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photo shows mother and two young children standing with their backs to the camera and looking off at the horizon over a rural field

Families who have children with disabilities face personal and financial challenges more often than families who have children without disabilities. In rural communities, people often lack internet access, experience higher rates of poverty, and are physically more isolated from each other and from agencies that can help.

Good afternoon,

Based on the latest guidance from state authorities, we are further restricting access to our sites for essential purposes only. Effective immediately:

  • Our main office at 1650 South Avenue is closed to visitors until further notice.
  • No visitors will be allowed to any Individualized Residential Alternatives (IRAs) unless medically or clinically essential. This is to protect the health of the people living there and of the staff supporting them.

Otherwise, Starbridge staff are continuing to provide supports and services in education, employment, and healthy living. You can contact us through staff phone numbers, emails, or via our website or main phone number: 585-546-1700.

NYS OPWDD has issued the following guidance suspending visitation to IRAs, effective immediately:

Good afternoon,

The safety of the people we serve, our employees, and our community is critical. We are carefully monitoring the developments with COVID-19.

We want to assure you we are continuing to operate and provide supports and services; however, we are taking additional precautions to help minimize the spread of the virus.

Happy New Year! We have some exciting news to announce:

Nikisha Ridgeway, M.A., has joined Starbridge as our Chief Operating Officer. In her role, Nikisha is responsible for Starbridge’s overall operations and service delivery.

Colin Garwood, President/CEO, and Nikisha Ridgeway, COO

Juanita is the Senior Manager of Cultural Competency, Health Literacy and Community Initiatives for the Finger Lakes Performing Provider System. She lives in the 19th Ward in the City of Rochester, and enjoys the beautiful homes and neighbors. Juanita has been a board member since 2017.

Juanita Lyde

I joined the Board of Directors after meeting Colin Garwood and Ida Jones and experiencing the passion they demonstrated for the staff, consumers, community and the mission of Starbridge.

Grossman Jim BarclayDamon

Jim Grossman is a partner at Barclay Damon, LLP. Jim and his wife, Suki, have been longtime supporters of Starbridge’s founding agencies and continue to support Starbridge today.

JaBron web

“JaBron is motivated. He needed to find out what his strengths were. More than that, he needed encouragement. People around him were telling him he was a deadbeat. He needed someone to encourage him to try again every time he struck out.”

Photo of Colin Garwood, President/CEO of Starbridge

Hi everyone,

I hope you've enjoyed your summer. It feels like fall has arrived here in Rochester!

stock photo cat 

"A person I support had a cat that meant the world to him. A few years ago, because of life circumstances, he was forced to give up his cat. For over a year, anytime he saw a cat or heard about a cat, he would cry.

Volunteer work is one way people often engage in their communities. Since that was a goal of his – and because I knew he missed his cat – I suggested volunteering at a shelter but, at the time, this was unthinkable to him. Over the next year, we talked about volunteering occasionally. Eventually, he agreed to try.