For nearly six decades, Starbright has illuminated paths for children from birth to six years old facing developmental challenges, providing comprehensive services such as infant development programs, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, clinical counseling, behavior support, and inclusive childcare. Terri, the Human Resources Manager at Starbright, has not only been a part of this compassionate journey for 27 years but has also experienced the organization’s profound impact through her son’s involvement in their programs. Blending her personal experiences with her professional role, Terri offers invaluable insights into Starbright’s mission. Here’s Terri’s story, shedding light on the heart of what makes Starbright a pillar of support for so many families.

01. TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.

Terri: I am the Human Resources Manager for Starbright. I have had several different positions while working with Starbright and have an in-depth understanding of the various departments that make up the diverse professional workforce of the agency. As the mom of a son with autism who was formerly a client of Starbright, one of my strengths is that I have insight into both worlds – that of the family seeking services and that of the professionals providing it.

02. WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE IN YOUR WORLD?

Terri: In support of people of all abilities, I refrain from using the word typical, and to be honest, I think most Human Resources professionals will tell you there is nothing “typical” about the day in the life of a Human Resources Manager. The best way I can describe a day in my professional life is that I go where the highest priority and need is, and the rest of the time I concentrate on making our agency the best it can be through the cultivation of new ideas, workplace wellness, cultural and psychological health and safety, policy direction, early intervention, benefits, negotiations, job descriptions, and having those crucial conversations that help make the agency strong, supporting and evolving ideas from colleagues to enrich the working environment and reach maximum potential.

03. WHAT IS IT ABOUT STARBRIGHT THAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT?

Terri: Starbright is a family-centered organization that works with children from birth to six who are developmentally delayed and require support in the areas of infant development, speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy, clinical counselling, behaviour support, and inclusive childcare. What makes Starbright different is that the agency’s legacy was inspired by a group of parents and a local pediatrician who united to create an organization that had one goal in mind – support for the achievement of family-centered goals in a safe and inclusive environment. Services at our agency are not dependent on diagnosis; they are based on the needs and goals of families. Starbright’s history embraces over fifty-eight years of family-centered practice staying true to its roots – delivering therapies and services to children with development delays based on the support needs of families. Families are the heart of our agency.

Having been one of those families who walked through the doors of Starbright in search of support, I had the most incredible experiences that can only be described as miraculous. My son, at 2 years old, became non-verbal overnight after a lengthy illness, stopped participating, and retreated into a world of his own. He no longer gave those warm welcoming smiles. Instead, he looked through you, and it broke my heart. He had so many sensory issues that the world had become intolerable for him – sounds terrified him, and transitions were incredibly difficult. He completely lost his language development. Soon after these experiences, my son was diagnosed with autism at 2-1/2 years old. While diagnoses often happen for children today around this age, my son was fortunate – usually diagnosis happened around ten to twelve years old when he was diagnosed. We received services from a multi-disciplinary team and so many things changed. I was inspired by the team’s dedication and went on to take training so that I could continue the work with my son that started at Starbright. The results speak for themselves. The once non-verbal, sensory-terrified little boy became verbal, graduated with honors from high school, is working and taking post-secondary courses, and like any young adult, is trying to decide where life is going to take him.

04. WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE YOU STARTED?

Terri: This is a very interesting question for me. I have seen the agency come full circle. When my son was a client here, we had access to a range of services including counselling, family support, Thera-play, speech, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, therapeutic riding, parent training, infant development, supported child development, and autism early intervention.

Over the years, provincial funding cuts and an increasing number of clients have led to the suspension of some of our services. Now, everything has come full circle, and the intent of the province is to restore all those services as a full package. The holistic approach has been shown to be highly effective, but its success largely depends on adequate funding.

05. WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW?

Terri: The biggest challenge, as with most organizations, is recruiting. We haven’t experienced a retention issue at Starbright. No one truly retires from Starbright – the agency remains in your heart for a lifetime.

06. WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER THAT YOU WANT OTHERS TO KNOW ABOUT?

Terri: We offer a lot of parent training, early learning staff training to support inclusion in daycares and preschools, and have groups for families to participate in, aside from the actual therapy and programming services offered. Our agency is family-focused – the family leads the way in how we plan and deliver services.

07. WHERE DO YOU SEE STARBRIGHT GROWTH IN 5 YEARS?

Terri: I see Starbright expanding to meet the demands of the growing population in the Central Okanagan. Even with recent expansion in the service areas, the population growth and the need for support far outweigh the available provincial funding.

08. WHAT BUSINESS LEADER DO YOU ADMIRE, AND WHY?

Terri: There are a couple. I had the wonderful opportunity to take part in Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead program, facilitated by Diane Lloyd. Brené’s message is very clear – you cannot lead without compassion, and when you are down or broken-hearted, you rise stronger than before. I also admire our Executive Director, Dr. Rhonda Nelson. Her background is in education, and she is always striving to give us the tools to enrich our professional growth. My professional growth over the last seven years has grown exponentially and continues to expand every day.

09. WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER ADVICE YOU NEVER GOT?

Terri: The best advice I never got is to stay true to your boundaries. When you are in a compassion and caring field, that compassion can lead to fatigue. If you cross the boundary too far into your personal life, your foundation and support will crumble. This concept now makes me smile – for years I taught my son relaxation techniques to help with those moments of anxiety, and now, he is the one telling me to count to ten, and not to sweat the small stuff whenever I bring work issues home. The teacher is now becoming the student 😊

10. HOW DO YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION GET INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

Terri: For myself, when my future was uncertain due to a serious cancer diagnosis, I got involved in volunteering to stop from feeling sorry for myself. I volunteered at Starbright and within the local school district and shared what I had learned about advocating for the needs of your child. By helping others, I was able to stay grounded and true to my passions. This commitment led to my employment at Starbright.

For our organization, we are woven into the spirit of the community. From media to alumni, we have created a solid foundation within our cultural environments. From supporting days of caring, adaptive playgrounds, story walks, and other community events, to collaborating with East meets West, the Kelowna Firefighters and many others, Starbright embraces all this community has to offer.  All these connections have embraced and supported the extras that families need.

11. WHAT’S A RESOURCE YOU USE THAT YOU THINK MORE PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

Terri: The best resource you have is something people often forget – your belief in yourself and staying true to what you believe. This is the best resource anyone could ever have. It makes having those difficult conversations much easier as you are not compromising your beliefs.

12. WHAT’S BEEN YOUR FAVORITE PROJECT TO DATE, AND WHY?

Terri: My favourite project to-date is not limited to just one, so this is difficult. I would say that my favourite project to-date is writing a book about our family journey through the unexpected directions life has led my son and me. It is about the incredible journey, the resilience and the rewards of living through the eyes of autism. I am so honored to be a part of this journey, and I never want my son to stop believing in all those amazing pieces of his life, even when I am not around to coach or support. I am passionate that he remembers how much he has changed lives and been a role model to others – it is a legacy to cherish.

Learn more about Starbright and all the things they do to help children’s development – starbrightokanagan.ca

This interview has been edited and condensed.