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Dear (Contact First Name),
April is Autism Awareness Month. At Brightsong, we work with many children with autism and their families. This special edition newsletter is All About Autism. It includes a letter from the Executive Director of the Autism Society of the Mid-South (ASMS) and information about physical, occupational, developmental and speech therapy for children with autism.
If you feel like your child may need some extra support, please do not hesitate to contact us. We would be happy to help you connect with other families and organizations to help you and your child.
The Brightsong Team |
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"Your Child Has Autism"  "Your child has Autism." It is amazing how those four little words can alter your life so drastically. As April and Autism Awareness Month approach, I think back to the time I first heard those words. It seems like a lifetime ago. In reality it was only six years ago. In my heart I knew something was wrong well before I heard those words, but something about having my suspicions confirmed seemed to make it more real to me. I guess for me, it meant that all possibilities that I was an over reactive mother were gone, and I had a "special needs child." (continue reading) |
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Therapy for Children with Autism
Speech Therapy 
Not every child with autism will have a language delay. A child's ability to communicate will vary, depending on his or her cognitive and social skills. Some children with autism may be nonverbal (unable to speak) while others may have wide vocabularies and produce words and phrases without difficulty. However, most children with autism will have difficulty using language effectively. These difficulties may include expressing their thoughts to others, understanding words and maintaining two way conversations.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy is defined as "skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve independence in all facets of their lives. Occupational therapy assists people in developing the 'skills for the job of living' necessary for independent and satisfying lives." Since play is the job of childhood, occupational therapy is important for children with autism because it not only helps them focus on becoming independent during daily activities (e.g. dressing, eating, etc), but it also helps them interact and play with others in their environment.
Physical Therapy
One area of development for children with autism which is often overlooked is that of a child's gross motor skills. Movement is an important part of our lives because it allows us to explore our environment and interact with others. From early infancy, children develop motor skills such as holding their head up, kicking their legs, sitting, crawling, etc. As the child gets older, skills such as walking, jumping and balance come into play. For children with autism, they may have difficulty coordinating these motor movements - which may make it difficult for them to explore and interact with others.
Developmental Therapy
All children learn at a different rate. Most children learn by exploring their environment and interacting with others. Some children may have difficulty exploring and interacting with others due to developmental delays, behavior issues, sensory processing issues, etc. When a child has difficulty learning new skills, developmental specialists are typically the first therapists the child will work with.
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Meet Amy Foster, MSpEd
Amy Foster has been providing support and education services to children and their families since 2004. Amy received her Master's degree in Special Education with a primary focus on Early Childhood in 2005. Since then, she has worked with numerous children individually and in a classroom setting. Amy has also completed 21 credit hours of Graduate coursework in Applied Behavior Analysis.
At Brightsong, Amy is a developmental and behavior specialist and provides individual developmental therapy to children from birth to elementary school ages. She is also a member of the Bright Steps and Summer Steps team. Amy administers developmental assessments and provides support to parents during IFSP and IEP meetings when requested. Amy also works closely with parents and teachers to provide behavior plans for children at home and school. She joined the Brightsong team in October 2012.
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Making My Mark!
A Handwriting Workshop for Parents and Teachers
Learning how to write is an important skill everyone must learn, but it can be a challenge for some children.
Join us on Saturday, April 27 at Panera Bread in Cordova from 9:30 - 11:30 for a handwriting workshop presented by Rebecca Thomas, MOT. Cost $20.
Each participant will receive a FREE digital copy of 45 Minutes a Day to Better Handwriting - a handwriting program developed by Rebecca Thomas, MOT and Brightsong, LLC. Space is limited. Please call Brightsong at 309-3077 to register. |
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Upcoming Events in Memphis
April 19 - Friends of Best Buddies Luncheon at 11:30 am at the Memphis National Golf Club. Best Buddies is looking for table captains to commit to filling a table of 10. The lunch is free, but donations will be encouraged at the end of the presentation. This is an invite only event. For more information, contact Melissa Todd at (901) 619-7592.
April 19 - Memphis Bridges the Gap - A Marketplace of Resources for Families at Christ United Methodist Church 6 - 9 pm.
April 27 - Making My Mark! Handwriting Workshop provided by Brightsong. 9:30 - 11:30 at Panera Bread in Cordova. Refreshments will be provided. Cost is $20. Each participant will receive a free, digital copy of 45 Minutes a Day to Better Handwriting. A program created by Rebecca Thomas, MOT and Brightsong, LLC.
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Join Our Team!
Brightsong is growing and we are looking for a part-time occupational therapist (OT)
to provide services to children from birth to age 18.
Please visit our website for more information.
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