Casey Thayer, 22, grew up on a farm with her parents and two siblings, surrounded by animals and fields.  When she was young, Casey was diagnosed with autism.  Casey nuzzled up to Janice next to a horse pasture on their farm in Birdseye, IN on April 27, 2014.  "I am losing a huge part of my life," Janice said.  A few days later, Casey moved out. 

Casey attended her final high school prom with her mother Janice at Forest Park High School on April 26.  Although many people with autism are overwhelmed by loud noise and wild lights, Casey loved to dance with her mother to the music and watch her classmates interact.  Her brother Emerson, who attends Forest Park, was also there with a group of his friends.  Janice said, "I honestly think she felt like Cinderella or Belle that day and if it takes me going with her to make that happen, it is worth it to me." 

Janice lit twenty-two candles on an ice cream cake for Casey's birthday on April 27, 2014 at their home.  Casey's 22nd birthday was a turning point for the Thayer family and their decision to move Casey into a home in Jasper, IN.  Up until this birthday, Casey attended Forest Park High School while her parents went to work.  However, in order to continue taking care of Casey at home after she could no longer attend school, either Doug or Janice would have had to leave their job, a job their family relied on.  

People with autism often have habits that help release their feelings of being overwhelmed or frustrated.  For Casey, that habit is shredding.  Casey shredded a piece of plastic while walking along her family's driveway in Birdseye, IN on April 27, 2014.  Her parents speculated that her anxiety stemmed from her knowing about the upcoming move; however, they could not ask her about how she was feeling.  She cannot form sentences or words, but communicates only through humming and her own form of sign language.  

Doug embraced Janice as Casey's school bus pulled away from their driveway for the last time on May 1, 2014.  Casey did not come home from school that day, but was picked up by her new caretakers and taken to her new home in Jasper, IN.  "I wonder if she realizes it is the last time," Doug said.

Casey's parents, Janice and Doug, moved Casey's belongings into her new assisted living home in Jasper, IN on May 1, 2014.   Janice said that she and her husband had to put on a strong face to show support for Casey's new life, otherwise Casey would not be able to stand staying there.  

After arriving at her new home in Jasper, IN for the first time without her parents on May 1, 2014, Casey went to her room and stayed laying in the same position for hours on her unmade bed. 

Casey spends hours every day watching movies to pass the time.  She loves Disney and Pixar movies best.  

Casey looked at her new home in Jasper, IN from the passenger seat of Janice's car on June 14, 2014.  Casey now resides with two other residents under 24-hour care in that home.  However, Janice often picks her up on the weekends for the day to go to church or visit the rest of the family.  This time she was picking up Casey so that they could spend Father's Day weekend with Doug.  

During her visit, Casey embraced every piece of home she always cherished--from eating her dad's homemade dinner to hugging the kittens roaming her family's land.  Although the house Casey lives in has changed, she always can return to her family.