Little Star Center Receives $1,500 Grant from Answers for Autism for iPad’s

Answers for Autism, an all volunteer organization founded by parents of children with autism located in Fishers, recently presented a check to Little Star Center for $1,500. This grant will help provide iPads for the center.

About AAI:

Our mission is to increase and broaden public knowledge and awareness of the behaviors, social issues and emotional needs of individuals on the autism spectrum so that all individuals can participate in and contribute to our community without fear of bias or loss of individuality.

Thank you AAI for helping Little Star provide the best services possible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little Star Center to Receive Excellence in Direct Care Award – Official Press Release

Press Release – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Amanda Ryan

Community Outreach & Marketing Director

317.249.2242 | [email protected]

Little Star Center to Receive Excellence in Direct Care Award

Autism Society of Indiana to Hold 2011 Excellence Awards

CARMEL, IN, July 26, 2011 – Little Star Center, a non-profit center for children with autism, will receive Autism Society of Indiana’s (ASI) Excellence in Direct Care Award. The award is for providers who demonstrate excellence in direct care services to infant, toddlers, children, youth, and adults with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) through their work in medical, educational, therapeutic, recreational or other settings using innovative and scientifically supported best practices in partnership with families and other professionals.

Little Star received nominations from parents, civic leaders and community members.

“We are so honored to receive this award and be recognized by the ASI. It is even more meaningful to be the first center to ever win this award,” says Mary Rosswurm, Executive Director of Little Star Center.

Based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Little Star provides an atmosphere where children, therapists and families can interact, support each other and receive on-going training so that each child can reach their full potential at home and in a variety of settings outside of therapy. After decades of research, the United States Surgeon General has endorsed intensive behavioral intervention for individuals with autism as the treatment of choice. Over 50 years of research documents the efficacy of ABA in reducing inappropriate behavior and increasing communication and learning.

The 2011 Excellence Awards will be held on Saturday, August 20th, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at the home of Tim and Kim Earnest in Zionsville. For more information and to buy tickets for the event, please visit www.inautism.org for more information.

About Little Star Center

Little Star Center was founded in 2002 and was the first center in the state of Indiana to serve children with autism. Little Star has two locations, in Carmel and Lafayette. Little Star is a truly unique and special place for children and families living with autism. Little Star allows families to have the best of both worlds – the intense one-on-one personalized therapy that used to only be available in a home program and the community feel of a center based program that allows children with autism access to peers, materials and a beautiful facility. Families are an integral part of their child’s programming along with Little Star’s staff of professionals. Little Star prides itself on having a “family first” philosophy. For more information please call 317.249.2242 or visit us on the web at www.littlestarcenter.org.

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Oh, the places they’ll go – Little Star kiddos gear up for Summer Outings…

During the summer at Little Star Center, we really try to get the kiddos out to enjoy the beautiful weather and socialize with others.  Our team plans great outings for them to attend that are affordable and fun.

  • Their first stop is to the Indianapolis Zoo! I have already heard the kids running around talking about what animals they want to see. Lions, tigers, and bears – Oh, my!
  • Then their off to Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt for a cold, sweet treat one day.
  • Conner Prairie is on the list as well and will welcome the kids to their Animal Encounters exhibit and Discovery Station, where they can be a train conductor!
  • There are plenty of parks on the list such as West Park, Cool Creek Park, Sensory Garden at Freedom Trail Park, Monon Center Water Park and Sahm’s Park Aquatic Center.
  • For some physical fitness activities they are heading to InterActive Academy, BounceU, Pirate Cove Mini Golf and Woodland Bowling.
  • They will be catching the movie Cars II at Cinema Grill where the lights will stay on and the sound will be down!

It’s going to be a full summer for the kids at Little Star. Thank you to all who have helped plan these great events and please support the businesses that welcome us with open arms.

Stay cool!

Summer Camps Available in the Area – Check Out These Camps Operated by Easter Seals Crossroads

We get a lot of calls from parents asking about summer camps. We do not offer summer camps here at Little Star Center, but our friends at Easter Seals Crossroads have a great list for you this year!

All camp information including the flyers and registration forms are available on their website.  This information can be found by going to www.eastersealscrossroads.org and then selecting ‘Summer Camps’ on the ‘What’s New’ section of the homepage!

Easter Seals General Summer Camp Information

Have a great summer!

Your friends at Little Star Center

Life Lessons – What we here at Little Star have learned from the kids we work with

In honor of Autism Awareness Month, the staff at Little Star Center would like to take this opportunity to thank the many children and young adults that we have had the privilege to work with over the years. We would like to share a few things that we have learned from our time together:

  • Celebrate the little things
  • A little pee never hurt anybody
  • Children with autism work harder each day than most adults
  • We call them “special interests” not obsessions
  • Everybody is smart in their own way
  • Don’t always be in such a hurry
  • Bad times may be bad, but they make the good times even better
  • He’s just saying what everybody else is thinking
  • One person’s gross is another person’s amazing
  • The most ordinary, everyday objects can still be extraordinary
  • Potential cannot be predicted
  • Success should be measured in small steps

What have you learned from children on the spectrum? Feel free to add your “life lessons” in the comment section below. We would love to hear from you!

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The question everyone wants to know the answer to – Who won the Kindle??? Attendees at the Autism Expo signed up!

We had a great time this weekend at 2011 Autism Expo – sponsored by Easter Seals Crossroads and the Autism Society of Indiana.

Little Star Center staff enjoyed talking to families and professionals at the event!  At our booth this year we gave away light up pens, reusable tote bags and lunch bags to the attendees.

We also had attendees register to win a Kindle from Little Star, so without further adieu………(drum roll, please!)…. the winner is:

David Guire!

Congratulations, David!

Thank you to everyone who came to the event and stopped by to meet us! We’ll see you again next year.

 

Congratulations to two of our staff member on becoming Board Certified Behavior Analysts!

Congrats to two of our staff members – Maggie Dickson and Casey Moore on becoming Board Certified Behavior Analysts!

Maggie Dickson, our Assistant Clinical Director, earned her Masters of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from Northeastern University in August 2010 and a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from Western Michigan University prior to that. Her career in autism started in 2004 in an ABA based early intervention preschool classroom and continued on to working for the Center for Autism at WMU as an undergraduate therapist in the Parent Training Clinic and Behavior and Diagnostic Clinic. While completing her Master’s, she worked full-time at the New England Center for Children from as a case-manager.

Casey Moore, a Program Manager, earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Western Michigan University in 2006. During that time, Casey worked at a school for preschoolers with autism and learned about the effectiveness of ABA. He then moved to Massachusetts and for the next three years worked full-time as a Behavioral Therapist for self-injurious and aggressive boys at the New England Center for Children while simultaneously earning his Masters degree from Northeastern University.

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For Immediate Release, Little Star Center Lafayette to open March 15th – Official Press Release here.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:         Amanda Ryan

Community Outreach & Marketing Director

317.249.2242

[email protected]

Little Star Center Announces Opening of New Lafayette Location

Non-profit autism center will be the first of its kind in the Lafayette Area

CARMEL, IN, February 15, 2011 – Little Star Center, a non-profit center for children with autism, is pleased to announce the opening of a new center in Lafayette, IN. The center will open its doors on March 15, 2011. Their location in Carmel was the first in the state, opening in 2002. This stand alone center – located at 3922 Mezzanine Drive, can be quickly accessed from IN-26, making it an easy to reach location for all Lafayette area commuters.

Little Star Center chose the Lafayette area for its new location due to the need for autism services. “After holding multiple community interest meetings, attending local autism events and support group meetings, the choice was easy. The need for services is great in the area and we are excited to get up there and help with that need,” says Mary Rosswurm, Executive Director of Little Star Center.

Based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Little Star provides an atmosphere where children, therapists and families can interact, support each other and receive on-going training so that each child can reach their full potential at home and in a variety of settings outside of therapy. After decades of research, the United States Surgeon General has endorsed intensive behavioral intervention for individuals with autism as the treatment of choice. Over 40 years of research documents the efficacy of ABA in reducing inappropriate behavior and increasing communication and learning.

About Little Star Center

We believe we are a truly unique and special place for children and families. Little Star allows families to have the best of both worlds – the intense one-on-one personalized therapy that you used to only be able to find in a home program and the community feel of a center based program that gives your child access to peers, materials and a beautiful facility. Families are an integral part of their child’s programming along with our staff of professionals. Little Star prides itself on having a “family first” philosophy. For more information please call 317.249.2242 or visit us on the web at www.littlestarcenter.org.

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autism indiana