Rusty’s Morningstar Ranch offers new start for autistic adults

By – Kellie Shelton – Kudos, December 12, 2001

Prayers were answered in Cornville in 1985. Mothers received answers to their prayers.
Young men received hope and a promise of a productive life; a life where they can be a part of the world, where they can form relationships and where they can receive the consistency and full-time care required of their disability.

These men are autistic adults.

Rusty’s Morningstar Ranch is their sanctuary, their home.

This ranch was born from necessity, an idea nurtured by a devoted mother, a mother who saw her autistic son grow up into a young man, and realized that there was nothing out there for him.

No longer in school, his opportunities for structure and learning were extinguished. There were no programs for him. This mother decided that this was not good enough. Her son deserved a fulfilling life.

This mother is Carlene Armstrong. She bought 10 acres of property in Cornville. With vision and prayer, she founded Rusty’s Morningstar Ranch.

“My son Rusty is my life so I was dedicated to create a place where he, along with other autistic adults can come to live and get their needs met.”

Today, four autistic men live at the ranch. They work and help operate the ranch. Each one i s given responsibilities and chores. They take care of animals, water and care for gardens and an orchard.

The work program is filled with many life-experience activities. The ranch has… around-the-clock staff members who help the men. In the afternoons, they have therapy. In the evenings, they sit down together for family style dinners.

Ranch life is full of recreation that includes horseback riding, swimming, hiking, bouncing on the trampoline and enjoying the beautiful nature that surrounds their ranch. These men have their own bedroom and a homey, loving atmosphere where they can flourish.

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

Most of the focus has been on children. There is such a shortage of programs and facilities for autistic adults. The support system is no longer present and parents are faced with very little opportunities, if any.

The few places that are available can cost over $5,000 a month, which few people can afford. The government does subsidize such programs, but minimally, still making it impossible for parents to provide quality care for their autistic adult children.

Carlene Armstrong has developed the Morningstar Foundation, a non-profit corporation that exists to promote, hold assets and raise funds for the benefit of Rusty’s Morningstar Ranch.

Donations, bequests, memorials are some of the ways in which they hope to accomplish some of their goals. The four main ways the gifts are used are for general operating, building fund, endowment and special programs.

Morningstar Ranch is carefully planned and implemented. It provides help for famlies struggling with the decision of what is best for the future of their autistic children. It is an answer long sought and hopefully one of many prayers that will be answered for the autistic community.

To learn more about Rusty’s Morningstar Ranch or to make donations, write to P.O. Box 759, Cornville, Az 86325-0759; call #634-4784; fax #634-5131