Hidden Gems: Meet Shawn Reinsel of Night Lights

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawn Reinsel.

Hi Shawn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
Night Lights was started 12 years ago by Kristen Steadman in Littleton. After having a child with special needs and seeing the need these families have, she committed to bringing free respite care to families who have children with special needs.

I took over as the Executive Director in June of 2022 after 20 years in ministry along the front range. I raised six boys, two with an autism diagnosis. I am thrilled to serve our community with this much-needed service and hope to expand our capacity in the coming years.

Nights Lights has grown to several locations with more on the way.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s been challenging to find volunteers and site partners. I think every non-profit has that challenge but the struggle is real. There are so many great organizations to volunteer with, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle.

Also, finding a good location to let us use their facility once a month has been difficult as well. We generally partner with a church because they have space and sometimes encourage their people to volunteer as well!

As you know, we’re big fans of Night Lights. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Night Light’s mission is to create safe and accepting environments by providing respite care for children who have special needs and their neuro-typical siblings.

Night Lights was started in March of 2011 at Waterstone Community Church by Kristin Steadman as a way to provide a few hours of temporary relief to primary care providers. On Night Lights’ first respite event, there were 10 kids and 26 volunteers who participated. Night Lights became an official 501c3 non-profit organization.

Night Lights provides quality care for children ages 1 month to 13 years old who have special needs and their neuro-typical siblings under the age of 13, helping parents or caregivers have time to take a bath, go out to dinner, go grocery shopping, run errands, or even just read a book. There is an onsite nurse to tend to medical needs and all of the staff and volunteers are background checked and trained. A family may participate in Night Lights if the child(ren) has/have one or more of the following:

A diagnosis from a medical provider
Medical documentation including but not limited to
An IFSP, IEP, or 504 from the county and school district
Records from a physician
Developmental, cognitive, emotional, and physical disabilities
A sibling (ages 1 month to 13 years) of a child with special needs that participates in Night Lights

Night Lights is held one Friday each month from 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm. The kids enjoy activities such as gross motor, sensory play, free play, arts and crafts, pet therapy, entertainment, movies, and snacks. Each family interviews with the Leadership Team before attending Night Lights to make sure their needs can be met. Night Lights is free to the families that participate in the program. Night Lights provides respite care to families who have children with a variety of diagnoses including but not limited to:

Autism Spectrum Disorder
Speech and Feeding Delays
G-Tubes
Sensory Processing Disorder
Hypotonia
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Down Syndrome
Myopathy conditions
Orbeli Syndrome

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
The people are amazing in Denver. So willing to step up and make a difference when they see a need. I love our strong desire to be the best, whether in sports, recreation, business, or community efforts.

Contact Info:

• Website:nightlightskids.org
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/night_lights_kids?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nightlightsinc