What if ‘just playing’ could be the key to unlocking your child’s world? For us, play started as a simple suggestion from therapists, but it turned into a lifeline—a pathway to connection, growth, and joy. This journey, though challenging and often lonely, became the inspiration behind creating Luko Lighthouse, a place where families like ours could find the support, resources, and hope to light their way.
The First Step in a Journey
Our journey began when our son wasn’t reaching developmental milestones. At 15 months, he wasn’t walking, babbling, or responding to our voices, and he didn’t point or make gestures the way other children did. It was both concerning and isolating. Thankfully, our pediatrician took our concerns seriously, referring us to our local regional center for early intervention. She gently mentioned that autism could be a potential cause, setting us on a path of deep research and discovery. By 18 months, we were immersed in a schedule of therapies: occupational, speech, virtual physical therapy, and later, applied behavioral analysis (ABA) services. We had two to three sessions each day, lasting from one to three hours, filling every corner of our lives.
Working remotely as an IT analyst gave me the flexibility to keep up with this pace, but we didn’t have a support network of family or friends close by. As the primary caregiver, it was my responsibility to master and reinforce every technique, exercise, and strategy shared by our therapists. Over time, therapy sessions became tightly linked to my daily life, with every task and play moment having a specific purpose. However, what began as genuine care and connection began to feel like a responsibility I couldn’t step away from. The endless therapy exercises and expectations weighed on me, and playtime with my son started to feel more like a performance than a joyful experience. I was giving everything I had but often felt like it wasn’t enough.
“Just play with him,” became the consistent advice from each therapist, but even this felt like a struggle. Play had lost its lightheartedness. The isolation I felt only deepened as I tried to fulfill this expectation without a support system. But as hard as it was, I refused to let despair define this journey. Instead, I chose to dive even deeper into learning—about autism, child psychology, and alternative ways to play that might nurture my son’s spirit rather than strictly focusing on academic or developmental outcomes.
The Inspiration Behind Luko Lighthouse
As I explored different approaches, I came across the Reggio Emilia educational philosophy, and everything shifted. This approach empowered me to view my son not as someone who needed to be “fixed,” but as the protagonist in his own story. Reggio Emilia showed me how to meet him where he was, to see him as a full person with a unique spirit. This profound shift in perspective allowed me to begin creating activities that centered around his strengths, respected his interests, and encouraged his exploration. Instead of focusing solely on what therapies dictated, I incorporated play, nature, and art as ways for us to connect. For the first time, play became genuinely enjoyable again. I felt the pressures start to ease, and joy began to bloom within our days together.
Shortly after, when my son turned three, the regional center services ended. He was formally diagnosed with level three autism, which triggered waves of grief and uncertainty. Losing the therapists’ guidance and consistent support was deeply unsettling. However, in the time I had spent with each of these professionals, I had gained practical skills, insights, and knowledge that stayed with me. More than that, I discovered a stronger bond with my son and a new way to support his growth.
Through this experience, I realized that many other parents in similar situations were navigating similar, if not greater, challenges. I wanted to reach out, to create something that would make the journey easier for them than it had been for us. This desire became the foundation of Luko Lighthouse.
Luko Lighthouse is here to empower parents, caregivers, and educators with tools and resources to foster joyful learning experiences, grounded in curiosity, connection, and development. Our mission is to support families by creating a space where parents of autistic children can find resources, guidance, and a sense of community. At Luko Lighthouse, we embrace play-based therapy, art, and educational approaches that nurture each child’s unique potential. Together, we can create a brighter, more inclusive future for every child, rooted in love, learning, and laughter.
Join us in this journey to inspire growth, connection, and endless possibilities for every child.
