Re: Jane

[Guest guest]

Jane,

I just copied it in to the e-mail. On these lists sometimes it is difficult

to get attachments to open.

Ruthie

Starting Your Own Ranch or Farm

By Ruthie Horn Robbins

Many parents have a dream of establishing a place where their

child with autism will flourish as an adult, in an environment that is

appropriate for his or her special needs. That was my wish for my daughter,

Mandy. But where would I begin?

Starting a ranch or farm is not easy business, but with ambition

and drive, organization, and determination, it can be accomplished. Below

is a list of things to consider when journeying down the road to building

your own " special farm " :

a.. List your goals and objectives. Who are the services for, and is this

need being met by another organization? Take into consideration age, sex,

levels of ability, short term, or long term care.

b.. Get advice from an attorney, accountant, and banker. Make sure it is

the best advice available even if it doesn't agree with your assumptions.

c.. Will your project be a not-for-profit venture, or a for-profit

venture? If not-for- profit, remember it takes time, energy, and resources

to apply for non-profit status from the federal government. Start with an

attorney who is well versed in non-profit organizations. You will probably

require their advice when filling out the forms. They will also be able to

advise you as to the benefits and/or downside to being a non-profit. Where

will the money come from? Do you, your family, or friends have experience

in fundraising? Find out all you can about grant writing. To learn about

fund raising and grant writing, look to you local community foundation,

community college, continuing education, and seminars that might be held in

your area

d.. Who will run the organization? Will you hire a director or are you

going to do it yourself?

a.. Be realistic about your child and the other people who will live

there. Analyze the services that they need to live an active, productive

life, and plan accordingly.

b.. What happens to your organization if you are unable to be involved or

have passed away? Make sure that you have an orderly chain of command, and

that you provide in your organization's by-laws how your organization is

going to operate even if you are no longer available.

c.. Staffing is the most important consideration you will make. How are

you going to go about hiring appropriate staff? What will the ratio of

staff to client be? Staffing can depend on state requirements, or on the

needs of your clientele. Make sure that you have adequate staff so that

needs of the clientele are being met and that you are avoiding staff burn

out.

d.. How are you going to provide the training that they will need? Look

to local educational institutions in their departments of special education,

occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech/language pathology, etc.

e.. Will you remodel or build? Local builders and architects can provide

expert help. They should be knowledgeable in ADA building requirements.

Also consider zoning issues. These can require a specialist and possibly

political help. Most local governments have an office of zoning and can

give you the necessary advice. There are also attorneys who specialize in

land use and zoning. Contact your state government and find out what types

of licensing you need and how long it takes to apply for the required

permits.

f.. How do you plan to govern your organization? Will you use a volunteer

board of directors or will you be solely in charge? Evaluate your own

talents, skills, and the time you have available to give to the organization

once it is up and running. Be objective! Do you have what it takes to do

this on your own every day? Being solely in charge insures that the goals

you established for your organization will not be changed by outsiders. A

Board of Directors on the other hand can help to provide an organization

with more objectivity in assessing the needs of the organization, as well as

bringing in more community involvement. They can also help to insure the

continuation of your organization if you are no longer able to be involved.

g.. If a board of directors, ask people in the community who have

knowledge and resources that you can rely on when problems arise or

decisions need to be made.

h.. Will you be providing on site work, or will your clients go off site

to work? What if you need both? See what resources are available in your

community for off site work, and for on site work, be creative. This can

add not only add fun to a client's day but give added self esteem as well.

Ruthie Horn Robbins is a non-practicing attorney who, along with her

husband, , founded Mandy's Special Farm in Albuquerque, N.M. because

they could not find appropriate placement for their daughter, Mandy, who is

23. They also have a 25-year-old son, . Ruthie can be reached at

, drmrobb@..., or info@....