Welcoming Families w/ Special Needs

This morning a Facebook friend mentioned it was "Special Education week, and this is in honor... of all the kids who need a little extra help & understanding".
At Falkenbury Farm we welcome families w/ special needs. They find the private 3 bedroom guest house works wonderful for them. Many show their children our website before arriving to make the transition of being away from home easier for them and they have an idea of what to expect. They find that the house vs. a hotel allows them an easier way to relax and do their own thing. Always a good time for us as well as the families! We are lucky to meet so many wonderful people.
If you are a family of a special needs child and would like to visit, give me a call and we can discuss any specific things you may like to know about our farm or guest house.
I am happy to say making the house downstairs handicap accessible is one of my goals. Unfortunately we do not have a ramp to enter the house yet. If anyone knows of any possible funding that may be available for such a project PLEASE get in touch.
Let's hope this week helps shine some light on these great children and their families.

My heroes

Moms of special needs children are my heroes! You always make it look like you are so organized and have it all together! Lately my kids seem to be falling apart and I've been back and forth to doctor appointments, emergency rooms and hospitals more than usual. It's driving me crazy. It's so stressful. I don't know how moms that deal with serious issues continually do it. It's unimaginable to me. You are my heroes! Just this little taste of having to put my kids in the hands of specialists and surgeons has left me in awe of people I know that have done it continually for years. It just leaves my head spinning. How do you find the best doctor for your children? How do you put your trust in them? How do you always know you are making the right decisions?

Welcoming children with special needs

Recently we welcomed a family with a child with Autism to our farm. He seemed to enjoy his stay immensely. You could see that his parents were relaxed and comfortable during their stay. They really enjoyed helping out at chore time. They fed the cows, goats and llamas. Their child seemed to particularly bond with the goats. They really have unique personalities and can be very curious. While talking with the mom she conveyed to me that is often difficult to find places to go that are "hands on". At Falkenbury Farm you are welcome to be very "hands on" if you desire. I've read a bit about Autism and understand that it is often helpful to show your child photos of where he will visit before arriving so that he is more comfortable. On our website we have many of the animals that are here on the farm. Also there are photos of our own children on the website. They love to meet new people and will be in the barn to help visitors get to know the animals. It is also quiet in the guest house since you are not sharing it with others as compared to a hotel or B&B. If you need to take a walk to 'get away from it all' and have some quiet moments alone, there are also plenty of places for that. If anyone has any questions about our farm, please feel free to contact us. www.falkenburyfarm.com We are located in Benson, Vermont.