About us
What does our company do?
The Brighter Horizons Program provides teens and young adults with developmental disabilities a supportive environment to increase independence and self confidence through a functional life skills based lens. Participants are given the opportunity to foster relationships with many residents within the Winchester and surrounding area.
How does our company do it?
Our team of experienced developmental services workers deliver individualized programs that are created to increase independence in functional life skills that are created based on participants’ strengths and areas of growth.
Why does our company do it?
The founders of the Brighter Horizons Program are incredibly passionate about helping to make the lives of those with developmental disabilities better as well as helping to educate the greater society about how we can become more inclusive, diverse and accepting. We have learned from our clients who constantly inspire us to be the best version of ourselves. Sharing their incredible gifts with others brings everyone joy which the world desperately needs right now.
Alyssa Sands
Founder
Program Director
Alyssa is a graduate of the Developmental Services Worker program as well as Recreation and Leisure Services. Alyssa has been working within the developmental services field for over 10 years. She has experience working in many different settings, such as after school programs, day programs, group homes, elementary/high schools and various sports programs. She has a wide range of experience assisting individuals with personal care, medication administration, involvement in community activities, exercise, cooking and participation in a variety of recreational programs. Alyssa wanted to further her knowledge of the developmental services field and started work within the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. She provided support across many schools, learning the different types of supports available to individuals with autism, developmental disabilities and intellectual disabilities. After discovering that there are two schools within the board that provide support exclusively to students with a variety of special needs, she fell in love with the program at Clifford Bowey Public School and has learned how to work with students who have neurological disorders, many students are non-verbal, and all are developmentally delayed. Many students have additional diagnoses, and are unique in their own way.
Alyssa has created a day program for individuals with developmental disabilities in the Winchester area hoping to help foster new relationships and build new skills that participants can use in everyday life. She is passionate about her work and is always looking for new ways to provide the best support to this population.