OUR STORY

 

NICK's COMMUNITY

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When my son Nicky was three years old, he was was diagnosed with autism. Since that time, I have dedicated my life to my son's development, as well as the development of other children with autism. As the years have passed and Nick has matured into an adult, his needs have evolved as well. I have created Nick's Community to serve and support adults with disabilities. 

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Through client-centered therapy with their immediate  community involvement, our clinicians develop  individualized programs to facilitate personal growth and development. We specifically gear activities to build the client's skills for employment or volunteer opportunities, and post-secondary education and training.

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LINDSEY TOFT, MA in Non-Profit Management

Founder & Executive Director

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​Lindsey is the founder and Executive Director of Nick’s Community, an adult day program serving individuals with special needs. Her inspiration for creating the program in 2012 came from her younger brother, Nick, who is nonverbal and has Autism. Lindsey’s passion lies in advocating for individuals with disabilities and creating inclusive opportunities for them to thrive.

Before founding Nick’s Community, Lindsey worked at the Autism Behavior Treatment Center in Utah, where she oversaw daily program operations. Upon returning to California, she joined Autism Behavior Consultants as a Behavior Interventionist, working in classroom settings. After 10 years in the field, Lindsey was thrilled to transition full-time into leading Nick’s Community.

While working through the vendorization process with Harbor Regional Center (HRC), Lindsey hosted seasonal summer and winter camps for both children and adults with disabilities. These camps played a key role in shaping her vision for the day program—emphasizing community outings and behavior support. During this time, she also organized several fundraisers to help build the program’s foundation.

In 2021, Lindsey earned her master’s degree in Non-Profit Management. That same year, in December, she completed vendorization with HRC and welcomed Nick’s Community’s first participant in January 2022.

As Executive Director, Lindsey is involved in every aspect of the program's operations and has the joy of seeing her brother at the center of it all. She is excited about the continued growth of Nick’s Community and remains dedicated to helping as many individuals as possible reach their full potential.

 

Francisco J. Garcia, B.A.,

Program Director

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Francisco joined Nick’s Community in December 2020 as a Program Director, bringing with him an extensive background in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). His expertise has allowed for a seamless transition into his current role, where he focuses on supporting adults in developing and managing essential life skills.

Francisco holds a degree in Psychology from Marymount California University. He began his career in ABA in 2015 as a Behavior Interventionist at Autism Behavior Consultants (ABC) in Torrance, CA. Over his seven years with ABC, he earned several promotions, advancing from Senior Behavior Interventionist to Field Trainer. In his role as Field Trainer, Francisco worked under the supervision of Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), conducting staff overlaps, employee evaluations, performance assessments, and delivering 1:1 services to clients ranging from ages 3 to 22.

At Nick’s Community, Francisco leveraged his experience to design and implement programs from the ground up. He collaborates closely with the Executive Director and a BCBA consultant in the development, research, and planning of programs. In addition to his programmatic work, Francisco plays a key role in managing, training, and supporting Direct Support Professionals and the families of participants.