Our Founder

Tera Viola, Founding Executive Director

My husband, Brian and I have 4 kids. Our second daughter, Faith, was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 3 years. After being on a waiting list for 9 months to see a Developmental Pediatrician and traveling back and forth from the hospital for an additional 4 months of testing Faith was diagnosed.

Once diagnosed we searched for therapy, educational and support opportunities for our daughter. I began volunteering and became involved with our local Autism community. After 9 years of volunteering for other nonprofits, facilitating support meetings, attending trainings and advocating I decided to start our own non-profit!

I know what it’s like to wonder if you’ll ever hear your child’s voice. I know what it’s like to sit there wondering what they’re thinking. I’ve sat in IEP meetings barely holding it together until I reach the car. I’ve had sleepless nights worrying, doing research or nights when Faith just didn’t want to sleep. I understand the challenges and joys of being a parent of an Autistic child. While facilitating support meetings, I’ve seen parents cry, struggle to find resources and look for support. We’ve experienced many of the same frustrations, trying to find quality therapies and services, only to realize their enormous cost if you do find them. All this and more drives my passion to create Autism Life Center.

You see Autism Life Center is more than a non-profit, it’s more than a business or a therapy. Autism Life Center is a way to give back, fill needs and change lives!

What’s on the blog?

Autism Life Center is a dream of our founder, Tera Viola. As a mother of a daughter with Autism, she knows the struggle and joys that Autism can bring. She knows the determination it takes to raise a child with special needs and was inspired to share what she has learned with her community.

After years of therapy appointments, IEP meetings, trainings and more Tera decided to start Autism Life Center. Her years of advocating, volunteering, facilitating support groups and listening to families showed her how great the need is in our area for more services. She wants to give back and build a community based on empowering Autistic people and help them reach their maximum potential.

Our goal is to bring more autism related services and opportunities to Allen County and the surrounding areas. We want to bring a variety of therapies, medical specialists, trainings, support and job opportunities to the area for people with Autism and their support team.

Autism Support Meetings - These meetings are for individuals, their families and professionals.
Please click the link for more information

Family/Community Events – Bringing families and the community together is very important as we raise autism awareness.
Please click the link for more information.

Sensory Friendly Events – Sensory friendly events provide opportunities for families to attend an event specifically designed for people with sensory sensitivities. Examples of Sensory Friendly Events would be our Sensory Saturday’s and Sensory Friendly Movies.

Online Community – Autism Life Center makes it easy for people to connect with us. We are on Facebook and Instagram. We have a blog, The Autism Life and are available via email.