“We’ve learned so much about our ambassadors — our friends living with special needs — how capable they are and how much they want to be part of the community,” explained Susan Mooney, one of the founders of Tall Tales Ranch.

“They want to be productive; They want to have jobs. And it’s very difficult to find employment for them in a space that’s willing to make accommodations,” Mooney continued, adding that adults with special needs have unique skills and talents that need to be recognized and utilized.

Studies show that less than 40% of people with IDD have paid employment and many of those workers are underpaid. However, several companies around Colorado employ workers with IDD, like DIRT Coffee in Littleton, Pizzability in Englewood, Jack's/Steamers in Arvada and Festive Cup Coffee in Highlands Ranch.

Mooney and her husband, Pat, started Tall Tales Ranch eight years ago after their son Ross was diagnosed with a genetic condition called adrenoleukodystrophy at the age of 14. Ross received a bone marrow transplant to stop the progression and afterwards his parents wanted to find more ways for Ross to engage with the outside world, make friends, work a job and live as normal of a life as possible. That's how Tall Tales Ranch was born.

To now see it come to fruition and see it change people’s lives makes me so happy," Mooney said. "And I love being able to give them the opportunity … If given the opportunity, they will just shine.”

Sammi Somers is also an ambassador for Tall Tales Ranch. Sommers said the best part of the experience is working with her friends.

“We want to be like the regular community and have jobs, and I’m super happy and can’t wait to get this started," Sommer said. "Let’s rock Tall Tales Ranch!”

Dana Knowles is a multimedia journalist at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach her at danaknowles@rmpbs.org.

Julio Sandoval is a multimedia journalist at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach him at juliosandoval@rmpbs.org.