We had the good fortune of connecting with Sue Bridgman and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Sue, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Bridging the Gaps Dyslexia Center helps our community by providing affordable and effective tools and resources for students with dyslexia. We train tutors, teachers, and parents in a scientific, research, and evidence-based curriculum and provide them the tools to impact others in their sphere of influence. Partnering with businesses in the local area that have the same vision and values as our center allows us to help even more families. We provide dyslexia screening and intervention at a significantly reduced rate compared to the national average, and a limited scholarship fund exists for those in financial need. Bridging the Gaps also offers a homeschooling ministry for parents who wish to provide intervention for their children using our materials. Beginning in January of 2024, we will also provide ADHD testing. Our goal is to create awareness of dyslexia and ADHD throughout the community through seminars and presentations.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I began working with students who struggle with dyslexia in 2006. Dyslexia affects up to twenty percent of the population. However, there were no dyslexia centers in our community designed to provide education about it nor offer the necessary intervention. I envisioned opening a 501c3 nonprofit organization that would not only educate the community about dyslexia but also provide the correct intervention using a multisensory and systematic approach to reading and spelling. I strongly believed in my mission and vision for the community and was surrounded by a great team of supporters. Encouraged to take a step of faith, I decided to launch Bridging the Gaps Dyslexia Center in October 2018. My goal for the center was to empower parents with information about dyslexia so they could be advocates for their own children. I also wanted to raise a team of qualified interventionists ready to help these children and families. Although opening the center was a huge step of faith, it has been a worthwhile venture as children’s lives have been forever changed.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate this Shoutout to the superheroes, our students, and the families we serve every day. I would also like to thank the amazing dyslexia interventionists who have embraced our vision and seek to make a difference in the lives of those students we serve.
Website: https://www.bridgingthegapsdyslexiacenter.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BridgingtheGapsDyslexiaCenter