About Us
Our mission and vision is to create common unity — community, inclusion and support for the autism world through research, advocacy, quality of life and resource rooms to navigate the system. With emphasis on families of veterans, first responders (police, firefighters, EMS) and the indigent.
A foundation built by families, for families
Gentle Wonders Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Aventura, Florida. We opened our first resource room because families told us what was missing: a calm place to land, people who understood, and answers that were not locked behind a waiting list.
Today our resource rooms and our music, sports, STEM and cooking events run year round, while our research partnerships reach clinicians, universities and families across the United States. Everything a family shares with us goes back into the room children walk into the next week.
Three things we hold to
We start from strengths. Every program is built to make room for how a child already learns, plays and connects.
Our studies run with partners across the United States, and every finding is published openly so families and clinicians everywhere can use it.
Resource rooms and event days give families a place to belong, not just a service to receive.
The people behind Gentle Wonders
Ben runs our day-to-day work, from resource rooms to events.
BenHandwerger@gentlewonders.orgBen leads our partnerships with families, schools and clinicians.
BenAmsalem@gentlewonders.orgMario brings decades of nonprofit leadership and connects our research with the families it serves.
voicesagainstbraincancer.org MarioLichtenstein@gentlewonders.org