Spring is here and summer is just around the corner. We have been very busy at Brightsong and have some exciting news - we are opening the Brightsong Pediatric Therapy Clinic this summer! Renovations are starting this week and we hope to move into the clinic by June 1. "Like" Brightsong on Facebook and check our website to keep up to date with all the clinic news.

In this newsletter, you will find more information about our clinic space, links to various summer camps and programs - including Summer Steps, our program with the Down Syndrome Association of Memphis (DSAM). You will also meet our newest team member - Jennifer Henderson, occupational therapist.

Did you know that April is Autism Awareness Month? In this newsletter, you will find information about Autism Awareness and links to a few programs providing services to children and adults with Autism in the Mid-South.

We are looking forward to a great summer! If you have any questions about the programs offered by Brightsong, please call us (901) 309-3077.

The Brightsong Team

Brightsong Clinic

Our goal has always been to have a clinic space where we could have a central location for our office and a space to provide individual and group therapy programs. After four years of hard work, we are so excited to reach our goal!

The Brightsong Pediatric Therapy Clinic is located in Cordova by the AgriCenter. The address is 70 Timber Creek, Suite 1. Renovations start this week and we plan to move in by June 2014!

Even after the clinic opens, we will continue to provide therapy and education services in the home, school or community setting. The clinic will give us more options for therapy programs and will be an option for individual therapy as well.

Stay tuned for more information about our summer programs.

Autism Awareness

The month of April is nationally recognized as Autism Awareness Month and has been since the 1970's. Autism is a complex developmental disability. It affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. Currently, there is no known cause of autism. Recent studies by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) show the prevalence of autism is increasing. Now, 1 in every 68 children is diagnosed with autism, with an increased prevalence in school-aged children. There is a higher incidence of boys diagnosed more so than girls. (continue reading. . . )

Summer Steps

The Summer Steps program is an inclusive preschool program created by Brightsong, LLC and the Down Syndrome Association of Memphis and the Mid-South (DSAM). This program is for children with Down syndrome from 3 - 5 years of age. In a small group setting, a variety of activities will be provided in order to address each child's goals.

Summer Steps will meet at Germantown United Methodist Church and Germantown United Methodist Preschool (GUMP) twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 - 12:00. The program will run from June 24 to July 31, 2014. Amy Foster (special education teacher) and Lindsey Morris (speech pathologist) will lead the program this summer.

To register for the Summer Steps program, please call DSAM (901) 547-7588.

Camp Conquest

Camp Conquest is an overnight summer camp for individuals with special needs, chronic illnesses and disabilities. The camp is located in Cordova, Tennessee and will run from June 6 - 11, 2014 for those 7 - 35 years of age. The camp provides a variety of positive recreational and educational programs that build self-esteem and social development skills with campers and counselors. There is currently a waiting list for campers.

Volunteers are needed! If you or someone you know has a servant's heart who will eagerly and joyfully work with children and adults with special needs, please contact Camp Conquest to learn more about how you can help. The cost for volunteers is $100.00 - which covers lodging and meals. Volunteers must be at least 15 years old. If the volunteer has experience working with special needs, the $100.00 fee is waived.

To find out more about Camp Conquest, please contact Mark Price at (901) 490-7164 or email markp@campconquest.com.

Summer Camps

Summer will be here soon and now is the perfect time to research and register your child for summer camp! There are a variety of camps and programs offered throughout the Memphis area. Here are just a few that we thought sounded like fun. Brightsong encourages you to find out more about each camp to meet your child's individual needs. More camp information can be found at Memphis Parent.

Adventure Camp at Shelby Farms Park (June 2 - 6 and June 16-20)

All Days are Happy Days a camp for children with ADHD (June 9 - 13, ages 6 - 11 years)

Arc Mid-South Summer Camp (ages 8 years - adult, July 23 - 30)

Camp Conquest (ages 7 - 35 years, June 6 - 11)

Children's Museum of Memphis Summer Camp (variety of weekly topics, May - August)

Elizabeth Gwin Session for Special Children (camp in Mississippi, July 20 - 25)

Little Gym Summer Camp (flexible schedule - June 9 - August 2)

Memphis Botanic Gardens Summer Camp (variety of programs for 4 - 12 years of age)

Memphis College of Art Summer Camp (full day or half day options, grades K - 12)

Memphis Zoo Camp (ages Jr. K - 8th Grade, June 3 - August 1)

Pinot's Palette Petite Palette (ages 5-13 years; June 16-20, June 23-37 & July 7 - 11)

Sky Camp by Sky Zone (ages 6 - 12 years; June 2-6, June 23-27 & July 14-18)

Meet Jennifer Henderson, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist

Jennifer Henderson received her degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Tennessee at Memphis in 1998. Since then, she has practiced in a variety of pediatric therapy settings including home health, inpatient and outpatient clinics, private practice and Early Intervention agencies. Jennifer has also served as an adjunct instructor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center Department of Occupational Therapy. She has specialized training in hand function and handwriting, fine motor skills, feeding therapy, sensory processing therapy and working with children with neurologic and orthopedic impairments. Jennifer is a member of the Bright Steps team and provides individual evaluation and treatment for children from birth to age 18. She joined the Brightsong team in January 2014.

Join Our Team!

Brightsong is growing! If you're interested in joining our team, please send your resume to liz.mcmahon@brightsong.net. We are always taking candidates into consideration for current and future opportunities. Please visit our website to learn more about our team.

www.brightsong.net