Lantern: Support for families with autistic children

What Lantern is

Lantern is a mobile app that helps parents support their autistic child in daily life. It offers simple guidance for everyday skills like communication, play, and self-care routines, and makes progress visible in a positive way.

For example, Lantern might guide a parent to practice a pointing gesture as a way of communication. Everyday actions become small steps forward.

Why we built it

We are parents of an autistic child. When we first received the diagnosis, we did not know how to help him. Professional support is important, but it is not always enough. Waiting lists can take months or years, and most of the time children are at home with their families. Parents are left asking: how can I help my child today?

Many autistic children develop at their own pace, but some everyday skills such as communication, play, or self-care do not always come naturally. In those cases, children may need extra support to learn them. Lantern gives parents simple ways to provide that support at home, turning daily life into opportunities to grow.

We also know that autism is very diverse. Lantern will not be the right tool for every child or every family, and it is not a replacement for professional help. But for many families, it provides something that is often missing: clear, practical ways to support their child in everyday life.

Why it matters

Parents feel less lost and more confident.
Children feel supported and celebrated, not pressured.
Families grow stronger through small, joyful steps.

There are an estimated 1 in 100 children worldwide who are autistic. That means millions of families are looking for ways to support their child every day. Lantern is designed specifically for them.

Looking ahead

Right now, Lantern focuses on everyday skills and vocabulary. In the future, it will grow to include interactive training for words and other areas, support for multiple languages, and more ways to make daily practice fun and engaging.

Lantern is built by parents, for parents. It is about sharing the light we found, so others can see their next steps sooner and with more confidence.