New sensory ranch, free to people with disabilities, opens in Kiowa
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KIOWA, Colo. — Wearing a wide grin with his arms flung open, 15-year-old Ashton Scheppers, who has Down syndrome, raced across a new ranch in Elbert County, eager to pet goats.
“He saw it on the calendar and has been so excited about it and we have driven like an hour and a half to get here,” Ashton’s mom, Kristen Scheppers of Lakewood, said. “Goats are one of his new favorite things.”
More than one hundred people from across Colorado, including the Scheppers, gathered Saturday, Sept. 27, to celebrate the grand opening of T21 Sensory Ranch. The Szarzynski family cut the ribbon, opening the space for children with Down syndrome and other intellectual or physical disabilities.
Video: Priya Shahi, Rocky Mountain PBS
The idea for the ranch began a year ago, when Kathryn, a nurse with over 20 years of experience, and TJ, a U.S. Air Force veteran, envisioned a space where their eldest son Liam, born in 2016 with Down syndrome, could benefit from being around animals. They moved to Kiowa and started the sensory farm.
“Being out here gives us the opportunity to give him a sense of responsibility by helping feed the chickens or the goats or horses,” TJ said. “It’s helped him grow quite a bit in the short amount of time. We want to be able to give back to other kiddos who have special needs.”
The ranch is open to the public by appointment, free of charge and operates on donations. Visits are limited to one or two families at a time to ensure a quiet, sensory-friendly experience with plenty to touch, feel, and see, Kathryn explained.
Each year, around 5,700 babies in the U.S. are born with Down syndrome. That’s about 1 in every 640 babies, according to the CDC. The Global Down Syndrome Foundation reports that Colorado currently has three medical care centers dedicated to Down syndrome, all situated along the urban Front Range. This leaves rural communities like Kiowa, with limited access to similar resources.
“Children of all abilities express themselves in different ways. Events like these, where they get to interact with nature and animals, helps unlock some of that expression,” said Yen Adams, an occupational therapist of 23 years who volunteers her time at the ranch. “It is wonderful as clinicians and as parents to see how these people with special needs open up.”
Type of story: News
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Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. To read more about why you can trust the journalism of Rocky Mountain PBS, please visit our editorial standards and practices page.