NEWBURGH, N.Y. -- Senator James Skoufis (D-Hudson Valley) joined SUNY Orange President Dr. Kristine Young, along with college leadership and staff, to announce that he has secured $100,000 in this year’s state budget to support the SUNY Orange BRIDGES program. BRIDGES is a comprehensive three-year suite of noncredit workshops designed to help learners, especially those young adults with autism spectrum disorders or other learning and developmental disabilities, to acquire the basic skills of adulthood.

The program, added to SUNY Orange’s offerings several years ago, is organized around a series of workshops for roughly three dozen participants each year. For high school graduates who don’t fall into standardized college matriculation tracks, supportive services and structured learning opportunities have long been out of reach. The BRIDGES program, which is primarily anchored at SUNY Orange’s Middletown campus, attempts to mend this disconnect.

“Every Hudson Valley resident deserves the opportunity to live a happy and productive life, and BRIDGES is helping fill the gaps between the experiences of these learners in high school, and their personal and professional journeys into adulthood,” said Senator Skoufis. “It’s my honor to present Dr. Young, the SUNY Orange community, and the BRIDGES team with this funding.”

“From his days as an Assemblyman through his transition to the Senate, Senator Skoufis has been a steady and trusted supporter of SUNY Orange,” said SUNY Orange President Dr. Kristine Young. “He is passionately committed to improving the lives of his constituents, and he appreciates and values the work we are doing, including within our BRIDGES program. I look forward to continuing to work with the Senator on innovative and impactful partnerships that advance the opportunities available for our students. When SUNY Orange students and graduates excel, our community excels … and that means brighter days ahead for all of us.”