Located in Carmel, Indiana, Little Star Center is a non-profit organization started in 2002 to serve the needs of children and families affected by autism. A pioneer in the Indianapolis area, our facility is a structured, sensory-friendly environment where children receive individual 1:1 therapy based on the fundamental principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Verbal Behavior. Families are provided the support they need to face the challenges of autism and become integral partners in their child’s success.

Every 1 in 150 children born will be diagnosed with autism in some form. That is more than Down’s Syndrome, childhood cancers and cerebral palsy – put together. Yet autism receives less funding from government and health sources at all levels. In Indiana, help is particularly hard to find – health insurance covers less than one-third of children with autism – most have no access to insurance coverage for any treatment. Any state programs for treatment have waiting lists that are years long – there are currently 15,000 people on the waiting list for services with a wait of up to ten years.

This is the reality that Steele and Amy Gudal, our founders, faced when their daughter, Gentry, was diagnosed with autism. But, they were lucky to have the resources of a successful family business and support. After much research, they found the treatment their daughter needed – Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy (ABA). ABA is the only treatment for autism that is endorsed by the Surgeon General and several state health departments and it is considered to be the best researched treatment by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The closest treatment facility was five states away – there were none in Indiana. Undaunted, the Gudals founded Little Star Center for their Gentry and for other families to join together to create the treatment their children needed. The Gudals created a center model so unique that families from Florida, Ohio, and California have come to obtain ABA services at Little Star. Tragically, in the spring of 2006, Steele Gudal and Jim DeVoe were killed in a small plane crash.

Little Star Center began with a Director as its only employee. Today, Little Star has over 20 employees working toward the success of its clients and is continuing to grow to better serve those needs including working directly with its parents in their quest to obtain health insurance coverage for therapy. Through this growth, however, Little Star has kept its core mission as its top priority.

Since its inception, Little Star has become a shining example of a grass-roots effort. Each year Little Star serves more children and families and offers support to the autism community. Little Star was the first ABA center for children with autism in Indiana and celebrated its 6th Anniversary in September, 2008.