BrightStone, Inc.
Programs
Budget
$1,059,687.00
Description
BrightStone adults learn job skills and productive work habits in a work-based learning program. Their strengths are determined, goals are established, and tasks are broken down into steps. Students are provided job coaching and training as they learn to complete a task, stay at their work station, respond appropriately to their supervisor. Four days/week the job training students work in the community gaining actual hands-on experience under the supervision of our work coordinator.
Beneficiaries
People with other disabilities and/or are neurodivergent
Program Areas Served
None
$1,059,687.00
Description
BrightStone adults learn job skills and productive work habits in a work-based learning program. Their strengths are determined, goals are established, and tasks are broken down into steps. Students are provided job coaching and training as they learn to complete a task, stay at their work station, respond appropriately to their supervisor. Four days/week the job training students work in the community gaining actual hands-on experience under the supervision of our work coordinator.
Beneficiaries
People with other disabilities and/or are neurodivergent
Program Areas Served
None
Description
Educating adults who live each day with intellectual or developmental challenges is at the core of BrightStone's purpose. We focus on the unique A-bilities of each adult and provide opportunities to learn and grow in our year-round day program. Adults may attend Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 3:30pm. Our comprehensive curriculum includes classes in nutrition and cooking, health and physical wellness, daily living skills, social awareness, basic computer skills, functional academics, art, music, crafts, community involvement, and more. Adults learn skills needed to achieve their highest level of independence. In an atmosphere of positive reinforcement along with respectful and individualized teaching, adults build confidence and develop self-esteem. BrightStone's loving faith-based environment helps adults with special needs develop mentally, physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually.
Program Areas Served
None
Educating adults who live each day with intellectual or developmental challenges is at the core of BrightStone's purpose. We focus on the unique A-bilities of each adult and provide opportunities to learn and grow in our year-round day program. Adults may attend Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 3:30pm. Our comprehensive curriculum includes classes in nutrition and cooking, health and physical wellness, daily living skills, social awareness, basic computer skills, functional academics, art, music, crafts, community involvement, and more. Adults learn skills needed to achieve their highest level of independence. In an atmosphere of positive reinforcement along with respectful and individualized teaching, adults build confidence and develop self-esteem. BrightStone's loving faith-based environment helps adults with special needs develop mentally, physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually.
Program Areas Served
None
Description
BrightStone adults are provided the opportunity to participate in physical exercise both at our facility and in the community. A physical therapist (PT) provides an initial evaluation which determines their area of strength, weakness, and tolerance level. That information is the basis for individual exercise plans for each adult. A PT assistant or a physical trainer works with each adult in small groups to implement the exercise plan developed by the PT. The students go to the YMCA two times each week while the PT assistant has classes at BrightStone two or three times weekly. The adults also participate in therapeutic yoga twice each week and Special Olympics every year. A full time nurse is on staff to assist with any health or medical need as well as medication administration. The wellness program consists of classes in nutrition, dental hygiene, general physical care, etc; a walking program called 'BrightStriders'; and weekly food selection for their own menu.
Program Areas Served
None
BrightStone adults are provided the opportunity to participate in physical exercise both at our facility and in the community. A physical therapist (PT) provides an initial evaluation which determines their area of strength, weakness, and tolerance level. That information is the basis for individual exercise plans for each adult. A PT assistant or a physical trainer works with each adult in small groups to implement the exercise plan developed by the PT. The students go to the YMCA two times each week while the PT assistant has classes at BrightStone two or three times weekly. The adults also participate in therapeutic yoga twice each week and Special Olympics every year. A full time nurse is on staff to assist with any health or medical need as well as medication administration. The wellness program consists of classes in nutrition, dental hygiene, general physical care, etc; a walking program called 'BrightStriders'; and weekly food selection for their own menu.
Program Areas Served
None
Description
BrightStone has an emphasis on providing a variety of therapies which assist each adult to reach their highest potential. Some of the therapies provided in addition to physical therapy are music therapy, pet therapy, art therapy, along with individual opportunity for waiver funded language therapy and occupational therapy. BrightStone is a fieldwork site for doctoral Occupational Therapy students from Belmont University, thus bringing new insight and opportunities for our students and learning for our teaching staff.
Program Areas Served
None
BrightStone has an emphasis on providing a variety of therapies which assist each adult to reach their highest potential. Some of the therapies provided in addition to physical therapy are music therapy, pet therapy, art therapy, along with individual opportunity for waiver funded language therapy and occupational therapy. BrightStone is a fieldwork site for doctoral Occupational Therapy students from Belmont University, thus bringing new insight and opportunities for our students and learning for our teaching staff.
Program Areas Served
None
Description
The products hand made by BrightStone adults are sold at local crafts fairs and at select retail outlets in Franklin and Nashville. Our BrightStone adults assist with production and packaging of the products. They are very proud of their accomplishments! The proceeds from the sale of products return directly back into the cost of programming.
Program Areas Served
None
The products hand made by BrightStone adults are sold at local crafts fairs and at select retail outlets in Franklin and Nashville. Our BrightStone adults assist with production and packaging of the products. They are very proud of their accomplishments! The proceeds from the sale of products return directly back into the cost of programming.
Program Areas Served
None
CEO/Executive Director/Board Comments
| BrightStone has provided a robust Day Program for 22 years - establishing itself as a vibrant job training and life skills program with exceptional day services for adults who live with intellectual and developmental challenges. Though families have raved with enthusiasm about our broad post-secondary program for their adult son/daughter, we realize there is a deeper and more significant burden facing families today. Their heart cry is, "What is going to happen to my son/daughter when I am no longer able to provide care?" BrightStone stands ready to answer this question for many families in Tennessee and beyond. So, after much research, visits to many similar programs across the county, and surveys sent out to learn more about various provisions of care, BrightStone is beginning a new journey! To take on this daunting task to enhance our programming, to grow our numbers receiving services, and to provide first-time residential options, BrightStone purchased 140 acres, became debt free, worked with the county to meet zoning and code requirements, secured capital funding, secured an architectural firm (Earl Swensson Associates) who has provided all work pro bono!, secured our civil engineer and our contractors ---- construction of the first campus of its kind in Tennessee began in 2021! Our 23,000 sf Center for Learning, Art, and Enterprise is on track to open in October, and our two Teaching Homes to be occupied in November. This will allow our student population to grow, for every student to have the chance for a job in the greater community or on the campus, and for students to choose where and with whom they live, work, and recreate with the goal being to give them a place to belong. The Enterprises they lead will provide appropriate instruction and direction to achieve their highest level of independence with the goal being to give them a purpose in life. The positive instruction they will experience will provide a mentally and physically healthy environment with the goal being to give them a true sense of self-worth. Our challenges mainly lie in the area of awareness. When the community learns about the amazing abilities of individuals who have some special needs and realizes the value of their lives to all of society, the resources needed openly come our way - from inkind to monetary donations, from volunteerism to prayer warriors - we need it all! These are daunting changes ahead for BrightStone, and we encourage the community to come for a tour to see this amazing campus and to learn more about our vision for the future of those who are underserved, many times discarded, and with skills and talents undiscovered. This campus will be the first of its kind in Tennessee - helping Tennessee join many other states who on the cutting edge of providing contemporary resources and innovative services of care. Obviously, BrightStone cannot build and grow and sustain our program without a caring and giving community. That is the core of our existence and we continue to be very grateful and have confidence in the "community" of middle Tennessee who continues to step up and provide. |
