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The roadmap families deserve when school ends.

When your child ages out of the school system, the support doesn't hand off — it disappears. BridgeForward gives families the timeline, guidance, and resources to navigate what comes next.

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BridgeForward · Your Transition Plan
Apply for Medicaid Waiver Waitlist DD Waiver — applied age 14
Done
Protect SSI Eligibility Before Age 18 Financial steps to take starting at age 16
Do Now
File for Guardianship Must be completed before 18th birthday
Up Next

4.2 yr Avg waiver wait in VA
3 Active waivers available
47 Providers near you
🎯
Start at age 14 Most families start too late
📍
State-specific guidance Rules vary by state & county
Two men smiling together
"We finally had a roadmap."
Two hands reaching toward each other — connection and support
You don't have to figure it out alone.
Family together
Built for families like yours.
711K+ People on Medicaid IDD
waiver waitlists right now
4+ yrs Average wait for
adult IDD services
1.5M+ US families navigating
this transition
Age 14 When transition planning
should realistically begin
The Problem

The services cliff is real —
and most families never see it coming.

For years, the school system is your partner. Then your child turns 21, and it's gone. What follows is one of the most complex, underdocumented transitions in American healthcare.

📋

Entitlement ends. Eligibility begins.

In school, your child has a legal right to services. In the adult world, there are waitlists, budgets, and luck. Most families aren't prepared for the shift.

The waitlist clock is already running.

Medicaid waiver waitlists average 4+ years nationally. In some states, families wait decades. Most don't know to apply until it's far too late.

⚖️

Legal deadlines at 18 catch families off guard.

SSI eligibility changes. Guardianship must be established. Financial decisions made wrong can't be undone. The clock runs whether you're watching or not.

🗺️

Every state is different. No one explains it.

Waivers, programs, and eligibility rules vary by state and county. Families are left to piece it together alone — usually under pressure.

"People have a hard time transitioning from an entitlement system to an eligibility system. You are going to look back at the school years as the good old days. Start at age 16 to pauperize your child if you'll be applying for SSI — and stay in school until the law says you are done."
👨‍👦
Special needs parent 10+ years post-transition · Virginia
What BridgeForward Does

Your roadmap. Your state.
Your child's future.

Three tools that turn an overwhelming, fragmented process into a clear, actionable plan.

State-Specific Timeline & Checklist

Know exactly what needs to happen at age 14, 16, 18, and beyond — in your state. From SSI planning to guardianship filings, no critical window goes missed.

Coming First

Waiver Waitlist Guidance

Discover which Medicaid waivers exist in your state, how to apply today, and what to do — and avoid — while you wait. Years of delay start with not knowing.

Core Feature

Provider Discovery

Search day programs, group homes, vocational training, and community programs near you. Real information to find the right fit — not just a phone book.

Core Feature
Who It's For

Built for every family facing
the transition — wherever you are.

Whether you're just starting to think about life after school or the clock is already running, BridgeForward meets you where you are.

My child is 16–21

We need a plan — now.

You know the transition is coming and it's overwhelming. BridgeForward gives you a fast, clear path through everything — even the things that needed to start yesterday.

  • Immediate SSI and guardianship action items
  • Waiver waitlist applications you can start today
  • Providers available now in your area
My child is under 16

I want to get ahead of this.

You're already thinking ahead — documenting, researching, building your network. BridgeForward gives you the full roadmap so no critical window gets missed.

  • Full age 14–22 transition timeline
  • Financial planning milestones and ABLE account guidance
  • Community and program discovery years in advance
Our Story

Built by a parent who's living it.

My son Carter is 17 and has Tetrasomy 18p — a rare chromosomal condition. He has an incredible personality and a laugh that fills a room. He also faces a transition that our family has barely begun to plan for — not because we don't care, but because the process is genuinely overwhelming.

I've spent nearly 30 years in data and technology. I know how to build things. And I couldn't find a single tool that made this easier for families like mine. So I'm building one. BridgeForward exists for Carter, and for every family staring at the same cliff.

Mike Jackson, Founder
Mike Jackson Founder, BridgeForward · Richmond, VA · Father of Carter
Join the Waitlist

Be first when
BridgeForward launches.

We're building alongside families like yours. Join the waitlist and help shape what BridgeForward becomes.

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✓ You're on the list — thank you! We'll be in touch as BridgeForward comes to life.