"If he is punished, you will fix him."
 
That one statement changed everything for me. It made me realize that the world saw my child as broken—simply because he didn’t fit what was considered the norm. Until that moment, I knew people looked at him and thought something was wrong. But hearing it so plainly, so cruelly, made me understand the depth of that belief.
 
How heartbreaking—not just for him, but for all of us—that we’ve been conditioned to see difference as something to be corrected instead of celebrated. And yet, I owe a debt of gratitude to the person who spoke those words. Because in that moment, something in me shifted. That moment didn’t break me—it fueled me. It solidified how hard I was going to fight for my son. It became the moment that created The Lighthouse.
 
Recently, I came across an article by John Elder Robison titled "Neurodiversity Is an Identity, Not a Disorder." He writes that being neurodivergent, much like belonging to a certain race, ethnicity, or culture, is an essential part of who we are—something to be embraced, not pathologized. As a mother of a neurodiverse individual, that perspective helped heal a piece of my heart.
 
One quote from the article has stayed with me:
 
"I believe we will look back on this moment—the emergence of neurodiversity—and see this as the moment we began to correct a wrong that was perpetrated on millions with the best of intent and the worst of results."
 
It’s time. Time to come together and stand up for these incredible individuals. Time to show them that they are supported. That conformity is no longer the goal—acceptance is. That our communities will be built on the foundation of inclusivity, where every person has the space to thrive.
 
We can change anything in six months. And what we want to change is how our community is seen, accepted, and welcomed. Every penny raised is more than just a donation—it’s a symbol of acceptance. Every single penny is a step toward a future where everyone belongs.
 
Help us show the world the power of celebrating people exactly as they are.