It’s hard to believe it has been eight years 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 100 families across Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan.

While Lighthouse Autism Center may have grown, the quality ABA therapy and values upon which the center was founded have not changed. As parents of a child with autism, Gregg and Sandy started Lighthouse Autism Center with the goal of providing the best ABA therapy to communities in need. Now, eight years later, Lighthouse is doing just that in Mishawaka, Granger, Elkhart, Plymouth, Warsaw and Portage, MI.

While we may not have imagined we would ever be in a place where our staff are wearing masks and children are having their temperatures checked multiple times a day, we are adapting to these new challenges so that we can continue to provide the same quality ABA therapy we have always provided.

We are proud to serve families with autism in Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan, and we look forward to another year of working with the families and team that bring us so much joy.

Seven Lighthouse Autism Centers re-open after Covid-19 Outbreak Peak

After nearly 6 weeks of being closed, Lighthouse Autism Center is excited to reopen each of it’s seven centers and begin offering ABA services to our families. While Lighthouse Autism Center is an essential service, we felt it was in the best interest of our families and employees to remain closed during the peak of COVID-19 outbreak. Now, with COVID-19 cases on the decline, and with new enhanced health and safety measures in place,  we are prepared to resume offering the highest quality ABA therapy services to our families.

So, what does the “new normal” look like at Lighthouse Autism Center?

Social Distancing

Each center has been modified to include only one child per room or two children in very large rooms. We believe this will be necessary for several weeks in order to comply with recommended social distancing practices.

Temperature and Symptom Checks

All employees and children have their temperatures taken before entering a building and two additional times throughout the day. Any individuals who have a temperature of 99.5 or higher, or show any symptoms of COVID-19 such as cough, or shortness of breath, will not be permitted to enter a center until they are tested for COVID-19 and receive a negative test result.

Masks

All employees must have a mask on before entering a building. Masks will be worn all day until someone exits a center. We have special clear masks to be used by therapists who offer speech therapy services to Lighthouse kiddos.

Program Modification

Children will no longer eat together in the lunchroom and some group programs will temporarily be eliminated (like group time). Instead, children they will eat in their room at their desks and social programs will be done with a therapist as opposed to with other children. This will ensure minimal contact in group spaces.

Extra Sanitation

Extra employees are on site at each building sanitizing all common surfaces (door knobs, handles, bathrooms, kitchens, etc…) multiple times a day.

The Lighthouse Autism Center Team will continue to meet weekly and provide regular updates to parents and the greater community. We know these extra precautions will not need to be in place forever, but for the time being, they will aid in keeping our children, employees and families safe.

For questions or to learn more about Lighthouse Autism Center, please call 574-387-4313.

Autism Resources for Families in Elkhart, Indiana

Have you ever heard the phrase, “it takes a village?” For families with autism, this is especially true as they try to provide the best quality of life for their loved one with autism. With 1 in 58 children diagnosed with autism, it is likely you or someone you know is affected by autism. Not only is it important that a strong family unit is in place for someone with autism, but, it’s also important that they have access to community resources that can assist them, such as recreational therapies, autism services, support groups, and more. In order to better support families with autism, Lighthouse has compiled a list of local autism resources in Elkhart, Indiana. Below, you will find a list of organizations that may be able to assist families with autism in Elkhart, Indiana.

ADEC Family Services

Contact Information: 574-848-7451 or www.adecinc.com
Caring and highly trained staff within ADEC’s Family Services are committed to working with your family to ensure the best possible development and community involvement for your child. For children, this is accomplished through offering summer camp, after school care, transitions, parental assistance for waivers and services, a sibling support group, autism services, a game group for young adults and music and recreational therapies. ADEC also provides services for adults with developmental disabilities, including supported employment, day services, residential services, and protective/legal services.

Anabaptist Disability Network

Contact Information: 574-343-1362 or www.adnetonline.org
Resources for churches and other groups who support the spiritual lives of families and persons who live with all types of disabilities, including mental illness.

Asberger/Autism Support Group of Goshen

Contact Information: 574-742-6394
Currently an online support group with occasional informal meetings. Information posted on the private Facebook group page.

Bashor Children’s Home

Contact Information:574-875-5117 or https://bashor.org/HOME.aspx
Offers education, residential, and community-based services for individuals.

Healthy Beginnings

Contact Information: 574-522-0104 or https://healthybeginningselkhart.org/
Healthy Beginnings offers four programs aimed at prevention, education and early intervention to enhance the health and lives of infants, young children and pregnant and/or breastfeeding women.

Loveway Therapeutic Equestrian Services

Contact Information: 574-825-5666 or www.lovewayinc.org
LoveWay, Inc. provides therapeutic horseback riding for people with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities of all ages.

Oaklawn

Contact Information: 574-533-1234  or www.oaklawn.org
Oaklawn joins with individuals, families, and our community on the journey toward health and wholeness by offering a comprehensive range of mental health and addiction services for children, adolescents, adults, and seniors.

The Voice: Parent Support Group

Contact Information: 574-848-2446
This group is the collaboration of ADEC, GPS, and the United Way.
It is a support group for parents of students in special education.

For more information regarding autism related resources in Elkhart, Indiana, contact the Family Outreach Coordinator at Lighthouse Autism Center at 574-387-4313.

Elkhart Mayor meets student at Elkhart’s newest ABA Center

On Wednesday, September 25, 2019, Elkhart Mayor Tim Neese visited Lighthouse Autism Center’s newest center in Elkhart, IN. Mayor Neese met with founder and Executive Director, Gregg Maggioli, to learn more about Lighthouse and the ABA services being offered to the Elkhart community, as well as the 30 additional
jobs that will be created through the opening of the new center. Following their meeting, Mayor Neese toured the center, visiting therapy rooms, the playroom, and group therapy spaces. The Mayor also had the opportunity to meet some of the kiddos who attend Lighthouse Autism Center in Elkhart and provided them with a small token to commemorate his visit.

Lighthouse Autism Center in Elkhart is currently enrolling. To learn more or schedule a tour of the new center, contact us at 574-387-4313.

While scientists work on finding the causes of autism behavioral specialists are making great strides in assisting child development through the use of technology.

How Technology Can Help with Childhood Development

Computers in the classroom have evolved from a luxury to a necessity as communication technologies progress. As traditional classrooms have proven successful with the use of modern technology, autism specialists have been researching and developing therapies that use computers to improve communication means for children with autism.

How Does It Work?

Research has found that many children with autism are visual learners. Computers provide teachers and therapists the means to create visual presentations as well as the ability to use communication software that resonates with children who have autism. Because children with autism often communicate through images as opposed to words, computer language software programs provide a way for children to communicate their wants and needs in a way that makes sense to them.

What are the Benefits of Using Technology to Help Children with Autism?

Through this means of positive communication, children experience a more enjoyable, less stressful learning environment that increases their ability to break down their barriers and develop their social skills. One of the most widely used learning techniques with technology is practicing cause and effect. For example, if the child is hungry and wants to eat, he or she would be taught to draw, find or present an image of a food item. The child would then show their picture to their teacher or parent and receive the food they asked for.

Technology and computers can also be used to benefit those who seek to further develop motor skills. Working with a computer, iPad, video game or any technology requires children to practice and develop their fine motor skills, something children with autism often struggle with.

To learn more about the use of technology in ABA therapy or how ABA therapy can help your child, schedule a tour at one of our centers by calling 574-387-4313.

Most people might not know that my parents, Denny and Ronnie Maggioli, have had a huge impact on the success of Lighthouse Autism Center, going all the way back to the very beginning, when our first center opened in 2012. When we opened our first center, my family and I lived in Carmel, Indiana and I commuted back and forth for nearly two years. During the week, I lived with my parents and traveled home to Carmel on the weekends. Not only did my parents welcome their grown son back into their home, but they have played a huge role in the design of each center. With an eye for interior design, my mom has picked paint colors to be used inside the centers, creating a bright and warm, and most importantly, non-clinical feel for the children who attend the centers. My Dad has worked as a dedicated handyman, carpenter, painter and fixer of all things for each of our centers since 2012. Simply said, Lighthouse Autism Center would not be what it is today without the time and love put into each center by my parents. As they officially announce their retirement, we could not be more thankful for their impact not only on the centers, but on each of the kiddos who have attended Lighthouse. Thank you for your tremendous work and dedication to Lighthouse Autism Center – we could not have done it without you!

Visit from Elkhart Mayor Tim Neese at Indiana ABA Center

On Wednesday, September 25^th, Elkhart Mayor Tim Neese visited Lighthouse Autism Center’s newest ABA therapy center in Elkhart, Indiana. The newest center opened in August and is the seventh center opened by Lighthouse Autism Center, which provides ABA therapy services in Mishawaka, Granger, Plymouth, Warsaw and Portage, MI.

The new center will provide intensive, center-based therapy utilizing the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to nearly twenty-five families in the Elkhart area. The therapy programs are custom made for each child and work on things like social skills, communication skills, living skills and school readiness skills.

During his visit, Mayor Neese had the opportunity to meet with Founder and Executive Director, Gregg Maggioli, who has a son with autism. “My son attended one of the first ABA centers in the state of Indiana. When I saw the impact it had on his life, and the life of my family, I knew I had to find a way to bring this service to other families with autism.”

While touring the facility, Mayor Neese was able to observe children working, playing, participating in a simulated classroom setting, and even spoke with one child as she practiced asking and answering questions. When asked about his time at the center, Mayor Neese said, “I’ve only been at the center a short time, but I can see that the staff at Lighthouse are second to none, genuinely care about the kids and are truly making an impact on the lives of children with autism.”

Lighthouse Autism Center is now enrolling children at their newest center in Elkhart, Indiana. To schedule a tour, call 574-387-4313.

Meet the Winners of Lighthouse Autism Center’s 2019 Values Awards

Each of Lighthouse Autism Centers seven centers are guided and operate based on seven core values. These include:

1. Care about people more than anything.
2. Judge people by more than their metrics.
3. Don’t separate the vision from the operations.
4. Put a premium on innovation & creativity.
5. Be completely trustworthy.
6. Give away credit.
7. Be yourself.

Every year, each of our centers holds an award ceremony to honor employees who embody the Lighthouse values. These employees have been nominated and recognized by fellow colleagues for excellence in one of the Lighthouse values. This years list of winners include:

Care about people more than anything.

Chelsea Gibson
Megan Losos
Kasandra Richardson
Olivia Ganser
Macie Wrightsman
Melissa Williams

Judge people by more than their metrics.

Clair Snodgrass
Hannah Woods
Emily Adams
Hannah Ruhe
Emily Matson
Jodie Carlson

Don’t separate the vision from the operations.

Allyson Furnas
Danielle Wilson
Ashley Maust
Chaeney Brown
Tiffany Taubert
Amanda Walorski

Put a premium on innovation & creativity.

Christina Fields
Hannah Cernak
Chris Adams
Kara Kulp
Shawna Rupert
Hailee Neverman

Be completely trustworthy.

Leah Puckett
Jordan Musial
Alex Martin
Sarah Hall
Kaylee Bursart
Autumn Dilts

Give away credit.

Tayler Mylin
Tosha Chatman
Arika Amsden
Cassie Gaines
Morgan Hoogland
Samantha Green

Be yourself.

Lanae Asher
Caroline Gardner
Lydia Parks
Ariel Schneider
Madelyn Horvath
Dreanna Dallich

Register for the BCBA Education Event

Lighthouse Autism Center will be sponsoring a continuing education event in partnership with the Career Academy of South Bend on Saturday, September 14, 2019. For more information, see the flyer below.

To register for this event, click here.

7 Year Anniversary for Lighthouse Autism Center

This past May, Lighthouse Autism Center celebrated it’s seven year anniversary. It’s hard to believe we have been open seven years already. It seems like not all too long ago we were welcoming our first group of kiddos to our center in Mishawaka. Since then, we have grown so much, opening six centers and preparing to open a seventh. We have provided services to hundreds of kids and families and had the opportunity to work with some of the most wonderful and talented colleagues. While Lighthouse has grown and changed, our mission has remained the same – bringing quality, center-based ABA therapy to children and families in need. On this anniversary, we celebrate the joys and successes we have achieved together with our kiddos, families and staff, and look forward to the many more that lie ahead!

ABA Autism Center

Lighthouse Autism Center, a therapy center for children with autism, is excited to announce it will be opening a new center in Elkhart, Indiana. This will be the seventh location for Lighthouse Autism Center, which opened its first center in Mishawaka, Indiana in 2012.

Lighthouse Autism Center provides intensive, center-based therapy utilizing the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). The therapy programs are year-round and each child’s therapy plan is uniquely tailored to their specific needs. Currently, ABA therapy is the only behavioral intervention recommended by the United States Surgeon General for individuals with autism.

Lighthouse was founded by Gregg and Sandy Maggioli, who are parents to a son with autism and have nearly a decade of experience working in autism services.

“We are excited to bring our services to the Elkhart community. With over seven years of experience providing quality ABA therapy and as parents of a child with autism ourselves, we know how important these services are for families,” says Gregg Maggioli, Founder and Executive Director of Lighthouse Autism Center.
The new center will be located at 23426 US-33 in Elkhart. The center is projected to open in September. To schedule a tour or learn more about enrolling your child, contact our Family Outreach Coordinator at 574-387-4313.

Autism Center Opened in Granger, Indiana

Lighthouse Autism Center has opened it’s sixth center in Granger, IN and is excited to be serving this local community. Like other centers, the new center is a large building with the highest safety standards, a beautiful play area, and plenty of natural light. It is the perfect space and is a wonderful learning environment for the kiddos who attend this center.

When opening a new center, our goal is to not only create a beautiful learning environment for the children at the center, but to make it convenient for parents. Often times parents have a long commute to reach a center that can provide therapy for their child, especially if they live in rural areas. That’s why we have made it our mission to bring quality, center-based ABA therapy to communities in need.