Tike DeMarco

With a background in special education, program development, and planning, Tike M. DeMarco brings a multidisciplinary lens to her work. She holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and is a certified Assistive Technology Specialist (ATS), combining systems thinking with hands-on expertise to promote inclusive, access-centered practices across educational and community settings. Tike is also a counselor-in-training, currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. She integrates relational-cultural and person-centered theories into her developing practice and is a strong advocate for equity, communication access, and self-determination for individuals with complex communication needs.

Tike currently works at The Bridge School (TBS), a program dedicated to supporting children with extensive communication needs and physical disabilities. She serves as Associate Director of the Transition Program, supporting school-age children, adults, their families, and interdisciplinary teams. In this role, she consults with schools, families, and organizations to develop inclusive programming and systems-level supports that promote communication, access, autonomy, and self-directed engagement across settings. Additionally, Tike leads the Self-Determination Program, which focuses on developing self-awareness, self-advocacy, independence, and decision-making skills. Through Bridge to Life, an affiliate of TBS, she supports youth and adults in future planning, AAC mentorship, advocacy education, and career and life exploration, helping individuals build the tools and supports needed to take an active role in shaping their lives.

A focus of Tike’s work is the evolution of The Bridge School’s Self-Determination Program, developed in close collaboration with Sarah Baroody, Christine Toomey, and Holly Peartree. The program integrates AAC mentors and the Framing a Future tool (King, Lunger, & Toomey, 2005), supporting students who use AAC in identifying their preferences, interests, and life goals beyond school. Building on this foundation, Tike and Christine Toomey began outlining an early concept to support and track the development of self-determination skills. This became the basis for the Self-Determination Continuum (SDC), a conceptual and practical tool co-designed by Tike, Gabriela Berlanga, and Dr. Gabriela Rangel. The SDC was created as a resource intended to support practice, guided by a shared commitment to ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to direct their life.

Disclosures:

Financial:

Tike DeMarco is a salaried employee – The Bridge School

Nonfinancial:

Tike DeMarco has no nonfinancial disclosures to report.