We have the helpful hands, now we need your SUPPORT to help raise the funds.

STAR is excited to build new garden beds that will help kids participating in the feeding program better understand and love the food they eat. And we thought, hey, what a better way to do this than create a way for them to be a part of the magic and grow their own foods. Check out the video at the top of the page to hear more from Nicole Pielage, STAR's occupational therapy feeding specialist, and Sophie.

Sophie, a high school student volunteer, has been working with the STAR Institute Feeding Team in planning and designing several raised garden beds. This project not only supports the children and families at STAR, but also helps Sophie earn her Eagle Scout award as part of the Boy Scouts. Sophie is ready to take the next steps in building the garden, but we need YOUR help in making this dream a reality!

DONATE TODAY and help grow a garden for children and families coming to STAR for feeding therapy and support. Your donation will help purchase materials needed for Sophie to "get to work" and create a fun and hands-on experience for kids to learn about where our food comes from, explore new foods, and encourage healthy eating habits.

And don't forget, you are not only supporting the STAR community, but also empowering Sophie's leadership skills and completion of her Eagle Scout badge.

ABOUT STAR INSTITUTE

STAR Institute is the international leader for research, treatment, and education related to sensory integration and processing. We are dedicated to improving mainstream awareness of sensory health and to providing life-changing support and resources for individuals and families across the lifespan. STAR Institute supports all areas of sensory health including mental health, school success, child development, parenting, relationships, and vocational success. For some, disordered sensory processing profoundly impacts daily functioning. However, many differences in sensory processing do not need to be disabling. We believe everyone should have access to high-quality support, resources, and treatment for sensory health.

So what is sensory processing?

Sensory processing refers to how we feel. ALL the information we take in is through our senses, and our brains and bodies process this information through our nervous system. Our ability to process sensory data does not usually require conscious thought or cognitive effort. It provides emotional stability, our sense of safety, a platform for social interaction, sense of self, well-being, satisfaction and/or accomplishment. It shapes how we feel and respond to things throughout the day, impacting everything our habits, routines, roles, relationships, etc.

When you support STAR Institute, you are supporting:

TREATMENT
- Children, adolescents, and adults who received individualized, sensory-informed, trauma-informed, and evidence-based treatment. Our multidisciplinary team (occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, feeding therapists, psychologists, mental health providers, and more) commonly provide care for individuals with: autism, anxiety, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, OCD, misophonia, families formed by adoption, trauma, feeding difficulties, gifted/talented, and twice exceptional.
EDUCATION
- Individualized education and resources to parents and families to better understand our sensory systems and supports for equipping individuals with sensory differences to flourish, function, and fully participate in daily life.
- Educational courses, certifications, and events for clinicians and community members alike to learn more about sensory-informed care and the STAR Approach to therapy services.
RESEARCH
- Conduction and collaboration of rigorous research into the identification, characterization, and treatment of sensory processing and integration strength and needs.

Growing Love for the Foods We Eat

STAR Institute Garden Fundraiser

Team Members