A new virtual coaching program is helping parents of preschoolers with suspected developmental delays navigate the often complex process of seeking support and services for their children. Developed by researchers at McGill University, the BRIGHT Coaching program provides one-on-one guidance from trained professionals. It helps parents understand and manage concerns like speech delays, autism, and cerebral palsy, while also supporting them in fostering their child’s development and building family resilience during the waiting period for formal services. The program was created through the CHILD-BRIGHT Network, a national initiative based at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. A randomized clinical trial tested the program with over 300 parents of preschool children across several Canadian provinces. The findings were published in the journal Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, highlighting the program's effectiveness in supporting families during a critical time. Annette Majnemer, a professor emerita at McGill and senior scientist at the Research Institute, explained that parents often feel unprepared when meeting with neurologists or other specialists. The BRIGHT Coaching program helps them ask better questions, understand available therapies, and learn how the healthcare system works in their local community. The goal, she said, is to empower parents and give them the tools they need to advocate for their children. Parents who participated in the 14-session program reported feeling more confident and informed compared to those who did not take part. Over 93% of participants said the program helped them better support their child’s development. Tatiana Ogourtsova, co-author of the study and assistant professor at McGill, noted that the program was shaped by input from parents who shared what they wished they had known earlier. She emphasized the importance of the preschool years for early intervention, which can have a significant impact on a child’s future. More than 850,000 Canadian children live with brain-based developmental disabilities, and the first signs of these conditions often appear during the preschool years. The BRIGHT Coaching program aims to help parents address these concerns early, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and confidence to support their child’s development from the beginning.