Catalight

11/05/2026

There’s a false assumption that research belongs to universities.


Six years ago, Catalight started a research institute. Many published studies later, there is now a road map for other nonprofits.

In a recent Forbes Nonprofit Council article, Catalight Chief Clinical Officer Doreen Samelson, Ed.D., walks through a step-by-step process on what it takes for a nonprofit organization to produce research that holds up to peer review.

Swipe through for some of her key takeaways, and read the full piece via the link in the comments.

11/04/2026

If it doesn’t matter to the family, why are we doing it at all?

Reed Walker, founder and CEO of Luna Family Autism, recently joined us on the What’s Up With Catalight! podcast to talk about building care around what individuals and families actually need, and why doing the ethical thing shouldn’t cost a provider money.

Check out the latest episode at the link in our comments.

10/30/2026

There’s an unwritten rule that trick-or-treating comes with an age limit. There isn’t one.

On Halloween night, your door might get a visit from a teenager or an adult with autism or another disability. Perhaps you see a child who won’t make eye contact, doesn’t say “trick or treat,” or who can’t eat anything in your candy bowl. None of them are in the wrong place.

Check out six simple ways to make your porch a good stop for everyone. They range from turning the music down to keeping the walkway clear to setting out stickers and fidget toys next to the candy.

Halloween can be a wonderful time for everyone to make memories that aren’t limited by age.

10/30/2026

🚨 New episode out tomorrow! 🚨

Better care in autism is bad business........for now.

Under traditional fee-for-service models, autism care providers are paid for the amount of care they deliver, not necessarily the outcomes they achieve. That creates an uncomfortable contradiction: Helping someone make meaningful progress faster, with the goal of eventually discharging them from services, means earning less money.

It's the cost of doing the right thing in a system where financial incentives and clinical priorities don't always align.

On the next episode of the What's Up With Catalight! podcast, host Lindsey Sneed, Ph.D., BCBA-D talks with Reed Walker, founder of Luna Family Autism about the contradiction and what it will take to change it.

Drawing on nearly two decades in the field, including leadership roles at private equity-backed autism providers, Reed shares why he walked away from the industry, what brought him back and how a different approach to care could change the economics of autism services.

The conversation isn't black and white. It's not about private equity being bad or nonprofit care being good. It's about rethinking a system that can reward the quantity of care over its quality and building one where better outcomes for individuals and families are also good for business.

Subscribe to What's Up With Catalight! on Apple Podcasts or Spotify now so you don't miss it!

10/28/2026

Porches on Halloween should encourage everyone to come up with confidence. A blue pumpkin says a little more.

Some homeowners set one out to show support for autism acceptance. It tells families that every child is welcome at the door, whether they say “trick or treat,” stay quiet or need a little extra time on the steps.

The pumpkin is just the invitation. What happens after the doorbell rings matters more. It doesn’t take much to make your porch the easiest stop on the block.

Whether or not you put out a blue pumpkin, you can create a welcoming environment that encourages all children to come on up to your house and grab a little treat.

10/21/2026

10/19/2026

Jessica Fickle has worn many hats at Catalight. From senior clinical manager to her current role as a BCBA consultant, she’s embraced every opportunity to make a difference for the families and providers she supports.

With her trusted notebook and pen in hand to help her stay organized, Jessica’s days are a mix of case consultations, family sessions and coordinating with her team to keep services running at their best.

Get to know Jessica and learn more about her journey at Catalight through the link in the comments!

10/14/2026

Neurodivergent employees bring more than a different perspective to the table. For organizations that serve people with disabilities, they bring lived experience no one else on the team has.

So what does that look like in practice?

In a recent Forbes Nonprofit Council article, Catalight Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Doreen Samelson, Ed.D., breaks down three things neurodivergent employees can bring to the workplace:
• Representation that brings up issues others might miss
• Creativity that comes from minds processing problems differently
• A chance for the whole team to understand how everyone works, not just neurodivergent staff.

Read the full piece via the link in the comments.

10/12/2026

Delivering meaningful outcomes and overall wellbeing to families is always our top goal. Nabla's ambient AI notetaking in multiple languages helps us focus on our patients and reduce clinician burnout.

Partnering with Nabla is just one way we're finding efficiencies through technology in order to create greater access to care and drive healthcare affordability.

Learn more about our partnership in the comments section

10/09/2026

Forty hours a week. For decades, that number has shaped how autism care is delivered. Clinicians were trained on it. Families were told it. Few people asked where it actually came from.

On the latest episode of What's Up With Catalight!, Catalight Chief Clinical Officer Doreen Samelson Ed.D., discusses how it was traced it back to a 1987 study with 19 children in its treatment group – one she says one she says wouldn't even get approved by today's research standards. She and host Lindsey Sneed, Ph.D., then dig into what the research, including Catalight's own real-world data, actually tells us about hours and outcomes.

This isn't an argument against ABA. It's an argument for asking better questions.

Check out "The Dosage Effect Problem" on Apple or Spotify or follow the link in the comments.