In May of 2022, Lighthouse Autism Center is celebrating 10 years of business. This would not be possible without our tenured staff. These individuals helped build a strong foundation for Lighthouse Autism Center and continue to bring compassion and expertise every day! They have paved a path for an inspiring future of endless growth and possibilities. They have brought hope into our communities and homes. They have unlocked a world of unlimited potential. Thank you for being such a significant piece to our puzzle and for embracing Lighthouse Autism Center’s core values every day!
Nicole’s Lighthouse Story
Nicole is a Regional Director at Lighthouse Autism Center, overseeing various centers. Her prior roles at Lighthouse include Registered Behavior Therapist, Senior Therapist, Program Manager, and Clinical Director. Nicole loves spending time outside in the summer at the lake or pool. She also loves going on adventures with her kids. A unique skill that Nicole has is that she is double-jointed in both of her arms and legs.
Life Before Lighthouse:
What was your career background/experience before Lighthouse Autism Center?
Before Lighthouse, I worked in child development at a youth care center.
Lighthouse Journey:
Why did you originally apply at Lighthouse Autism Center?
I graduated with a BA in Speech and Child Development. At the time I was not ready to go to grad school for speech. I applied at Lighthouse and within a few weeks had applied to start my master’s in ABA.
What is your favorite memory at Lighthouse?
My favorite memories are when LAC was much smaller. You knew everyone and it was so much fun going to community events, staff bonding, and happy hours!
How has Lighthouse impacted you personally?
I have met some of my best friends through working at Lighthouse!
What is your favorite part about working at Lighthouse?
Seeing the change that we are making in our clients’ lives. Helping our kiddos communicate their wants and needs, engaging in play with their siblings or parents, responding to a family members’ excitement! These may seem little to some people, but they are huge accomplishments for families.
What does Lighthouse mean to you?
Lighthouse means family. Family is the bonds that are created within the work atmosphere. Families that we are helping every single day.
Which of the LAC Values do you most identify with?
Care about people more than anything.
What is your favorite change/improvement you have experienced in your time at Lighthouse?
The ability to serve my hometown, from only providing services to 5 families in 2016 to now providing services to 30 families in Warsaw! I love that I get to continue to mentor BCBA’s in the rural areas, so families have access to services in their hometowns!
What advice would you give to prospective or new employees?
My advice to a new Registered Behavior Therapist would be to give it 90 days. The RBT job is so fun and rewarding. Can it be challenging, of course! However, the RBTs are the staff members who get to work with the kids every day, they get to see all of the small changes. The bonds that RBTs can create with their peers is truly something special in our field! I always joke that one of the girls that worked with me when I was a therapist is a prime example of how it gets better. When she first started, she cried every day for 2 weeks and was too nervous to even eat her lunch. She ended up being an amazing therapist once she gave it time!
Ready for a career where you can make a difference?
In May of 2022, Lighthouse Autism Center is celebrating 10 years of business. This would not be possible without our tenured staff. These individuals helped build a strong foundation for Lighthouse Autism Center and continue to bring compassion and expertise every day! They have paved a path for an inspiring future of endless growth and possibilities. They have brought hope into our communities and homes. They have unlocked a world of unlimited potential. Thank you for being such a significant piece to our puzzle and for embracing Lighthouse Autism Center’s core values every day!
Jordan’s Lighthouse Story
Jordan is a Regional Director at Lighthouse Autism Center, overseeing a handful of local centers. Her prior roles at Lighthouse include Registered Behavior Therapist, Senior Therapist, Program Manager, Senior Program Manager, and Clinical Director. Jordan loves the summertime, beaches, lakes, sushi, and spending time with her family.
Life Before Lighthouse:
What was your career background/experience before Lighthouse Autism Center?
I have been working with individuals with special needs for 17 years in different settings including in-home ABA, respite care, a group home setting, and center-based ABA. I have 2 younger brothers with autism and when my older of the 2 brothers got diagnosed with autism, I was instantly interested is working with individuals with special needs and I have loved every minute of it!
Lighthouse Journey:
Why did you originally apply at Lighthouse Autism Center?
I was working at another ABA company at the time when the Clinical Director there told me that LAC was hiring for full-time and knew that is something that I wanted. I applied and interviewed with Sandy. I was instantly interested in the position after meeting with her!
What is your favorite memory at Lighthouse?
I do not know if I can just pick one, I have a lot of favorite memories with different clients, families, and staff. Some of my favorite memories involve simple things that parents would share with me like their child ate food at a restaurant with them for the first time, they were able to go on a vacation together as a family, grandparents have not seen the child in a few months and were blown away by the changes. I get excited when kids learn new things, but I loved hearing from the parents how it impacted them as a family.
How has Lighthouse impacted you personally?
Lighthouse really showed me what an impact quality therapy could make. When my brothers were diagnosed, there were not center-based services in the area and the services available at the time were not the quantity or quality they are today. Seeing the impacts in the first 6 months of Lighthouse being open for the clients and their families was such an amazing experience that I went back to school to get my MA and became a BCBA.
What is your favorite part about working at Lighthouse?
The clients—they are the absolute best part. The things that they learn and how each grows, learns, and shares is the best experience.
What does Lighthouse mean to you?
Lighthouse to me means having hope for something better and having people who want to help you get there.
Which of the LAC Values do you most identify with?
Care about people more than anything.
What is your favorite change/improvement you have experienced in your time at Lighthouse?
One of my favorite things that has changed over the years is going into new places where kids can get services. I have been a part of opening several centers in counties where there were not services and got to witness firsthand how much it meant to those families.
What advice would you give to prospective or new employees?
This is a hard one. I would say just be open minded and realize that the kids are going to teach you more than you could ever teach them.
Ready for a career where you can make a difference?
In May of 2022, Lighthouse Autism Center is celebrating 10 years of business. This would not be possible without our tenured staff. These individuals helped build a strong foundation for Lighthouse Autism Center and continue to bring compassion and expertise every day! They have paved a path for an inspiring future of endless growth and possibilities. They have brought hope into our communities and homes. They have unlocked a world of unlimited potential. Thank you for being such a significant piece to our puzzle and for embracing Lighthouse Autism Center’s core values every day!
Christopher’s Lighthouse Story
Christopher is an IT Helpdesk Specialist II at Lighthouse Autism Center in South Bend. He started at our Mishawaka Park Place center as a Behavior Therapist. Christopher loves spending time with his family and dog, doing arts and crafts, as well as writing and recording music with his friends. He inspires to write children’s books and even proposed to his wife by writing and illustrating a book that ended with an elephant begging the question “Will You Marry Me”. Christopher is quite active. He can skateboard, ski, and surf!
Life Before Lighthouse:
What was your career background/experience before Lighthouse Autism Center?
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, I spent some time working as a professional musician. I spent some time touring and worked in a recording studio. After that I moved back to Indiana, and I worked for other Mental Health Service providers. Prior to Lighthouse I worked for 7 years doing therapy services that were grounded in Activities of Daily Living and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Models. I worked for service providers that partnered with local schools to provide services at the school and in the homes of our clients. I also own and operate a photo and video business.
Lighthouse Journey:
Why did you originally apply at Lighthouse Autism Center?
When I got married, I moved to Mishawaka, and I made friends with a Lighthouse Autism Center Therapist from the Edison Center. I heard how highly she spoke of her coworkers as well as her high regards for Gregg, Sandy, and Leila. She also talked about how positive the work environment was and how the model was different than anywhere she had worked before. My friend strongly encouraged me to apply for a job and after some coaching I decided to take her advice. After meeting with Jordan Kujawski, shadowing Sean Addley, and eventually meeting with Leila Allen I was hopeful I would receive an offer. I saw something radically different than the type of treatment I had worked in before and I was impressed. Fortunately, Sandy called me shortly after to offer me a job. I am so grateful for the friendship that led me to LAC. I am grateful to have discovered Lighthouse. Several people have personally invested in me and my family and I am so happy that I decided to leave a job I loved for one that has truly been a career.
What is your favorite memory at Lighthouse?
While working as a therapist I got to accompany clients as they transitioned into to the school setting. It was so exciting to see all the skills we had worked on with the kiddos generalize to their new setting. The feedback I got from the schools was always grateful.
How has Lighthouse impacted you personally?
Lighthouse has continued to evolve as an organization, stretching and growing to better serve our families. In that growth, the company has remained fiercely loyal to the values of the small company I started at. Lighthouse values employees. It has been refreshing to work for a company that gives away credit to its employees. I have had some incredible supervisors who have embodied this company value and have provided me with constant reminders of gratitude, support, and recognition for our efforts. Lighthouse values families. Even more impactful than the appreciation I have received for my work at Lighthouse, is the confidence in knowing that the company has never lost sight of our mission to improve the lives of the families we work with. The supervisors I have worked with constantly remind the staff that by improving outcomes for the kiddos that we are changing the lives of families. Now that I work in IT, I still feel the emphasis of the organization and what our core objectives are. Every year at Christmas we read stories from families. Each account that I read reminds me that I work for a company that is in the business of changing lives for families. Additionally, each tear-filled graduation we have reflects not only the pride our staff have in the work they do but also the depth of connection we feel to the families we serve.
What is your favorite part about working at Lighthouse?
It is hard to say that I have a favorite thing about Lighthouse, but I am grateful for connections. I am grateful for the connections I have with the teams I have worked with and the connections we all feel to the families we serve.
What does Lighthouse mean to you?
Like the name implies I think Lighthouse is a beacon of hope for the families we serve. It means a lot to me to work for an organization that does what it says it does. I have worked for companies that look good on paper and “talk the talk.” I feel Lighthouse “walks the walk.” I have seen huge transformations in the lives of our clients, and I have felt genuine gratitude from the families we have served. Lighthouse has also been a place for me to grow personally and professionally. People have personally invested in me at Lighthouse and have given me trust and room to grow.
Which of the LAC Values do you most identify with?
Put a premium on innovation and creativity. I loved the times in Pod meetings where the floor was open to new ideas. The Program Managers would take our rough ideas and input and shape them into programs for improving outcomes from kids and their families. In my new role in IT, I feel that all the ideas I have proposed for improving processes reflect our other values like, “Don’t separate the vision from the operations.” Lighthouse values creative input from its employees and I feel like the leadership does a good job of ensuring that those ideas are aimed at our other values and our core objective of improving lives through quality ABA.
What is your favorite change/improvement you have experienced in your time at Lighthouse?
I think the most exciting change or improvement I have seen at Lighthouse is the addition of all the new centers. I know the need for quality ABA is widespread and I am excited that Lighthouse stepped up, took the risk, and expanded so that we could offer this needed service to so many incredible families. When I started at Park Place, we only had two centers and now we have more than 20. The feedback from the families and our communities is overwhelming.
What advice would you give to prospective or new employees?
Allow yourself the opportunity to be vulnerable and embrace a new way of thinking. Lighthouse has a unique approach to ABA and to how it operates in general. If you commit to the values of the company, you fill find great fulfillment in seeing the results in the lives of the families we serve. Having worked in other centers before Lighthouse I had the perspective of seeing how fast the Lighthouse approach affected real life improvements for our clients and their families. Also, the investment you give to Lighthouse will be returned to you. The organization is structured to promote a positive culture and it relies on the staff to continually self-reflect and grow that culture by your words and actions.
Ready for a career where you can make a difference?
In May of 2022, Lighthouse Autism Center is celebrating 10 years of business. This would not be possible without our tenured staff. These individuals helped build a strong foundation for Lighthouse Autism Center and continue to bring compassion and expertise every day! They have paved a path for an inspiring future of endless growth and possibilities. They have brought hope into our communities and homes. They have unlocked a world of unlimited potential. Thank you for being such a significant piece to our puzzle and for embracing Lighthouse Autism Center’s core values every day!
Ashley’s Lighthouse Story
Ashley is a Regional Director at Lighthouse Autism Center in Champaign, IL. Her prior roles at Lighthouse include Registered Behavior Therapist, Junior Program Manager, Program Manager and Clinical Director. Ashley enjoys spending time with her family, attending concerts, watching dating shows, listening to true crime podcasts, and completing puzzles.
Life Before Lighthouse:
What was your career background/experience before Lighthouse Autism Center?
I graduated with my undergraduate degree in special education. After completing my student teaching, I knew that I still loved teaching various skills but did not care for the linguistics and requirements of teachers. Soon after, I discovered the ABA field and started working as a Registered Behavior Therapist. From there I have stayed in the field.
Lighthouse Journey:
Why did you originally apply at Lighthouse Autism Center?
I originally applied to Lighthouse because I had just moved back to the area and was previously a Registered Behavior Technician in central Indiana. When I had applied, I was offered a therapist position as one of the first therapist to open our Plymouth location.
What is your favorite memory at Lighthouse?
One of my favorite memories at Lighthouse was being a part of the Warsaw center expansion on two occasions. The Warsaw center location started as a 1-pod building and is now a 4-pod building.
How has Lighthouse impacted you personally?
Lighthouse has impacted me personally in so many ways. I can honestly say that working at Lighthouse has truly allowed me to become a better person. It isn’t very often that individuals can say that they love the career and field that they are in.
What is your favorite part about working at Lighthouse?
My favorite part about working at Lighthouse is seeing the growth that your kiddos achieve. It is always a sad but rewarding day to see one of your kiddos graduate. Additionally, Lighthouse has always offered a family environment to staff with room to grow professionally.
What does Lighthouse mean to you?
Family.
Which of the LAC Values do you most identify with?
“Care about people more than anything”. This has always been a value that I have strived to display while working my various positions. I have gone out of the way to communicate with others, make people feel welcome, while also displaying a love for my job.
What is your favorite change/improvement you have experienced in your time at Lighthouse?
I would say that the biggest improvement that we have made as a company was switching from all paper data collection and daily progress notes to electronic.
What advice would you give to prospective or new employees?
I would tell a new therapist coming into the field that the terminology can be overwhelming initially and that all the terminology and job tasks will come together by the end of the fourth week. For someone coming in a management or administrator role, I would review all the different ways that Lighthouse gives backs to its employees.
Ready for a career where you can make a difference?
In May of 2022, Lighthouse Autism Center is celebrating 10 years of business. This would not be possible without our clients. These families were some of the first families to receive services at Lighthouse Autism Center and helped build a strong foundation. We would not be where we are today without them! Thank you for choosing Lighthouse Autism Center and for trusting us to provide compassionate care and for being a part of our story.
About Nick
Nick attended Lighthouse Autism Center Park Place and Edison Lakes between 2012 and 2016. He was 12 years old when he first enrolled.
Nick’s Lighthouse Journey
Tell us about your favorite memory from your child’s time at Lighthouse Autism Center.
Seeing Nick actually having fun even when working. I could tell that everyone who worked with him made it fun so that he wanted to participate in the lessons.
Tell us something your child does or is independent with now that you attribute to their time at Lighthouse Autism Center.
Nick had a lot of skills before Lighthouse, but Middle school destroyed him in less than a year. They did not follow his IEP and never communicated with us about what was going on. When asked about his day or behaviors that were starting to develop, they would tell me “He was just adjusting.” Lighthouse managed to help Nick regain control of his emotions, they boosted his confidence and gained his trust.
How did Lighthouse help your family and child reach their goals?
Nick was able to enjoy life again. He was able to reenter school and ended up graduating from PHM.
What advice would you give prospective parents who are considering Lighthouse Autism Center for their child?
You can’t go wrong. The people are all so caring and really want to help your child succeed.
At LAC, we are seeing incredible progress made by our learners every day.
In May of 2022, Lighthouse Autism Center is celebrating 10 years of business. This would not be possible without our clients. These families were some of the first families to receive services at Lighthouse Autism Center and helped build a strong foundation. We would not be where we are today without them! Thank you for choosing Lighthouse Autism Center and for trusting us to provide compassionate care and for being a part of our story.
Meet: Merle and Dawn Janiszewski, parents of Morgyn
Morgyn’s Lighthouse Story
Morgyn attended Lighthouse Autism Center Park Place and Edison Lakes between 2013 and 2017. She was 11 years old when she first enrolled.
Lighthouse Journey:
Tell us about your favorite memory from your child’s time at Lighthouse Autism Center.
Morgyn loved when she was tickled by the therapists, and she loved to swing.
Tell us something your child does or is independent with now that you attribute to their time at Lighthouse Autism Center.
Morgyn helps with cleaning dishes when asked, knows her colors and can count really well. She can spell her name and likes a few more vegetables because of Lighthouse.
How did Lighthouse help your family and child reach their goals?
Lighthouse brought out the entire person in Morgyn. She returned to public school and did really well and became many teachers’ favorite student. She “graduated” high school and is now involved in the adult day program in the same school corporation. She is again a favorite of her current teacher. She is more patient and responds to questions when asked as well as mostly does what she is told.
What advice would you give prospective parents who are considering Lighthouse Autism Center for their child?
If you don’t believe in small miracles, you will after experiencing lighthouse. We were so happy, lucky and blessed to find Lighthouse. Before Lighthouse, the public school system was not making noticeable progress with Morgyn. It took us a few months to secure financial avenues and Lighthouse stuck with us during this time. Experiencing that showed us that Lighthouse puts the children they serve as the main priority.
At LAC, we are seeing incredible progress made by our learners every day.
In May of 2022, Lighthouse Autism Center is celebrating 10 years of business. This would not be possible without our clients. These families were some of the first families to receive services at Lighthouse Autism Center and helped build a strong foundation. We would not be where we are today without them! Thank you for choosing Lighthouse Autism Center and for trusting us to provide compassionate care and for being a part of our story.
Meet: John and Tara Antonucci, parents of Hunter
Hunter’s Lighthouse Story
Hunter attended Lighthouse Autism Center Park Place and Edison Lakes between 2012 and 2018. He was nine years old when he first enrolled.
Lighthouse Journey:
Tell us about your favorite memory from your child’s time at Lighthouse Autism Center.
Hunter loved all the staff at Lighthouse- and he would frequently try to “butter “them up with hugs to get out of his work.
Tell us something your child does or is independent with now that you attribute to their time at Lighthouse Autism Center.
Hunter learned to dress himself, basics of following one and two step direction, all important daily life skills doing laundry, using the microwave and basic hygiene like teeth brushing and flossing.
How did Lighthouse help your family and child reach their goals?
Lighthouse gave us hope, an outstanding support system of other parents in our area who were dealing with issues with the schools and overall, a resource for ABA therapy that was new to the community at the time. Gregg and Sandy were truly angels for providing this resource to parents in the community.
What advice would you give prospective parents who are considering Lighthouse Autism Center for their child?
Lighthouse is an outstanding resource!
At LAC, we are seeing incredible progress made by our learners every day.
In May of 2022, Lighthouse Autism Center is celebrating 10 years of business. This would not be possible without our clients. These families were some of the first families to receive services at Lighthouse Autism Center and helped build a strong foundation. We would not be where we are today without them! Thank you for choosing Lighthouse Autism Center and for trusting us to provide compassionate care and for being a part of our story.
About Ginny
Ginny attended Lighthouse Autism Center Park Place and Edison Lakes between 2012 and 2017. She was 12 years old when she first enrolled.
Ginny’s Lighthouse Journey
Tell us about your favorite memory from your child’s time at Lighthouse Autism Center.
How happy she was to go to Lighthouse and see all her friends and therapists. We (Ginny) still sees and interacts with a couple therapists and friends she made at Lighthouse.
Tell us something your child does or is independent with now that you attribute to their time at Lighthouse Autism Center.
Ginny is able to put on her socks and shoes with minimal help, she can brush her teeth without much help and apply deodorant. She can put on her coat and her shirts. And she can undress completely by herself. She uses utensils and can pour a drink (most of the time). She can complete simple puzzles and color. She will swing independently on her swing set, enjoys walking on the treadmill and of course she enjoys a good ‘dance party’!
How did Lighthouse help your family and child reach their goals?
Ginny grew in ways we didn’t think would be possible. Lighthouse Autism Center gave us the support we needed to help Ginny be as successful as possible. We are so grateful that Lighthouse was a part of our lives and our daughter’s life. LAC is truly a game changer. A dream would be an LAC for adults – adult day services.
What advice would you give prospective parents who are considering Lighthouse Autism Center for their child?
Trust the BCBA’s and RBT’s they know what they are doing, and they have your child’s best interest in mind. Follow through with what they are doing at the center at home as much as you possibly can. Have them partner with your child’s school and be a strong advocate for your child. You won’t know what your child is capable of if you do not try different tasks/skills.
At LAC, we are seeing incredible progress made by our learners every day.
In May of 2022, Lighthouse Autism Center is celebrating 10 years of business. This would not be possible without our clients. These families were some of the first families to receive services at Lighthouse Autism Center and helped build a strong foundation. We would not be where we are today without them! Thank you for choosing Lighthouse Autism Center and for trusting us to provide compassionate care and for being a part of our story.
Meet: Tom and Christi Sexton, parents of Dylan
Dylan’s Lighthouse Story
Dylan attended Lighthouse Autism Center Park Place and Edison Lakes between 2012 and 2017. He was 12 years old when he first enrolled.
Lighthouse Journey:
Tell us about your favorite memory from your child’s time at Lighthouse Autism Center.
We have several, but I think one of the parties they had where Dylan was laughing and dancing around. He absolutely loves music.
Tell us something your child does or is independent with now that you attribute to their time at Lighthouse Autism Center.
He’s very polite. He always says “please” and “no thank you” if he does not want something. Even if he’s yelling it, he’s still polite.
How did Lighthouse help your family and child reach their goals?
Lighthouse has helped in so many ways.
What advice would you give prospective parents who are considering Lighthouse Autism Center for their child?
We would encourage them to go. Lighthouse has been such an important part of our lives. They have been so incredibly helpful in every way. Having to take your not very verbal child to a place and leave them is a very scary thing. I felt so relaxed when he was there rather than a regular school. I knew he was being taken care of and that I didn’t need to worry about his safety. That is huge for us parents!
At LAC, we are seeing incredible progress made by our learners every day.
In May of 2022, Lighthouse Autism Center is celebrating 10 years of business. This would not be possible without our clients. These families were some of the first families to receive services at Lighthouse Autism Center and helped build a strong foundation. We would not be where we are today without them! Thank you for choosing Lighthouse Autism Center and for trusting us to provide compassionate care and for being a part of our story.
Meet: Lisa Cook, parent of Ally
Ally’s Lighthouse Story
Ally attended Lighthouse Autism Center in Mishawaka between 2012 and 2013. She was four years old when she first enrolled.
Lighthouse Journey:
Ally was diagnosed with Autism at the age of two. The specialist at the Mayo Clinic told us about ABA therapy. He painted a picture of what Ally’s life would be like if we continued with the limited therapies she was receiving (not graduating high school or living alone as an adult) and then what her life could be like with ABA therapy. We were living in a small town in Iowa at the time and there were no ABA centers in the state. We struggled for another year, until our insurance stopped covering the limited therapies she was receiving. It became clear that Ally would not thrive if we stayed in Iowa. She was an expert escape artist, dismantling every child lock system we installed. We struggled to keep her safe in our own home. She was not verbal and any change in routine led to hours of meltdowns. We took a huge leap of faith, left good jobs and put our house on the market and moved here.
Long story short, we fought insurance for another year to get ABA coverage and so many doors slammed shut. My favorite memory from LAC was the first time we met Gregg and Sandy and they shared their story. They gave us so much hope. They offered the last spot at the Mishawaka center to Ally. Sandy helped us move mountains with insurance. The staff that worked with Ally was so creative in finding ways to motivate her. My favorite was the paper ballerinas they made with her and hung from the ceiling over her workspace. She still has them. Over the course of 1 year Ally’s speech exploded. She went from using a few sentences to get her needs met, to talking nonstop about everything. She no longer attempted to escape our house and her tantrums became few and far between. She went from eating 3-4 different foods to trying new foods daily. But it is really so much more than the measurable goals and data sheets. When Ally was little, I could see in her eyes that she understood every word I said, and I wanted so desperately to connect with her. The biggest impact that LAC had on our family was bridging that connection. My husband and I have a relationship with her that we didn’t think was possible. I love the depth of our conversations and her unique perspectives. Ally is a prime example of the profound impact of early intervention.
Lighthouse did an amazing job transitioning her into kindergarten. She has had several outstanding teachers in elementary school that have continued to build upon the foundation that was started at LAC. She is now a straight A student and has scored above average on the ILearn 3 years in a row. She no longer has an IEP. Her robotics team made it to state and placed 2nd overall. She loves to fish, plays guitar, is competitive in archery, and boys…so many boys. More importantly, she’s happy. She’s becoming a great advocate for herself. She remembers a lot from her time at LAC and wishes that every child with autism could go there because of how much it helped her.
We sacrificed so much and fought so long to get ABA therapy for Ally. It was so worth it. It blows my mind that other parents would hesitate to send their child to Lighthouse Autism Center. I would love for them to meet Ally.
We have been thrilled to see how Lighthouse has rapidly expanded over the past 10 years and how many more families you have been able to help.
At LAC, we are seeing incredible progress made by our learners every day.
In May of 2022, Lighthouse Autism Center is celebrating 10 years of business. This would not be possible without our clients. These families were some of the first families to receive services at Lighthouse Autism Center and helped build a strong foundation. We would not be where we are today without them! Thank you for choosing Lighthouse Autism Center and for trusting us to provide compassionate care and for being a part of our story.
Meet: Jodi and David Donathen, parents of Alexis
Alexis’ Lighthouse Story
Alexis attended Lighthouse Autism Center Park Place and Edison Lakes between 2012 and 2017. She was 12 years old when she first enrolled. Lexi was the eleventh client to join at Lighthouse Autism Center’s very first center! The group of kiddos that attended with her have a very special bond to this day as well as the group of parents. These families continue to cheer each other on and pick each other up. They consider the group as one big family.
Lighthouse Journey:
Tell us about your favorite memory from your child’s time at Lighthouse Autism Center.
The holiday party at Christmas time. We enjoyed watching Lexi participate in the stations and the camaraderie between she and the other members of her pod. Every season brought a special event, but Santa and his elves sparked a special light with our girl.
Tell us something your child does or is independent with now that you attribute to their time at Lighthouse Autism Center.
Lexi’s independence with self-help was vastly improved while in attendance at the center(s). She has continued to dress herself with minimal cueing and assist. LAC helped us to see her potential and carry the tools and tactics used by the therapist to Segway into her everyday life at home.
How did Lighthouse help your family and child reach their goals?
Lighthouse Autism Center helped us be better equipped to recognize her abilities and to let her grow as an individual.
What advice would you give prospective parents who are considering Lighthouse Autism Center for their child?
Jump. Feet first! Be ready to watch your child bloom and grow. But the work is not just for your child. Be prepared to step back and work yourselves. It’s a team initiative. The work doesn’t stop at the center. Ask questions and reflect at how your household can begin mimicking the work that is being done during the day. Join in your child’s education in a new and functional way that acknowledges who they are as an individual, not a standard set of prewritten and defined goals and objectives set forth by a district or corporation. The program is not cookie cutter/one size fits all. It is an individualized education program (IEP) that is truly centered around your learner.
At LAC, we are seeing incredible progress made by our learners every day.
In May of 2022, Lighthouse Autism Center is celebrating 10 years of business. This would not be possible without our clients. These families were some of the first families to receive services at Lighthouse Autism Center and helped build a strong foundation. We would not be where we are today without them! Thank you for choosing Lighthouse Autism Center and for trusting us to provide compassionate care and for being a part of our story.
Meet: Kub and Cheryl Marshman, parents of Adam
Adam’s Lighthouse Story
Adam attended Lighthouse Autism Center Park Place and Edison Lakes between 2012 and 2015. He was 11 years old when he first enrolled.
Lighthouse Journey:
Tell us about your favorite memory from your child’s time at Lighthouse Autism Center.
Adam was potty trained by Lighthouse staff. This was such a challenge that so many parents struggle with.
Tell us something your child does or is independent with now that you attribute to their time at Lighthouse Autism Center.
Before Lighthouse, Adam’s diet consisted of a lot of milk, yogurt, and snack type foods. Lighthouse came to our house at dinner time and after roughly 5 days of therapy, encouragement, and rewards, Adam was eating the same meals we were. It was a remarkable turnaround. Today, he eats a large variety of foods including every food group.
How did Lighthouse help your family and child reach their goals?
Goals were documented, and progress data driven and measured. There were regularly scheduled in person progress meetings and reports on goals and progress.
What advice would you give prospective parents who are considering Lighthouse Autism Center for their child?
You are the parents of your child. No one knows your child like you do. Put your trust in a group of people who have nothing but your child’s best interest at heart. At some point you have thought, “I know my kid has more potential than what I’ve been led to believe”. Lighthouse and you can uncover that potential.
At LAC, we are seeing incredible progress made by our learners every day.
Please answer a few questions to help us get to know you better.
How old is your child?
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Is your child diagnosed with autism?
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We’re here to help.
Lighthouse Autism Center offers ABA therapy for children with autism. Contact us to learn how our innovative clinical model can help your child make greater progress, faster, all while having fun.
