Raising a child with autism can be a daily challenge for parents. Bright lights and loud noises can be overwhelming to the child; the child may be anxious about unfamiliar situations and prone to meltdowns – almost anytime or anywhere.
Parents of children on the spectrum often have higher stress levels than other parents and many feel obligated to apologize whenever their child acts out in a way not considered normal.
Finding any place that is understanding, flexible and accepting is rare.
Keswick Sensory hopes to be a safe haven for families with an autistic child – a place to visit and have a stress-free day.
The Keswick farm offers an immersive experience to families with children, ages 4 to 14, who are diagnosed with almost all levels of autism, verbal or non-verbal.
The program was the brainchild of Greg and Kim Jacobson who are also the property owners. Kinsey Plum serves as director of the nonprofit organization.
The assistant director, Lexy Chernish, said she has been with Plum since the beginning.
“It [the mission of Keswick Sensory] really resonated with me,” Chernish told AFP. “The work that they do here, that we do here, I wanted to be a part of it. This is our second year of operation, and I’ve kind of had a hand in everything from the start until now.
“I hear people complaining about their job,” she said. “They feel like their job is a dead end, and they’re not helping anyone. They’re not making a difference.
“I genuinely see kids go from being nervous to having a good day just with what I’m doing. Having something to do that actually makes a difference in people’s lives is huge for me.”
An immersive farm experience
By invitation, the farm offers families an opportunity for a child to learn, grow and thrive through interactions with horses, goats, sheep and pigs. The farm also has a quarter mile walking trail, a balance beam with natural trees, a rock wall, a plastic critter hunt, lily hop pad, zipline and crafts.
The morning starts with safety information and a brief orientation, Chernish said, but the entire day is built around flexibility. The schedule is lightly structured so adjustments can be made as they go.
“We’ll get the kids fitted for helmets for a riding portion, because sometimes just the act of getting the helmet can be a lot for someone who struggles with sensory issues,” she said. “And then we’ll move to saying hello to the horses.”
Chernish said that volunteers and staff are looking to see if the child is comfortable with the horse or if they may be a little nervous.
“The horses are big and can be scary,” she said. “Some of them [the children and families] may think that they want to ride and then they get here and see how large horses actually are in person, and they may rethink that a little bit. That’s where our flexibility comes in.”
Instead of riding, Chernish said, they may adjust the plan to go for a walk with the horse, groom the horse, pet them or feed them.
After the horse portion of the day, the families are introduced to the livestock on the farm: pigs Peppa and George, goats Pancake and Syrup, and sheep Peanut Butter and Jack.
“They’re all really friendly and can be petted and are really great to interact with.”
Some kids will go into the pen with the animals and others may choose to stay outside the pen and pet them through the fence.
The quarter-mile trail includes obstacles and activities for the children to experience while they walk.
“Sometimes having something physical to do with your body with a goal can really help focus and kind of help with any sensory issues,” Chernish said.
Lunch is provided for the families, and a craft activity is offered if the child is up for it. The day usually wraps up for the family, staff and volunteers between 1 and 3 p.m.
A lasting impact
While the visit to the farm may only take a few hours, its impact lasts much longer for many families.
One set of parents said their son talked about riding a horse for months after their visit, and when they decided to return the next year, the child was thrilled.
A mother witnessed her son do something on a horse that they didn’t think would be possible due to challenges with hand-eye coordination, and his mom broke down in tears when she saw it happen.
“It’s been wild just seeing the progress these kids make and how much enjoyment they get interacting with animals,” she said. “We see a difference in, not just the kids, but the families too. We really wanted the farm to be a place that is positive and relaxed and accepting.
“We understand that sometimes kids have a bad day, and that’s okay. It sometimes takes time to transition from one activity to another, and that’s also okay.”
She said they sometimes see parents come in and apologize for their child’s behavior.
“There is nothing to defend,” she said. “They [the autistic children] just think a little differently. Once we get to the end of the day, the parents see that we are so flexible and truly accepting, and I think the parents kind of relax too and realize they don’t have to apologize for anything.”
Chernish said she didn’t have any personal experience with autism when she took on her role with the non-profit organization, but she does remember what it felt like to be unpopular at school and to be left out.
“I remember not having many friends, and I remember not fitting in, and I remember a lot of people being not particularly kind to me.
“I feel like if I can be a part of the solution to counter people being less than nice, then I want to do what I can.”
For more information on Keswick Sensory or to apply to visit or volunteer, go to keswicksensory.org
Visiting Keswick Sensory
The farm is open seven days a week for scheduled visits.
Any family that is interested in bringing their autistic child to the farm starts by filling out an application online.
There are no geographic restrictions: if families can make it to the Albemarle County farm, if it’s not too far of a drive and they would like to come, they are welcome, she said.
Families don’t pay for anything when they visit the farm. Everything on the farm is supported by donations and volunteers. Donations go toward caring for the animals, feed and hay for the horses and livestock, trail maintenance, repairs, safety, training for staff, new activities and obstacles.
This year, the farm has hosted 13 families and around 25 children. They also host the occasional pop-up event or field trip.
“I do see us growing but not so much that the visits become not personalized anymore,” Chernish said. “We really want to keep that individual touch for each family that visits.”
Tinsel Trot 5K and 10K
Keswick Sensory will be the beneficiary of the Tinsel Trot 5K and 10K walk/run event on Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. at Southern Revere Cellars at 1100 E. Jack Jouett Road in Louisia.
A virtual race option is also available.
The non-profit has a goal of raising $12,000 from the walk/run and with additional donations and sponsorship opportunities.
Registration for the event is open now.
“Their farm is beautiful,” Chernish said of Southern Revere Cellars. “If anyone wanted to just come and hang out while people are running, they are welcome.”
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Crystal Graham
