Two-minute impact
Located at 27316 Spectrum Way in Oak Ridge North, the Project Beacon Access Center provides day-to-day skills training specifically for adults with A/I/DD and other neurodiversities. The building includes multiple areas, including:
- The Zen Zone: An indoor physical activity space
- Empowerment Haven: High-support needs classroom teaching autonomy and self-regulation
- Culinary Corner: Teaches meal planning and prepping
- Sensory calming areas: one-on-one spaces for de-escalation and calming
"We raised $785,000 to be able to make this a reality. We have a long way to go to make sure that we can make it the best-in-class program that we want it to be," Baughman said. "This is more than a grand opening for me. It's about a promise that's been kept."
As part of the grand opening ceremony, Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough and Precinct 3 Commissioner Ritch Wheeler provided a proclamation. Matt Murphy, deputy regional director with Sen. Ted Cruz's office, also awarded a proclamation on behalf of Cruz to Baughman and the Project Beacon team.
In their words
- "Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in our mission to create inclusive, supportive spaces for adults with autism and other neurodiversities," Project Beacon co-founder Kevin Gerrity said. "When we started our journey, we chose the name Project Beacon to identify with the beacon symbol, a place of shelter and rough seas. We intend for the Access Center to be that for our community. A haven to provide an environment to develop social, educational and vocational opportunities for our A/I/DD community."
- "The adults being served here in this building are experiencing meaningful outcomes every day. For some, that's having a part-time job ... for some it is successfully going with the group out in the community to go shopping at Market Street and have lunch with everyone," Project Beacon Vice President Amy Wood said. "Our goals are to broaden these opportunities, to help each individual capture their own self-determination, [and] to define their future."
- "What I love about Project Beacon, is this gives us the ability to model for those next generations what it means to love your neighbor, what it means to be there to support your neighbor. So I can't impress upon you how excited I am that this is in our community," Wheeler said.
- "The opening of the Beacon Access Center marks a major milestone in creating a brighter, more inclusive future for neurodiverse individuals and their families in Montgomery County by providing flexible programs, community engagement, employment opportunities and essential services located in a centralized, accessible setting," Keough said in the proclamation. "Montgomery County proudly recognizes the compassion, vision and tireless efforts of its founders, staff, volunteers and partners of Project Beacon, who serve our citizens and thereby enhance the quality of life for all."
- "The [Project Beacon Access] Center stands as both a promise and a pathway toward a more compassionate, inclusive and connected future. Your commitment to inclusive access, lifelong learning and supportive engagement is deeply commendable," Murphy said. "With this new facility, Project Beacon is expanding opportunity, dignity and connection for individuals who have too often been overlooked. The work of all those who brought this project to life will not only uplift countless families, but also strengthen the very fabric of the Lone Star state."
Baughman said the next step for the center is to become a certified Texas Workforce Commission partner, which will allow the educational center to offer additional pre-vocational training and job search assistance. However, the long-term vision includes ultimately creating a housing center to help address a lack of suitable housing for adults on the A/I/DD spectrum, as previously reported by Community Impact.
