Bright Start: A Pediatric Therapy & Learning Center

Face of Speech-Language Pathology

Ashley McInnis, MCD, CCC-SLP – Owner/SLP, Chelsea Pierce, MOT, LOTR, CHT, & Madison Rau, PT, DPT, PCS

Bright Start was founded by Ashley McInnis, MCD, CCC-SLP. Ashley is passionate about providing quality and timely, evidenced-based care with and alongside her interdisciplinary team. Ashley is a speech-language pathologist by trade and a mama at heart–to three boys. She wants to connect with each family that comes to Bright Start and she aims to provide quality therapy to parents––without sitting on a waitlist!

Bright Start is a private, pediatric therapy practice that offers speech, feeding, occupational, physical and behavioral therapy in homes, daycares, and on-site at their clinics. Bright Start has a team of 20 hand-picked therapists that each bring their own specialties to the table. Bright Start is also an agency within the Louisiana Early Steps program. The team is so proud to service many regions of Louisiana and reach a wide range of families throughout the state.

How is Bright Start involved in our community?

Bright Start could not flourish without its most important aspect: our families; which is why we make great efforts to be engaged in our community, and connect with our families 1:1. We go above and beyond with coaching, counseling and educating our families to help them carry over the skills that we are working on directly with their child into their natural environment.

Who do you/Bright Start work with to help the community?

Through the Louisiana Early Steps program, we’re able to offer therapeutic evaluations and ongoing services to all families in need throughout the Greater New Orleans area, extending to the Westbank and Lafayette. We also collaborate directly with local schools and daycares to offer speech and hearing screenings at a discounted rate and conduct free screenings at public wellness fairs and therapies on a sliding scale. As a teaching practice, we welcome LSU Health Sciences student placements from their occupational therapy and speech-language pathology programs to join us at the clinic.

What is special about New Orleans to Bright Start?

As Bright Start continues to grow, New Orleans will always hold a unique and special place in our heart–it will always be our home. The sense of community in New Orleans is second to none, and we prioritize building relationships with local families, schools, and organizations. This engagement fosters collaboration and ensures that we are responsive to the needs of the community we serve. Overall, New Orleans is not just a location for our pediatric therapy group; it is an integral part of our identity, values, and mission. We are proud to contribute to the well-being of the families in this vibrant city.

What products/services do you offer?

Bright Start offers screenings (hearing, speech, language, feeding, behavior, occupational and physical therapy), evaluations and ongoing therapeutic services, and parent consults and counseling in regards to Louisiana’s Early Steps program. We also offer play groups to facilitate age-appropriate play among peers.

For more information, call (504) 517-5108, email info@brightstartnola.com, or check out the website at brightstartnola.com.