BrightStone, the Williamson County nonprofit focused on providing purpose to the lives of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, moved its educational programming and operations to its Land of Dreams Campus last November. The new campus offers a comprehensive day program, vocational training, and, for the first time in the organizational history, a residential program. But they also go far beyond that...
Beyond the classroom, they work to keep the adults in their program healthy and active. Focusing on the individual care of each student, whether it is dietary needs, daily health checks, or customized exercise programs to increase mobility and reach individual goals, BrightStone recognizes that the physical and mental well-being of their students is just as important as the curriculum they provide.
BrightStone lives up to its promise to provide exception health resources by employing a full-time nurse, Diana Couey. She is the heart and soul of the student’s well-being considering many students face a variety of health challenges, including blood glucose abnormalities and susceptibility to Type 2 diabetes. Many students are also seizure prone, so having a nurse on site allows for immediate care of any breakthrough seizures. Diana is the first person that students and families see when they arrive each day and, from that moment, student health is top-of-mind. “I am assessing emotional wellbeing, physical wellbeing, and cleaning hands even before they go into the building,” says Diane. “I get a little bit of backstory from the parents that I can then pass on to their teachers so that we know how to address the day.” Her work continues by monitoring vitals, assisting students with sessions on the exercise equipment to meet individual goals, conducting engaging classroom instruction on personal hygiene, and ensuring nutritional information is relayed to the BrightStone chef, Erika Woodard. They also goes a step-further by offering group exercise class twice a week through Exercise and Yoga Instructor, Lisa Kirchner. The program works to increase the students’ strength, flexibility, and agility, while helping them focus mentally.
Even BrightStone’s expansive Land of Dreams is a natural resource for keeping its adults thriving. Situated on 140 acres, the campus provides opportunities for outdoor recreation including walking, basketball, gardening and outdoor games. In addition to all of this, the goal to have on-site housing for BrightStone members is becoming a reality thanks to the Land of Dream campus.
BrightStone Residential Program currently has two homes that will house eight adults, with intellectual disabilities, that will be licensed through the State of Tennessee Department of Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (DIDD). One home will be house four men, and one will house four women. Each resident will have their own private bedroom and half bath, with a shared shower area. It’s a Jack & Jill set up, with two residents’ rooms on either side of the home. They have a large living room and dining room space, perfect for social opportunities and relationship building. There is also a large kitchen where they will prepare meals together.
Homes are staffed with live-in home managers, which will provide consistency in care and work with the residents in encouraging independence and developing life skills. Caring and qualified weekend staff will provide care from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. The home managers and the residents will plan weekly activities in the community and residents who are employed in the community will be supported with transportation.
The Land of Dreams Campus truly is a dream come true for the BrightStone community – their staff, families and soon-to-be residents that will embrace living in the new housing. Since BrightStone does not rely on government funding, they invite the community to help fund their general operating budget and capital projects. The Land of Dreams Capital Campaign will provide adults who live with intellectual or other learning challenges opportunities to live, grow, work and continue learning how to be as independent as possible. Learn more about BrightStone and how you can get involved at brightstone.org. Also, mark your calendars for their next FUNdraising event, Bowlability! This family-friendly bowling competition will take place on August 14th and 15th at the Franklin Family Entertainment Center. Register your team at bowlability.com and join in on the fun!
