Our Founder

Spectrum of Light was founded by Caleb Preston, a student from Lexington, Kentucky who believed the culture around disabilities needed to change. What began as an idea on December 7, 2022 and the first meetings started in March of 2023, when Caleb launched a small high school club dedicated to inclusion, awareness, and equity for students with disabilities.

Starting the club was not easy. With no social media presence and little awareness of what Spectrum of Light represented, membership was small, often only one to three students, and occasionally four or five on a good day. Despite the challenges, Caleb pushed forward. Fundraising became one of the club’s early strengths, and by the time he graduated in May 2025, Spectrum of Light had raised over $1,500, entirely self‑funded by Caleb and his parents, with no sponsorships.

During his senior year, membership remained low, and Caleb began to worry that Spectrum of Light might not survive after graduation. But everything changed during the final club meeting of the year. Thanks to the success of a video game tournament and an autism awareness sale, eight students attended—more than ever before. The club’s supporters encouraged Caleb to continue leading, and he accepted the challenge, determined to make Spectrum of Light stand out.

In July 2025, Caleb created official social media accounts for Spectrum of Light. Within months, the organization saw a surge of followers—students from his high school, other schools, and even across the state began reaching out, telling him that Spectrum of Light was becoming something bigger than a club. They believed it was a movement.

By May 2026, Spectrum of Light had expanded beyond its original school. A second high school launched a chapter, followed by interest from the University of Kentucky. Momentum continued to build, and by the time Spectrum of Light received its 501(c)(3) determination letter in July of 2026, students from 12-13 high schools and colleges were either starting or interested to start chapters.

Support began spreading across the state of Kentucky, reaching the East Coast, including New York, and even gaining interest from students in the South and West, including California.

Caleb knew then that Spectrum of Light was no longer just a club—it was a national movement.

Today, as President of Spectrum of Light Co, Caleb continues to lead the organization with the same determination that fueled its beginning. His vision, persistence, and belief in youth‑driven inclusion transformed Spectrum of Light from a small idea into a growing national nonprofit empowering students across the country.