'Your autism home away from home'

After the passing of East Islip resident Bea Huste-Petersen’s husband, her family took a trip to Fire Island to regroup and figure out how to move forward. Huste-Petersen’s two sons with autism, Eric and Jack, were particularly fascinated by the Ocean Beach home.

“They were so into the whole house,” explained Huste-Petersen. “The following year and summer, at the end of the week, Eric locked himself in the shower because he did not want to leave. I thought at that point in time, if Eric was so interested in this place, why wouldn’t other kids on the spectrum be?”

Thus sprouted the idea of Puzzler’s Cove: an autism-friendly home on Ocean Beach that would allow families to enjoy luxurious stay-cations on Fire Island. 

Following the diagnoses of Eric and Jack, Huste-Petersen and her husband had founded the EJ Autism Foundation—a nonprofit organization honoring their sons—to “fight the mystery” surrounding autism and help local children on the spectrum. By supporting programs and schools on Long Island that currently work with children on the spectrum, EJ Autism Foundation gives kids the tools they need to be successful, without any red tape or barriers.

The annual EJ Autism Jigsaw Run/Walk held at East Islip Marina Park, the most popular fundraiser for the foundation, has been held for two decades and is one of the largest spring running races on Long Island.

Mere weeks after the 20th annual race, the EJ Autism Foundation closed on an Ocean Beach home. Huste-Petersen describes receiving the keys last month as one of the most memorable moments of her life.

“Most of our families have stay-cations; they can’t go anywhere. I know this because that is what we did, for a variety of reasons, including safety,” said Huste-Petersen. “This is not going to be that; this is going to be your autism home away from home.”

Lifeguards at Ocean Beach will be aware of Puzzler’s Cove without a family having to tell them, as special towels and umbrellas will signal their presence.

Additionally, EJ Autism Foundation is continuing to make adjustments to Puzzler’s Cove itself by installing locks on all windows, alarms on all doors, and ensuring the interior is carefully curated to cater to autistic visitors. To help fund Puzzler’s Cove, Huste-Petersen thoughtfully created an Amazon wish list registry full of items for the home and posted the link to Facebook. Items ranged from a new dining room table to replace the current glass table and shatterproof glasses, to grill accessories and Jenga blocks. All 152 items were quickly purchased, a testament to the support of the community.

The EJ Autism Foundation is partnering with Winters Center for Autism: an autism center in West Babylon that offers those on the spectrum vocational training and career development opportunities. Winters Center for Autism will bring a team of people on the spectrum to Puzzler’s Cove to clean the house in between family visits, providing valuable vocational training.

While it typically can cost $5,000 a week to stay in a Fire Island vacation home, the EJ Autism Foundation will charge families about $1,500 per week. The only times not exclusively reserved for neurotypical families will be the week of Memorial Day, Labor Day and the Fourth of July. During this time, either typical people or families with autism will be charged full price to help the organization pay their taxes, bills and mortgage.

Puzzler’s Cove will have a soft opening this summer. A handful of families with children with autism will stay in the beach house and help determine if anything is missing or needs to be removed. Beginning in summer of 2026, a lottery system will determine which families will stay. As long as a family has a child with autism living in the home or coming on vacation with you, you will be eligible.

“This is Fire Island. It is luxury on so many different levels, not just for the house, not just the area, but for our families,” said Huste-Petersen. “I want them to feel like they are special, that they matter, and they can say, ‘Look what we can do because of my son or my daughter,’ not, ‘Look what we can’t do.’”