Navigating the complex world of home- and community-based support services can be overwhelming, especially for individuals with disabilities and their families. A Bridge to Independence (often simply called “Bridge”) is an accredited Supports Coordination Organization dedicated to making this journey easier. Serving all 67 counties in Pennsylvania, we guide, connect, and advocate for individuals seeking independence and meaningful inclusion in their communities.
How Bridge Supports You
At its core, Bridge offers supports and service coordination—personalized, hands-on case management that empowers individuals to live life on their terms. Our team provides not only expertise but also local connections that lead to meaningful, customized support. In their words: “At Bridge, you’re like family,” and that dedication to personalization ensures every client feels seen and understood.
The PA Waiver Programs: Your Path to Support
Bridge specializes in navigating various Pennsylvania Waiver Programs, state-funded home- and community-based services that provide care options beyond institutional settings. These are divided into two main categories: Service Coordination Waivers and Supports Coordination Waivers.
Service Coordination Waivers
Designed to help with daily living and personal care, these include:
- OBRA Waiver: Supports individuals with developmental physical disabilities (onset before age 22), offering services such as home modifications, personal assistance, and employment support.
- Attendant Care / Act 150 Program: Non-medical support with dressing, bathing, meal preparation, and transportation. Available to both Medicaid-eligible and non-Medicaid individuals.
- Community HealthChoices (CHC) Waiver: A comprehensive program for individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. It simplifies services, including personal care, home health, behavioral health, and nursing-home transition support. By merging earlier waivers, such as Independence, Attendant Care, and Aging, into a single managed care program.
Supports Coordination Waivers
Focused on individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, these programs foster community integration and independence:
- Adult Autism Waiver: Tailored for adults with autism.
- Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Waiver, which includes:
- Consolidated Waiver: Offers support that enables full-time residential assistive care, transportation, and therapy—ideal for those requiring more consistent guidance.
- Community Living Waiver, and
- Person/Family‑Directed Support Waiver: Offering more choice and personalization within services.
Bridge helps people with assessments, eligibility, and matching services to their personal goals and needs.
Autism-Specific Supports: A Personal Touch
For those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Bridge’s Autism Supports Coordination surpasses basic coordination; it’s focused on intentional, tailored guidance. Our support coordinators:
- Create Individual Support Plans (ISPs) that match each person’s academic, social, vocational, or independent living goals.
- Link clients to matched providers, secure waiver funding, monitor progress, and ensure health and safety within appropriate environments.
We believe that every person with autism deserves a future of independence, supported by a team that listens, plans, and follows through like family.
Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Services
Bridge simplifies the often-daunting process of enrolling in the IDD Waiver. We walk families through:
- Eligibility screenings (based on diagnoses such as intellectual disability established during the developmental period).
- Documentation requirements (medical, psychological, school records).
- Choosing or meeting with a Supports Coordinator, who provides ongoing coordination and advocacy.
Our guidance ensures the process is personal, supportive, and responsive to your family’s needs and goals.
Beyond Services: The Values That Define Bridge
From our roots in three Centers for Independent Living working together to support local families, Bridge has expanded to serve the entire Commonwealth. We maintain a person-first approach, treating each client as an individual.
Our strengths include:
- Deep experience: Coordinators who bring seasoned expertise and personal insight.
- Local roots and relationship: Staff embedded in local counties help clients access county-specific resources efficiently.
- Personalized, follow-through mindset: We don’t just connect. We stay with you, monitoring progress and adapting as needs evolve.
Why A Bridge to Independence? The Difference It Makes.
- Comprehensive support across the full suite of Pennsylvania’s waiver programs, from autism and IDD waivers to OBRA and CHC.
- Person-centered planning ensures everyone’s life goals are front and center.
- Experienced navigators guide the whole journey, from enrollment to coordination to advocacy.
- Statewide reach with local expertise ensures accessibility from Philly to Erie and every county in between.
- Commitment to independence means ensuring clients thrive, not just access services.
If your journey involves seeking in-home services, community-based supports, or waiver assistance, A Bridge to Independence could be the partner you’ve been searching for. They excel by combining extensive knowledge, local connections, and a mission-driven approach that treats every person like family.
Ready to take the next step? Contact Bridge at 844-724-3483, explore our Program & Services pages, or visit our How to Enroll pages for specific waiver program information.
