Bridges Atlanta

Bridges Atlanta is based at 1175 Peachtree Street NE in Midtown Atlanta and serves young adults ages 17 to 26 across metro Atlanta. The program partners with Atlanta Public Schools, Clayton County Schools, Decatur City Schools, and Fulton County Schools to identify students who can benefit from career readiness support and to coordinate transition planning with school staff.

Founded in 1996, Bridges Atlanta has prepared young adults with disabilities for competitive employment and supported them through their first year on the job for nearly three decades. The program serves both in-school students transitioning toward graduation and out-of-school young adults preparing for their first or next job.

Bridges Atlanta partners with the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) on referral pathways and Pre-Employment Transition Services. Pre-ETS is delivered to students ages 14 to 22 across five federally-defined components: Job Exploration Counseling, Workplace Readiness Training, Work-based Learning Experiences, Counseling on Post-secondary Education or Training, and Self-Advocacy and Peer Mentoring.

Like every Bridges site, the Atlanta program is free for participants and their families. A Youth Employment Specialist works one-on-one with each young adult to identify career goals, develop interviewing skills, connect with employers, create a résumé, apply for jobs, get a job, and succeed in a job. After a placement, the same specialist supports the new hire through the first year of employment, coordinating with the employer's HR team and following up at 30, 60, and 90-day milestones. The program is funded through grants, donations, and corporate giving. There is no tuition, and no fee to the employer.

The Atlanta office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.