Welcome to Rusty's!

    Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States, and the numbers are increasing. It is a neurological disorder that interferes with the normal development of reasoning and communication skills. It changes the life of the person with autism, and it creates trepidation in the hearts of their family.

    Historically, most of the focus has, of course, been on children, while there has been a dramatic shortage of programs and facilities for the adults whom those children one day become. Adults whose behaviors are so fragile, whose hold on the real world is often so tenuous, and whose now aging parents know all too well the frightening alternatives to leaving home. With the passing of time, those parents find it more and more difficult to maintain the painfully won gains made during the school years, once that support system is no longer present.

    Now, there is help available. Rusty's Morningstar Ranch is an answer long sought, carefully planned, and implemented with a delicate sensitivity for families as well as Ranchers. We have almost ten acres of serene beauty where Rusty and the other Ranchers have begun their new life. Professional "helpers" see that they have meaningful work, build strong, caring relationships and are given the opportunity to get in touch with nature and themselves.

   At RMR, everyone is family including ranchers and staff. We eat family styles meals with everyone sharing in their turn to say the prayer before meals. Volunteers provide church services for those ranchers that would find it difficult to attend church in the community.

   Ranchers also have the opportunity to go swimming, participate in a weight-lifting program, ride horses, collect eggs from the chickens, and go hiking in the beautiful Verde Valley. Away from the ranch, they go to spring training baseball games, attend concerts, go out to eat and a variety of other activities in their community that they choose to participate.