If you’ve ever driven past 36th and Yale, chances are you’ve seen Little Light House, but for you, it might be nothing more than another landmark on your drive. For the children with disabilities who receive its services, Little Light House is hope itself. It’s a community who sees them for more than their diagnosis. A place where “never” becomes “not yet.” A place where miracles happen in real-time, all the time — a daily rhythm of transformation and joy.
In 1972, two young mothers, Sheryl Poole and Marcia Mitchell, discovered there were no early intervention services available in Tulsa for their daughters born with visual impairments. Taking a leap of faith, they opened Little Light House: a Christian, nonprofit, tuition-free Developmental Center that provides specialized education and therapy services for children of all disabilities.
Thanks to the generosity of the Tulsa community, what began as a small house with five students and one special education teacher has grown into a 60,000-square-foot facility serving over 220 children and families with a staff of 83 people.
The LLH team consists of certified special education teachers, licensed physical and occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, assistive technology professionals, registered nurses, and associate teachers. Because LLH does not charge insurance, these professionals are able to collaborate in what they call their transdisciplinary team. The transdisciplinary team develops an individualized education and therapy plan for every student, creating specific goals they work toward throughout the year. Using this method, they have seen their students accomplish incredible feats, including learning to walk, talk, eat, play, and live independently and confidently.
Little Light House has three main programs: the Developmental Center, Family Learning Center, and Outreach. Students in DC attend class daily, and students in FLC attend weekly sessions with a caregiver. Through their online Academy, blog, podcast, and conferences, their Outreach program resources, equips, and trains people around the world to create more inclusive communities.