HOW WE STARTED
From Passion to Purpose
At Bright Path Therapy & Learning Center, our story began with a deep passion for creating a world where every child, regardless of their diagnosis, can thrive. As professionals in therapy and education, we saw firsthand the challenges that children with disabilities face—both in accessing quality care and finding a learning environment tailored to their unique needs.
Driven by the desire to fill this gap, we envisioned a space where therapy and education work hand-in-hand to support each child’s growth. From that passion grew Bright Path, a nonprofit therapy and learning center designed to empower children with disabilities, including their families.
Our journey started with a simple but powerful belief: every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, supported by experts who understand their needs. This belief became our purpose—creating a community where individualized care, compassionate teaching, and holistic development come together.
Today, Bright Path Therapy & Learning Center stands as a place where children with disabilities can flourish in a nurturing, inclusive environment. We are proud to provide both therapeutic services and personalized education, helping each child build the skills and confidence they need to succeed.
Our core values
Authenticity, Intentionality, Integrity, Collaboration, Empowerment
We hope to be authentic and intentional with every person that we come into connect with and collaborate with everyone involved in the child’s life and empower the children to reach their highest potential.
Staff Members
Founder and Executive Director
Leah Werdelin
Leah found her passion working with the disability community at a very young age. Later in life, she was diagnosed with her own disabilities, that should have been documented as a child to receive the needed services that may have made educational and life experiences easier. Because of this, Leah decided that she wanted to be an advocate for children with disabilities and their families to get evaluated in the early developmental years. Graduating from the University of North Florida with her Bachelor of Arts in Special Education with a Concentration in Disability Services with double minors in American Sign Language/Deaf Studies and Deaf Education in May 2023. She has previously worked with all kinds of ages and disabilities. Most of her experience, however, is in deafness, as well as intellectual and developmental disabilities. Leah believes in advocating potential for individuals with disabilities. She hopes that in establishing this center, children are encouraged to meet be able to meet their full potential, as well as solstice for parents that their child is learning all of the necessary skills for an independent life.
animal therapy director
LIBBY
Libby is Leah’s five-year-old Miniature Dachshund. She is able to pick up on emotions and loves to build positively to other peoples’ lives. In her role at Bright Path Therapy & Learning Center, Libby spends a lot of time with our staff and students to bring a smile to their faces and helps manage our dogs on the Animal Therapy team.