Meet Helen Corey – The Compassion Behind Our Care

Therapy room at Lighthouse Autism Center with toys on a table with blue chairs and book shelves above

Meet Helen Corey – The Compassion Behind Our Care

Get to know the Compassionate Team of Clinical Experts at Lighthouse Autism Center

Helen’s Lighthouse Story

Helen Corey is a speech-language pathologist at Lighthouse Autism Center. She has a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree with a concentration in speech-language pathology from Ball State University. She has been in practice for six years. Helen recently enrolled at the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) in May 2022 to pursue her master’s in behavior analysis. She will join the team of three other dually certified SLP-BCBAs at Lighthouse Autism Center.

What made you decide on a career in therapy?

I had delayed speech, and didn’t talk until I was 4 years old, and so I received speech therapy all throughout elementary school.  I absolutely loved my speech therapist and she inspired me to make changes in every kid’s life through providing them the means to communicate, whatever that may be!

What inspires/drives you?

I am driven by my need for continuous learning. I am always researching techniques, watching webinars, and making connections across the SLP world.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of my job is being able to connect with all the kids, and when I walk into a building having kids come up to me and hug me, or say hi, and want to play all day with me!

How has this career path impacted you?

The career path has allowed me to take a step back in life, slow down, and appreciate the little moments. All children progress differently, and it is important to be able to celebrate the little victories!

What advice would you give to those seeking a Similar career path?

Learn to appreciate yourself for your special skills! No one is ever a perfect therapist, and we all need to continue to learn and grow as people and as therapists, because improving the quality of life for the children is always the top priority.

Why Lighthouse Autism Center?

I worked with a BCBA at a previous job site and found my niche of alternative and augmentative communication! The majority of kids that I have worked with along my career path, have had primary diagnoses of autism, and so it was a no-brainer for me at the time to come to Lighthouse so that I could work with one of my favorite populations full-time!

What is your favorite part about Lighthouse Autism Center?

My favorite part about Lighthouse is that they encourage expanding your mindset to become more adept in your profession, by providing access to continuing education.

What Lighthouse Autism Center value to you identify most with?

Put a premium on innovation & creativity. In the field of Speech Pathology, there is no need to only utilize a few techniques, there are so many different ways to achieve a goal, and it’s fun to come up with completely individualized ways of targeting communication!

What is a fun/unique fact about you?

I have over 50 houseplants that I care for and love!

Ready for a career where you can make a difference?

Meet Susan Stahly – The Compassion Behind Our Care

Get to know the Compassionate Team of Clinical Experts at Lighthouse Autism Center

Susan’s Lighthouse Story

Susan Stahly is a speech-language pathologist at Lighthouse Autism Center. She has a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and received her master’s degree from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). She has been in practice for 20 years. Susan recently enrolled at the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) in May 2022 to pursue her master’s in behavior analysis. She will join the team of three other dually certified SLP-BCBAs at Lighthouse Autism Center.

What made you decide on a career in therapy?

I was working as a catering manager with Marriott Hotels and Resorts; in the evening I would volunteer in the NICU at a local hospital. It became apparent that I wanted to be part of the healthcare industry; I loved working with patients and their families, have always been fascinated with healthcare, neurology, physiology, etc. as well as wanting to make a difference by directly helping others.

What inspires/drives you?

I am very passionate about doing all I can, within my area of expertise, to help our clients and their families. I always strive to learn more evidence-based strategies, techniques and follow research for the greatest benefit of our clients and families. I’m inspired by all of my current and past patients/clients/families – they have taught me so much and I’m grateful and feel privileged to work with them.

What is your favorite part of your job?

I love to see the smiles on learners’ faces and love celebrating progress. It is rewarding to help build communication skills as well as feeding and swallowing skills. I’m grateful for our co-treat sessions, learning from each other and the collaboration as an interdisciplinary team.

How has this career path impacted you?

Working as an SLP has been an incredible part of my life; the families and clients that I’ve worked with have taught me so much and allowed me to sharpen my skills. I’ve been in awe of the strength, drive, and commitment I’ve witnessed; it has opened my eyes to the vast challenges people go through, and their perseverance. I’m grateful to be part of their journey.

What advice would you give to those seeking a Similar career path?

I would advise anyone interested in a career as a speech-language pathologist to spend time talking with or shadowing SLPs in a variety of settings, to help find your niche and which population and setting you are most passionate about. I would also advise them to continue to learn and strive to expand your skills and expertise.

Why Lighthouse Autism Center?

With the new Lighthouse Fusion model, I am able to pull from my past SLP experiences to consult and collaborate, to share my knowledge; partnering with Program Managers to blend our areas of expertise for the greatest benefit of our clients. I share Lighthouse Autism Center’s desire to help clients and their families and can appreciate their desire to expand.

What is your favorite part about Lighthouse Autism Center?

My favorite part about Lighthouse is the people – such a fantastic team of co-workers, dedicated parents, and amazing learners.

What Lighthouse Autism Center value to you identify most with?

Care about people more than anything: Isn’t that why we’re here?

What is a fun/unique fact about you?

I dream of being a Formula 1 race car driver.

Ready for a career where you can make a difference?

Lighthouse Autism Center Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary

Celebrating 10 Years

Lighthouse Started from Humble Beginnings

It’s hard to believe that it has been a full decade since Lighthouse Autism Center first opened its doors. From humble beginnings of just serving four families in Mishawaka, Lighthouse Autism Center now provides autism services to over 500 families across three states.  On May 21, 2012, Lighthouse Autism Center opened its very first center in Mishawaka, Indiana. With a handful of clients and a small team of clinicians, we began providing ABA therapy services to the Michiana community.

Over the past ten years, Lighthouse has grown into a leading center-based provider of ABA therapy for children on the autism spectrum, with a network of centers across Indiana, southwestern Michigan, and Illinois. As the largest ABA provider in the state of Indiana, Lighthouse has a reputation for bringing together compassionate care with clinical excellence, with autism therapy programs supported by a beautiful play-based environment that supports the best possible outcomes for children with autism.  To think that Lighthouse stated with just one center and has now grown to over twenty centers is truly incredible.

When Gregg and Sandy Maggioli pursued their dream of providing the highest quality autism therapy services to families in Mishawaka, they never could have imagined just how big and how far that dream would come ten years later. Through a passionate team of individuals dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families with autism, Lighthouse Autism Center has impacted hundreds of clients and thousands of individuals across the state of Indiana, Illinois and Michigan serving as not only an ABA provider, but an advocate and support for special needs families.

We are grateful to all of our clients, families, staff, physicians, advocates and individuals who have been a part of the Lighthouse family for the past ten years and look forward to what another year will bring!

Follow us on Facebook to see all the exciting activities we will be doing in May, to celebrate 10 years of Lighthouse Autism Center! Click here: https://www.facebook.com/LighthouseAutismCenter

Together, we can unlock your child’s potential

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