We all know each tike raised on a farm or homestead is special , but the farm help us care for our limited needs children , as well . A vibrant homestead has much to offer a family raising up these great fry who simply need a dissimilar breed of concern .
To gain some brainstorm on elevate a homestead special motivation nestling , I ask my friend Tammy Trayer to share her story with me . She ’s mother of Austin , her now 18 - twelvemonth - one-time , high - function autistic Logos . Their family affect to theiroff - grid Idaho homesteadwhen Austin was 13 , and Tammy sound out it was the best thing they could have done for him . They were capable to determine that diet played a big character in how Austin presented autism . When he was little , they tried a number of therapies and discovered that his dead body was sensible to dairy and grain . Tammy says :
” For Austin , as little as a teaspoon of dairy could make him … to be very tempestuous and even violent . We also incorporate supplements , such as atomic number 30 , magnesium and Ca , into his dieting , which help him immensely , nearly removing his anger and emotional outbursts . I learn how to go with him and to really record my son in an attempt to completely facilitate him overpower autism . Today we are 98 pct there and go strong . ”
Being able-bodied to produce “ clear ” food on their own land has been of tremendous benefit for Austin . The Trayers avert processed foods by cooking from lucre , raise a numeral of animals and hunt extensively on their land to further replete their board with healthy foods .
The Value Of Farm Work
The work of the homestead , especially with the creature , has leave another benefit to Austin , as well . Every childneeds to know they ’re valued and need , and every phratry member needs to learn to work hard and contribute to life story at place . Tammy agree , and sees the work that Austin has find out to do on their homestead as something that has allow him to “ come out of his autism shell and find himself . ” Tammy read :
“ Austin is responsible for for caring for our animals . We have core rabbits , laying chickens and milk goats . He takes his jobs very seriously , and his animals have play a role in helping him to hail out of that autism case . Last year we breed our milk goats for the first fourth dimension , and when the two sets of Twin were born in January , he was very proud because he cared for them . … In accession to his animals , Austin is also creditworthy for hack firewood and even help with dish sometimes , and he is a part of all our bodily function , so if we are canning , so is he ; if we are butchering , so is he ; and if we head out for a day of fun , so is he . ”
Of course , you ’ll need to border on farm work differently for each special - needs child . If your child has a forcible constipation , then provide him with tasks that can be modify to accommodate his capacitance is important . If gathering eggs is not potential because of a wheelchair or if your minor is limited by distance , perhaps washing and counting the egg is a duty well suited to his ability .
With autism and similar issues , it ’s quite vernacular for a child to have auditory processing delays . It ’s authoritative to publish down the task list for your kid , as well as going over it verbally . Tammy write Austin ’s chores on the side of thechicken coop . You need to keep your child ’s attention when you speak to them , and only give them one task at a meter to start with . allow for too much information at a fourth dimension will be desolate endeavour on your part because your tiddler might only hear the first or last part of what you say . Make certain your youngster is focalize on you the whole prison term you ’re speak , and ask him to reprize back his appointment to be certain he ’s generate it .
Schooling At Home
Homeschooling is n’t right for everyone , but should you make up one’s mind to bring your special - needs child to the homestead for schoolhouse , you might just find that a whole Modern world opens up to you and them . This was Tammy and Austin ’s experience :
“ Austin was in the public schools until we arrived on our homestead when he was 13 . Although we were blessed with many angels along our journeying through the public school day arrangement , he struggled greatly . He was overstimulated all the time by the body process going on around him in school . Because he was overstimulated , he was angered easy and stress because he could not keep up . … He was in 8th grade when we arrive on our homestead , but academically he was in 3rd/4th form . At that spot , I felt the timing was right and that God had line thing up for me to commence homeschooling him , and it was awful to see the results .
Using a curriculum called Switched on Schoolhouse , pair off with Austin ’s determined attitude , he was capable to complete two school twelvemonth ’ Charles Frederick Worth of study in one class . Tammy says that hire in schooltime year - round and using an unschooling method acting ( where all of life is school ) has continued to facilitate Austin thrive . Tammy shares :
“ Our lifestyle also incorporates an uttermost amount of extra - curricular bodily function and classes necessary [ to determine ] life skills . Austin has a metal and wood shop where he has discover blacksmithing , welding , and the function of traditional and advanced tools in woodwork . He helped build our house and two traditional log cabins , a b , chicken chicken coop , hare hutch and garden . He is in the kitchen all the time with me , in addition to learning to fell trees and chop firewood , raise animate being , fuckup , harvest our meat from the wild and our bountifulness from the garden , and scrounge from the wild . His attainment sets are amazing , and I finger very damn to be able to provide him with this lifestyle . ”
There are myriad homeschool curriculums and programs , so never feel like you have to do it just one fashion . The beauty of schooling at home is flexibility , so take advantage of it .
Communication Is Key
Even if homeschooling does n’t turn out to be something you’re able to do , make time for just you and your child to be together can be important for their development , your relationship , and your parental ability to keep track of how they ’re prepare . For Tammy and Austin , this meant taking walks together on their ground . Such a bare thing that really did n’t take much time , but from those walks came loads of insight for Tammy :
“ We have always made it a point to keep communications open … and during those walking we would just talk about anything and everything ! I am well versed in Legos , movies , dinosaurs and whatever the theme was that he was stuck on at the time . … I felt it was of import for me to provide him to take that clip to express himself . … There were times he would get stuck on a subject area and restate himself … and I find out to just point out to him that he was stuck , and maybe now we could talk about something else . That facilitate him realize that he did get fixated on subjects and avail him discover to bewitch himself . … Because of those walks too soon on in his life , as he hit pubescence and ruffianly spots , he would talk to me aboutanything , which to me was invaluable . He would show so much to me that helped me to help him . ”
Parting Advice
I was animate by Tammy ’s incontrovertible mental attitude and the fearless way she has embraced parenting a special - needs fry , especially in her off - grid homestead setting . She enounce she ’s seen so many betterment in Austin since coming to their land . For those who shinny in fire a special - penury child , have a go at it that you ’re not alone . On the farm or homestead , you ’re in a uniquely locate post to give your baby utilitarian chores , heedful instruction and a real world place to practice their bud skills . Tammy offers :
“ It is gentle to get caught up in the struggles , particularly if you are embracing them by yourself ( I did that for a stretch of 5 years ) or you do not have a supportive partner . But take good tutelage of yourself , focus on your progress and the positive thing in your life . Remind yourself that there is a tike in there that is struggling and misunderstood . [ A child ] that you have not had a hazard to adjoin yet because he is masked by autism . aid your baby and know that all your sweat will pay off even if it is surd . You are not alone . It is definitely a operation and will not bechance overnight ! ”
Austin and Tammy are passionate about sharing their tarradiddle as a family of off - gridiron squatter , so to learn more visit “ Trayer Wilderness ” and “ Mountain Boy Journals . ”
More of this interview , including another with limited needs mom Kathryn Robles of Farming My Backyard , can be found on my web log , “ Homestead Lady . ”
If you have a working farm and are interested in what you might do to help the special demand kids in your community , visitDowns on the Farmfor aspiration and ideas . you’re able to also adjoin them with questions . I also recommendthis clause provided by Friendship Circle .
