The CEDIA Expo Announces the Latest Award Winners

At Horner Networks, we are proud to have won several CE Pro Home of the Year Awards, from Best Wow Factor to Best Themed Theater. However, this year, as the winner of the Best Health & Wellness Project and the Best Specialty for the Mentor CARES project, we feel truly honored. This project was a labor of love. 

The CARES house in Mentor, Ohio, began as a shared vision to help children on the autism spectrum develop life skills and gain greater independence. Today, it is a reality. 

Here, we’ll explore the impact the home has had on students with autism and the technology we incorporated. 

SEE ALSO: Custom Technology Helps Autistic Students Develop Life Skills

The Mentor Care Home Defined

The Cardinal Autism Resource and Education School (CARES) is an educational program designed for children with autism. The CARES House is a unique residential home that, through smart home automation, has been transformed into a space that supports children with autism, providing them with an authentic living environment. 

Our job at Horner Networks was to integrate technology in a way that could empower students to lead more independent lives. To achieve this, we worked closely with ThenDesign Architecture—a firm that donated its services—and the Mentor Public Schools’ IT department.

The following represent a few of the many technological integrations designed to support CARES’ students. 

• Lighting that Helps Students with Daily Routines: 

Many children with autism rely on predictability to enhance their sense of security. To help them adjust to daily routines, we installed Proluxe color-changing linear lighting. This changeable lighting can be tucked away into hidden locations, so that only the light, and not the source, is seen. For example, one color signals it's time to wake up, while another signals it's time for bed.

• Video Display Built into a Bathroom Mirror: 

Up to 90% of children with autism experience some form of sensory challenge. They may be over- or under-responsive to sensory stimuli like light, touch, taste, and sound. This heightened sensitivity can make the feel of toothpaste, soap, running water, and other textures uncomfortable or overwhelming, making daily hygiene practices difficult. 

By integrating a video display into a bathroom mirror, students receive step-by-step instructions that guide them through different hygiene routines. In the bathroom, we used a Séura Mirror TV, designer technology that hides a television, making it look like a mirror when it's off. 

Other monitors throughout the home instruct students on chores and tasks. 

• Whole-Home Sound System: Verbal cues in clear language help children with autism who need guidance with social interactions as well as daily tasks. 

A centralized audio system enables crystal-clear sound in different zones throughout the house. The technology behind this sound system includes Origin Acoustics in-ceiling speakers, Triad amplifiers, and their audio matrix. 

The entire home, from audio to lighting and displays, was managed by Control4, a premier home automation platform. 

What It Means to Win a CEPro Home of the Year Award

Winning a CE Pro award means our project was recognized as one of the best in the industry. They consider design, innovation, functionality, integration, and technical craftsmanship. Some essential aspects of a winning project include blending practical technology with stunning aesthetics and demonstrating creative problem-solving to overcome challenges.  

We thank CE Pro for their recognition and Mentor CARES for the honor of being part of this incredible program. 

Just the Beginning

The CARES house opened for the 2024-2025 school year. Christy LaPaglia, CARES director and the visionary who developed the idea, designed the house and program so that it may be replicated in school districts nationwide.

To learn more about the endless possibilities in today’s innovative technology, contact Horner Networks.