Nonpro t
BY EMILY LINCKE
Mother and son Jennifer and Reece Wootan attend a Project Beacon event.
Project Beacon—a nonprot based out of Willis—o ers life and social skills programming for adults with autism.
PHOTOS COURTESY PROJECT BEACON
Project Beacon aims to ll gaps for adults with autism
on social skill development and includes activities, such as bowling, bingo and holiday parties, according to the organization’s website. “I know a lot of people with autism that have excellent grades, and they’re very, very intelligent, but when it comes to social and emotional IQ, they’re in a dierent spot,” Wood said. “Our kids graduate from public school, and those things never get addressed.” What’s next Leaders of Project Beacon have multiple goals for their organization, including: • Expanding program oerings to include individualized day and vocation training programs • Opening a capstone learning center in The Woodlands by August • Building an Intentional Residential Community for 40-60 neurodivergent adults to occupy by 2027 or 2028. Donations are still needed for the $600,000 learning center project before Project Beacon leaders sign a lease in April, Baughman said. For the residential community, Project Beacon has identi ed a potential site, but funds still need to be raised, according to a March 1 email from Gerrity. “What we’re trying to do will set the bar for adult services in the state of Texas and most likely across the United States,” Baughman said.
Based in Montgomery County, Project Beacon aims to ll a void in Texas, which nonpro t leaders said lacks needed programming and resources for adults with autism. Operating out of Willis, the organization is also planning to open a learning center in The Woodlands this summer. The big picture Project Beacon oers programs across the Greater Houston area for people with autism age 16 and older. The nonpro t was co-founded by President Kevin Gerrity and Executive Director Kelly Baughman who both have young adult children with autism. While other neurodivergent individuals are welcome to the program, Vice President Amy Wood said the nonpro t is geared toward older teenagers and adults with autism, who they feel are often excluded by other programs. Adults with autism can need higher sta-to-client ratios than many programs can manage due to limited funding and high sta turnover, Wood said. “The adult programming and resources that we have available are so far behind what we have now for young children,” Wood said. “We need to bring that into reality.” The approach Project Beacon’s social enrichment program programs were launched in 2023. The events focus
Project Beacon serves the Greater Houston area.
Sam Tredup celebrates Halloween with Project Beacon.
Project Beacon events focus on social skill development and include activities such as holiday parties.
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THE WOODLANDS EDITION
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