Bridges Community School

The EASTCONN Bridges Community School, formerly known as the Autism Program, provides a regionally based, comprehensive, integrated service program for students with autism and other low-incidence disabilities in ages PreK-22.

The program is characterized by a structured, intensive, individualized approach to instruction based on the principles of applied behavioral analysis (ABA). We emphasize systematic teaching to promote learning and generalization and utilize on-going evidence-based assessment, intervention, and progress monitoring to guide instruction in all areas of development.

The EBCS offers collaborative, multi-disciplinary systems of support, small classroom sizes and 1:1 teacher/student ratios. (Greater ratios, including 2:1 or 3:1, may be arranged as needed after collecting data and getting to know the student.) Our caring staff members provide in-house Board-Certified Behavioral Analysis (BCBA), Assistive Technology (AT), Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT) and other related services, along with wraparound services for families.


Members of our multidisciplinary team including psychologists and BCBAs are also available to consult with districts to assess program or district-wide needs, with the goal of building in-district capacity to develop and support student programs in their home schools/communities.

The EASTCONN Bridges Community School provides services for towns in northeastern Connecticut and across other parts of the state. For placement in our program, ask your local school leaders for a referral. (EASTCONN cannot directly admit any student into the program without a referral from a public school district.)