Why We Built This
When my son was diagnosed with autism, I did what a lot of parents do — I stayed up late researching, called center after center, sat in waiting rooms with a list of questions, and prayed my way through the parts nobody prepares you for.
My sisters were living a version of this too, each raising a beautiful autistic child of her own — one of us in the U.S., one in Canada. What one of us learned, we passed to the next. Lighthouse is that same passing-down, just written so it can reach further than our own family.
"No parent should have to navigate an autism diagnosis alone. We turned one family's journey into every family's roadmap."
Where the Guides Come From
Every checklist on this site is one we actually used. Every guide answers a question one of us actually asked in a real appointment, a real phone call, or a real 2am search. Nothing here is theoretical — and where a guide touches on medical territory, we've added real citations and a clear "not medical advice" note, because we take that responsibility seriously.
A Little About Me
By day, I work as a Cloud Engineer — which is the reason I was able to build this entire platform myself, from the guides to the website you're reading right now. It's been one of the most meaningful uses of that skill set I've ever had.
What Lighthouse Is
A free nonprofit resource — guides, tools, and a roadmap written from lived experience, for parents navigating a new diagnosis.
What Lighthouse Is Not
Not a substitute for medical, therapeutic, or legal advice. Not a diagnostic tool. Always a companion to your child's real care team, never a replacement.
What's Next
Lighthouse is still growing — new guides, a provider directory, and eventually clinician-reviewed content are all on the roadmap. If you have feedback, a story to share, or a guide you wish existed, we'd genuinely love to hear from you.