit your clients?
A: The most valuable resource we discovered is the app search database itself. Being able to access and navigate it will help us provide continued resources and ongoing support for the families we serve.
Q: How will your affiliate continue building on what you’ve learned?
A: We will continue to explore the database, and to share apps within our organization and with the families we serve. In addition, we plan on setting up a workshop to introduce BridgingApps to our community and client parents. We will be requesting parent input from our Parent Advisory Board for planning that.
See also:
- Easterseals Rio Grande Valley Hosts BridgingApps Open House
- “Easterseals BridgingApps Mobile Device Program” on Easterseals RGV website
- Expansion Pilot Update: From Easterseals Rio Grande Valley
As fellow Texans, BridgingApps also recommends the TexasYouth2Adult website to Easterseals RGV clients. Youth2Adult (Y2A) resources are designed for disabled young adults (and future young adults) planning their transitions to independent living. BridgingApps is a Y2A development partner and frequent contributor.
Thanks also to Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation, whose generous support made the Expansion Pilot possible.