Rusty's Morningstar Ranch

"Serving Autistic Adults since 1985."

Rusty's Morningstar Ranch is a place in the country where autistic people can learn to live happy and productive lives.

Deep in the heart of Cornville, it is home to four very special men. It is not a big ranch, but with a little help, Rusty, Brian, Joe, Jim, and Coby operate the ten-acre place they call home. Rusty's Morningstar Ranch is a home for autistic adults. They live at the ranch with around-the-clock staff members who help the men with their chores, their learning and their play. The ranch has a work program filled with many life experience-type activities. The men do their work in the morning and have therapy, recreation and go on trips in the afternoon. Evenings begin when everyone sits down to a family-style dinner.

When they are finished with their chores, it is time for play. During the summer, one of their favorite things to do is swim, particularly for Brian. "Brian loves the water. He could stay in the pool all day and all night."

Autism is the third largest developmental disability in the United States. It is a neurological disorder that interferes with normal development of reasoning and communications skills. Autism makes learning difficult and affects the ability to communicate with others and relate to the world outside.

I'm always amazed when people say, "I've heard of autistic children, but I didn't know there were autistic ADULTS!" Perhaps that's why there has been such a shortage of programs and facilities for this group of children - now grown - whose behaviors are so fragile; whose hold on the real world is often so tenuous. These young people, growing older, whose parents know all too well the frightening alternatives to leaving home; and yet growing older themselves, are finding it more difficult to maintain the painfully won gains made in school when that support system is no longer present. Rusty's Morningstar Ranch is one answer to that dilemma. An answer long sought, carefully planned, and implemented with a delicate sensitivity for families as well as Ranchers.