About Us

Hi, I'm LaWanda, MBA.

I'm a Sacramento mom of three boys — two of whom are on the autism spectrum. Lighthouse Family Group started the way most meaningful things do: from living it.

I kept seeing the same gap everywhere I looked. Our kids needed real socialization — not just programs, but actual friendship. And our families needed something that can be hard to name until you're missing it: a sense of normalcy.

The hardest part was never finding therapies or services. It was the lack of social support — the kind that grows into lasting friendships, for our kids and for us as parents.

I wanted a place where our families could grab coffee, show up to an event, and just be — without judgment, and without the fear that a meltdown or an outburst would ruin the day.

So I'm building it. And I'd love for you to build it with me.

Let's build together. 💛

Say hello

Hi, I'm Linda.

Co-Founder & Clinical Director · MS Applied Behavior Analysis, MS Christian Counseling, BS Education

I'm an educator and behaviorist entering the field of ABA after decades of working with young people — particularly students who have been underserved, misunderstood, or given a second chance to find their path to success. My journey into this work is both professional and deeply personal: I am also a grandmother to several grandchildren on the autism spectrum.

For decades, I have worked with young people who communicate their needs through behavior when they don't yet have the words or skills to express what they are experiencing. ABA gave me another way to understand behavior — not simply as something to correct, but as communication, and an opportunity to teach, connect, and empower.

One of the biggest gaps I've seen is that families can feel like they are navigating a complicated system alone. There are services, professionals, schools, and resources — but sometimes families still don't have someone walking alongside them who truly understands the whole picture. I've spent decades advocating for young people who needed someone to see their potential, and I believe families deserve that same kind of support and advocacy.

Sometimes what a family needs most isn't another resource or another appointment — it's someone saying, "I see you. I see your child. You don't have to figure this out alone."

When I picture our Friends Group up and running, I want families to feel welcomed, safe, understood, and hopeful — a place where they can ask questions, share their experiences, learn from one another, and celebrate their children without having to explain or defend them. Most of all, I want families to leave knowing they have a community around them.

Come as you are. Bring your questions, your experiences, your hopes, and even the things you're still trying to understand. Let's learn from one another, support one another, and create a community where every child is seen for who they are and believed in for who they can become. Let's walk this journey together.