LARC Autism Resource Center

Made possible by
The Robert Rosenheim Foundation
Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation
Torrington Savings Foundation
Union Savings Bank Foundation

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The plan for LARC's Autism Resource Center is to help families enable their children and young adults with autism to live full lives in the community. As the programs are developed, news will be shared with the community.
Phone: 860-482-9364 ext. 350
Email:ncasanova@litchfieldarc.org
LARC's Autism Resource Center Coordinator
LARC is pleased to welcome Nerissa Casanova to the agency as Coordinator of the Autism Resource Center.  Nerissa will pick up where Kathy Riberdy left off in June 2021 to return to Project SEARCH.  As a consultant, Kathy achieved important groundwork to establish the new Autism Resource Center.  Now, Nerissa will begin creating and developing programming. 

“I am thrilled to be part of the LARC family, and the Autism Resource Center,” Nerissa shared.  “This is such an exciting opportunity and I’m ready to get to work.”
Ms. Casanova received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Minor in Business Administration from Sacred Heart University.  She received her Master of Education with a concentration in Foundations of Behavior Analysis from the University of Cincinnati.  She has over 10 years of experience working with children and families.  Eight of these years she worked with individuals from infancy to adolescence affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other related disorders both in home and school settings.

Before coming to LARC, Ms. Casanova worked as a preschool teacher at T.E.A.M. in their Early Care and Education Center as well as in the Seymour School District.  She was a Service Coordinator helping facilitate the transition process with families with Beacon Services of CT as well as providing Birth to Three services using Applied Behavior Analysis as a Developmental Therapist.  Most recently Nerissa  provided services to children aged 3-11 during her time at Autism Behavioral Health, LLC. 

One of the Programs that will be offered in the coming months, at no charge to families, is a playgroup for pre-K children with ASD.  Nerissa has already started reaching out to Community Service providers. “The center will be a place to engage in social experiences, provide resources and opportunities for making connections and friendships,” she explained.  “My goal is to create a warm, welcoming place for children and their families."

The Autism Resource Center is funded through grants from the Robert Rosenheim Foundation, Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation, and Torrington Savings Foundation as well as many donors. Information on programming and services will be made available on the agency’s website as it becomes available.  Recordings from webinars held this year addressing many issues facing families and loved ones with ASD can be found at www.litchfieldarc.org.  Nerissa may be reached at 860-482-9364, ext.  350.

"Time Away Garden"

The Time Away Garden is taking shape behind LARC's 314 Main Street office building. The newly developed garden provides a relaxing place to sit and enjoy the beauty of the flowers, herbs and ornamental grasses as well as the butterflies, birds, and dragonflies that regularly visit. The Time Away Garden was made possible by Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation. Thanks also to Mike Zaharek Landscaping for creating the garden area and planting the lovely annuals and perennials! The garden will be incorporated into LARC programming in the near future.

LARC receives grant to install sensory garden

LARC has been awarded a grant from Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation to create a sensory garden behind the agency’s offices at 314 Main St., Torrington.

“The sensory garden will be an important part of LARC’s new Autism Resource Center as a place for programming, as well as respite for program participants, family members, staff, and guests,” according to a statement.

LARC receives funding for new Autism Resource Center

LARC has been awarded funding of $150,000.00 from the Robert Rosenheim Foundation for the creation and development of an autism resource center in Torrington. The funds will be paid out over three phases in a three-year period.  “We are very happy to support the work that the resource center will provide to Litchfield County youth and their families,” noted Michael Samartino, board member of the Robert Rosenheim Foundation.

“LARC is deeply gratified for the support from the Robert Rosenheim Foundation,” said Michael Menard, LARC executive director.  “This certainly is one of the most important projects for the city of Torrington and surrounding towns.  We are honored to have the support of the foundation.”  (click above link for full article)
Autism Resource Center Advisory Committee

​Matthew Carbone is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has worked with special education programs throughout North America.  A member of LARC’s Board of Directors, Matt is pursuing a Ph.D. in Behavior Analysis.  He has extensive experience working in the field of Autism and will bring a wealth of knowledge to his role as a member of the advisory committee.
Rebeka Antonelli is the parent of a teenaged son with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She has run her own business, Clean as a Whistle, for ten years, and currently works as an Educator for the World Awareness Children's Museum, implementing outreach and in-house programs focused on art and culture.  Rebeka volunteered for many years in her children's elementary, middle and high school PTAs as secretary, committee head, and member. She was a Girl Scout troop leader and is part founder and executive director for KKC Cares, a non profit that assists individuals and families through traumatic and abusive circumstances. 
Beth Lambert is a board certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst (CT and NY) who works with students 3 to 16 years of age at the CREC River Street Autism Program.  She received her Master of Science degree from Central Connecticut State University and completed her Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of Saint Joseph.  Beth taught middle school language arts and math for ten years before taking a break from her career to raise her sons, one of whom is on the autism spectrum.  Beth is a past President of Connecticut Families for Effective Treatment (CT FEAT).
Davyne Verstandig was a lecturer in English and Creative Writing at the University of Connecticut. (retired June 2020 after 25 years.) Her books include two books of poetry, Pieces of the Whole and Provisions and her work appears in Sex and Sexuality in a Feminist World, Songs of the Marrow Bone, Where Beach Meets Ocean, This One Has No Name, The Monday Poets, and the forth coming anthology with an introduction by Margaret Gibson, CT Poet Laureate, Waking Up to the Earth, Connecticut Poets in a Time of Global Climate Crisis.  She has also performed improvisational work “composing on the tongue” painting and poetry at The Knitting Factory and Housing Works Café in New York City and  given readings throughout New England.  She gives writing workshops at  Wisdom House  Retreat Center in Litchfield and at Camp Washington Episcopal Retreat Center in Morris.  She is Poet Laureate Emerita of Washington and is a Justice of the Peace.

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