Bright Connections Occupational Therapy

Exiting News! Bright Connections has merged with Small Talk Center for Speech & Language Development in order to offer clinic-based services.

In-person occupational therapy is available now. For those not quite ready to return to a clinic, teletherapy is also an option.

Please visit https://brightconnectionsot.com/contact or call (248) 629-0193 to schedule an appointment.

For the health and safety of our students, parents and staff, we will be taking the following steps and following federal, state and local guidelines:

• Staff members will receive regular COVID-19 testing and screening.
• We will be wearing plastic face shields and/or masks.
• We’ve added 3-foot sneeze guards on our tables and floors.
• Appointments will be staggered with 10-15 minutes between each session to allow time for children to leave without passing each other in the halls and so we can clean and sanitize between appointments.
• Our waiting room will be closed. Parents will text when they arrive and wait in their cars. A staff member will meet you and your child at the entrance door and return to the door to meet you once the appointment is complete.
• We will arrange parent meetings and follow ups by phone.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call.

Hello! I'm so excited to announce that Bright Connections has plans to reopen very soon. More details to come. Stay tuned! 🤩🥳👏

A Guide for Families Who Have a Child with ASD During the Coronavirus Pandemic | The PLAY Project A message from Dr. Solomon: To My Dear Families, This Coronavirus pandemic is hitting home. It has been weeks now. The schools are closed. Almost everyone is living in isolation in close quarters. We’re all worried we’re going to get it. I’m getting anxious phone calls from the families in my ...

Happy Monday! Get a little dancing in if you can 👯‍♀️🕺👯‍♂️💃

Justin Bieber and James Corden copying toddlers' dance moves is just adorable Throw those shapes!

'Why Didn't You Tell Me About Your Autism?': Anthony Ianni's Friendship With Draymond Green When Anthony Ianni joined the Michigan State basketball team, he tried to keep his autism diagnosis a secret.

I hope to visit Anastasia and Katie's Coffee Shop & Cafe sometimes soon! ☕️☺️

Ribbon cutting planned for Livonia coffee shop dedicated to hiring those with disabilities A shopping center at a busy intersection in Livonia. There’s a party store. A take-out restaurant that specializes in pasties. That’s about as Michigan as it gets, right there. Its newest tenant is Anastasia and Katie’s Coffee Shop. From the outside, it’s a coffee shop like any other. The me...

"When a parent responds to a baby’s coos or cries by picking them up or playing peak-a-boo with them for example, the back-and-forth helps build the baby’s brain architecture, which is later tied to children’s learning, behavior, and health outcomes."

Smartphones are disrupting the crucial connections between parents and their babies "I don't care if you're in Mongolia, or China, or the US—kids grow up the same way. They need human interaction."

Detroit Kid City holds sensory-friendly play for Autism families An electronic-free setting provides sensory-friendly play for kids who struggle with busy spaces

Wow! Great job Nature Valley, these reminders are so important for all of us!

Hard-Hitting Nature Valley Ad Shows The Terrifying Side Of Kids Addicted To Technology Nature Valley Canada recently sat down three generations of families and asked them one simple question, "What did you like to do for fun as a kid?" Take a mome

I recently met Gail Sombati who is a Cruise Vacation Specialist with Autism on the Seas and wanted to share this great resource. Through Autism on the Seas, Team Orange provides support on cruises to allow families and individuals living with autism, Down Syndrome and other developmental disabilities enjoy a vacation.

Autism on the Seas - Midwest Autism on the Seas-Midwest is a subsidiary of "Autism on the Seas" the leading provider of Special N

A friend recently shared this with me-I'm not sure if this has spread to Michigan but certainly something to be aware of this Halloween season!

https://www.facebook.com/lovewhatreallymatters/posts/2847823755240004

Note the difference between Blue Buckets for Autism and the Teal Pumpkin Project, which means that you have non-food treats for trick-or-treaters with food allergies or other conditions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5re03eNhNkI

“My son is 3-years-old and has autism. He is nonverbal. Last year houses waited for him to say TRICK OR TREAT in order for him to get a piece of candy and there I go explaining the situation for the next 5 blocks.

This year we will be trying the BLUE BUCKET to signify he has autism.

Please allow him (or any other person with a BLUE BUCKET) to enjoy this day. Don't worry I'll still say TRICK OR TREAT for him, I’ll get my mom candy tax later. 😁

This holiday is hard enough without any added stress. Thank you in advance. Get the BLUE BUCKET message out there for Autism Awareness this Halloween.” 💙🎃💙🎃💙🎃

For our best videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.YouTube.com/LoveWhatMatters



Credit: Omairis Taylor

I saw this interview on one of my favorite shows yesterday (any CBS Sunday Morning fans out there?!), which led me to check out the Cerebral Palsy Foundation's campaign, Awkward Moments with Jason Benetti.

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/play-by-play-with-jason-benetti/

https://www.yourcpf.org/awkward-moments-jason-benetti/

The foundation also has a campaign called "Just Say Hi" which has been developed into a curriculum "for creating discussions about inclusion and for developing effective approaches to creating an inclusive and effective learning environment."

Check it out and share 😄

https://www.yourcpf.org/just-say-hi-in-schools/

Play-by-play with Jason Benetti Beginning this year radio and television sports broadcaster Jason Benetti became the fulltime play-by-play announcer for the Chicago White Sox. Benetti, who has cerebral palsy, spoke with Scott Simon, of National Public Radio, about his remarkable career.

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend! If you are looking for something new to do this week, consider checking out Bowlero Lanes. In addition to standard bowling lanes, a vintage arcade and a full cocktail bar they are also a Certified Autism Center offering bowling leagues for teenagers and young adults with special needs. Bowlero Lanes is also planning to have sensory friendly days as well. See the full article linked below!

https://www.metroparent.com/daily/family-fun/family-activities/retro-bowlero-lanes-lounge-autism-certified-center/

Retro Bowlero Lanes & Lounge is an Autism Certified Center - Detroit and Ann Arbor Metro Parent A local mom and former school psychologist has brought Royal Oak's Bowlero Lanes & Lounge back to life, complete with many unique accessible features.

The Autism CARES (Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support) has been unanimously approved by the United States Senate-see the article below for more information!

https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2019/09/20/autism-act-clears-senate-2/27191/

Autism Act Clears Senate A bill that includes more than $1.8 billion for federal efforts to address the needs of people with autism is headed to President Donald Trump.

Another great article highlighting the benefits of play for both kids and parents!

https://www.mother.ly/child/to-the-parents-who-dont-think-theyre-good-at-playing-you-are

To the parents who don't think they're good at 'playing'—you are Your child thinks you're fun, even if you don't.

I love this 💜

Boy holds hand of crying classmate with autism on first day of school A Kansas second-grader is warming hearts around the web with a photo posted online of him consoling an autistic classmate. Courtney Coko Moore of Wichita uploaded an image to Facebook of the moment…

What a great idea! This could be very helpful for so many kiddos that struggle with getting their haircut!

It’s science: Toddlers are happier with fewer toys As a new mom, I fell into the trap of constantly buying new toys that I hoped would stimulate my son's mind—or, at least, keep him occupied while I made dinner. But it seemed the more toys I got, the less interested he was in any of them. It turns out he isn't alone: According to a new study, ...

A quick synopsis of The Loving Push by Debra Moore and Temple Grandin-check it out!

Temple Grandin Explains Why It’s Necessary to Pull ASD Children Out of Their Comfort Zone This new book, authored by Temple Grandin and Debra Moore, argues that the comfort zone may not necessarily be the best place for a child with autism.

This video made me :) and I hope it does the same for you! Happy Friday!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxvm_mthnU6/?igshid=121glz0gyk5au

This young boy opened up to his class about his experience with autism, and their heartfelt response brought his teacher to tears. ❤️

Have you heard about the PLAY Project? Are you looking for additional therapy for your child this summer?

The Play Project may be a great addition to your family's summer schedule. With a focus on building relationships and having FUN, the PLAY Project offers families the techniques and support to help children grow!

For more information, visit https://brightconnectionsot.com/the-play-project

If you have a couple of minutes to listen to the audio, it's even better just reading the story.

Help when you can and lead with compassion. ☺️

A Mother Of A Son With Autism Thanks A Stranger Who Helped: 'Nobody Does What You Do' At StoryCorps, Ellen Hughes tells Keith Miller, who also has a son with autism, how much it meant to her when he comforted her son Walker on a difficult visit to the ER last year.

A great video explaining how we're all just a bit different from each other, including those that have autism.

Animated Explanation of Autism One of the best videos Ive seen explaining what Autism is and how we are all the same. Must watch. Kudos to the creators. I DID NOT create this video. I show...