Mary Limbacher, executive director of Parents in Toto, right, talks with visitor Cree Mullin in front of the new sliding privacy door at the autism resource center. In the background are the new laminate flooring and the top of the new movie screen the center bought recently with grant funding.

ZELIENOPLE — The autism resource center here has undergone improvement thanks to a $60,000 grant.

Parents in Toto, 143 S. Main St., was remodeled recently after receiving the grant from the Edith L. Trees Charitable Trust of Pittsburgh.

“It’s been phenomenal,” Executive Director Mary Limbacher said.

Half of the grant went to fund the center’s part-time program support coordinator position and to add amenities, including laminated flooring, a movie projector screen, audio and visual equipment and a sliding privacy door.

“It provides a way to utilize the center more,” Limbacher said of the improvements.

The other $30,000 went for the ICONz program, which has been used for two years at the center and is based on a curriculum created by Russell Johnson of Pittsburgh.

The curriculum is designed for students who need to learn positive ways of responding to social situations and the underlying complexities of these interactions.

“It’s such an accessible kind of program for young people,” Limbacher said. “It’s really easy to grasp the ideas and their family members can understand and support this curriculum.”

This is the first time the center has received the grant. It also received a $7,400 grant from the Child Health Association of Sewickley.

“We’ve been so small and quiet. It’s just been these past couple of years,” Limbacher said of the center that has become more active.

Limbacher, who has a son named Andy who has autism, was a facilitator for Parents in Toto. Before opening Parents in Toto in 2008, Limbacher was involved with Cranberry Cares.

She said she hopes to introduce the ICONz program to school districts.

Parents in Toto is funded by donations, corporate sponsorships, fundraisers, sponsored events and annual family memberships.

It has various programs to help those with autism from preschool aged to adults.

“There’s an array of activities you can do here,” said center visitor and volunteer Cree Mullin. “It’s nice to have a home away from home.”

Mullin, 27, has autism and has attended the center for four years.

The center has two fundraising events planned: the 4th annual Tee it Up for Toto June 11 at the Birdsfoot Golf Club near Freeport and the 8th annual Heroes for Autism Oct. 21 at the Le Mont restaurant in Pittsburgh.

For more information on Parents in Toto, visit the center’s website at www.parentsintoto.org.