About us
BridgED began as a student effort in Ridgewood, New Jersey: teach disability awareness, support educators, and make school a place where disabled students are understood.
The team
The cofounders started BridgED because they saw the gap between disabled students and their peers: misunderstanding, too little exposure, and classrooms that were not set up to support learning accommodations.
Cofounders
President
Kathryn cofounded BridgED after receiving learning accommodations herself and watching family and friends move through school with disabilities. She wanted students and teachers to know the disabilities that show up in classrooms, and the laws that protect people who have them. She placed first at National History Day for research on the Americans with Disabilities Act, then presented that work at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
Event Coordinator
Devyn feels it is important that her peers are educated on disabilities that many people have, such as ADHD, to create a more inclusive environment. By educating those around her, students with disabilities can feel less overlooked and more involved at school. She loves to teach others and hopes to make a greater impact by informing students of disabilities and the effects they have on people through planning interactive stations.
Event Coordinator
Having a cousin who is blind, Josh has seen firsthand some of the challenges individuals with disabilities can face and has been motivated to promote greater awareness, understanding, and inclusion. He interned for New Jersey State Senator Kristin Corrado, a member of the Legislative Disability Caucus. Through BridgED, he hopes to help create meaningful connections between disabled and non-disabled students while raising awareness about disability rights and inclusion.
Outreach Director
Julian became involved with BridgED after observing the everyday difficulties of family members. His grandfather had Alzheimer's, and his grandmother lives with visual impairments, and watching what each of them needed day to day made him notice how much of that goes unspoken at school. As Outreach Director, he arranges middle and elementary school visits and connects BridgED with disability advocates who can speak directly to students. He also competes in Public Forum debate and National History Day.
Social Media Director
Natalie Kim is passionate about creating a more inclusive world for people with disabilities and hopes to promote greater awareness and acceptance in her community and beyond. She aims to use social media as a tool to spread awareness, share stories, and connect people with others who have similar experiences. As the Social Media Manager, she helps create and manage content that educates others about disability inclusion and encourages meaningful conversations.
Graphic Designer
After witnessing individuals with disabilities face exclusion and negative perception by her peers, Cherie works to spread awareness throughout her community. She aims to educate those around her by creating a space where everyone feels included, respected, and united.
