Building the BRIDGE
BRIDGE Communication was developed by a speech therapist upon seeing what was available on the market was not meeting the needs of her clients or students. No one wanted to use the systems that were available to them — the devices sat in closets because they were either broken or too difficult to use. Individuals and families simply did not like them. They were stressful, complicated, and very expensive. Families wanted their children to learn to talk, and they wanted a system that they liked using.
Our Story
BRIDGE Communication app is therapist-developed. It was created by a Speech-Language Pathologist because other products on the market simply weren’t good enough. The product was initially run through a private clinic as well as a school system. The product was tested by therapists. The product was reviewed and critiqued by caregivers, teachers, parents, and individuals themselves. Input was gathered, assessed, and weighed to be either included in an updated design, or refuted for clinical and design purposes. The app was run across various schools across a county along with a well sized private clinic with a participant base of 100+ end users. The product was beta tested for 2 years prior to going live on the App Store. Product hardening then took approximately 6 years as this was done in conjunction with other full times jobs by the creator of this app. BRIDGE Communication app was perfected by use, over time, from the front line.
BRIDGE Communication app is proven to work. It has supported development of speech and language skills by removing the middle man. The end user can interact directly with the app on their own without relying on an adult, caregiver, teacher, therapist, to interpret and support the system for the end user. For the past 6 years, BRIDGE Communication app has been honed for use, over time, from the front line. 5,000 people across the world have downloaded the BRIDGE Communication app. Daily enjoyable use of the app has yielded results in end users becoming talkers who were typically non-verbal using past technology. It has also normalized social language learning where end users would have been noun based users in the past. It has increased engagement, attention, and reciprocity creating an effective learning platform that is enjoyable to not only the learner but also the one teaching.
Our apps were created and developed to support individuals, parents, caregivers, teachers, and therapists who may be facing communication, language, or learning barriers.
“I realized the individuals aren’t the barriers. Their issues aren’t the barriers. Lack of understanding and stress are the real barriers. We solved that through simplifying language and technology. Connection follows.”
Under the leadership of our founder, Danielle Poletti, M.S., CCC-SLP, our apps are helping individuals successfully learn and grow together. Danielle created the apps’ designs, content, and ease of use. Her 22+ years of experience owning and operating a private clinic, Total Communication, Inc. (email danielle@gobridgeapp.com for Speech-Language Therapy services and support or call 919.719.3925 to set up an appointment today!) consulting with public school districts, career Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in Augmentative and Alternative Communication, her work as a special educator, a past habilitation technician, and a member of a special needs family all played a key role in shaping the technology and development of our apps.
