Green Chimneys: Honoring History, Looking Ahead

SBR We have known both scientifically and anecdotally, 孩子们对动物的反应往往与对人的反应不同. 人与动物的接触有助于培养一种养育的本能，学会照顾动物可以培养一种责任感和对他人的关心，这是一些孩子无法体验到的. What this enables in a child’s development is truly marvelous.

JW Green Chimneys’ Farm & Wildlife Center has become one of the top facilities in this country, and maybe the world, in modeling human-animal education and therapeutic activities. 我们为我们项目的这一方面以及它在我们的住院治疗中心和特殊教育学校的成功感到非常自豪. I have always had animals, 我喜欢户外和园艺，加入十大网赌靠谱网址平台是一个自然的选择. Developing our organic farm, 野生动物中心和农场项目是我在这里工作的一个非常积极的方面.

EP I think when you look at our educational system, particularly special education, there are two items that are key; enhancing the literacy of people with disabilities [in reading, writing, mathematics] as well as getting them career- and college-ready. 十大网赌靠谱网址平台有一个很好的基础来创建一个非常强大的职业发展和职业研究项目, CDOS, which has a wide range of variables. It can mean taking a career and technical education class, it can be volunteer work, it can be doing job shadowing, it could be paid employment.

SBR One approach does not suit all. 这是最难完成的事情之一，因为我们提供的比普通学校更多. 设计一个增加课堂内外机会的项目应该是可能的，也是必要的. 强调生活技能和职业发展的体验式教育对那些可能上不了大学的学生来说至关重要.

JW Our education, clinical, 住宅和以社区为基础的项目必须发展，以更好地满足我们所服务的儿童群体的需求，使他们能够在返回社区后成功地竞争. 我们的环境为我们的学生提供了丰富的机会，以培养在他们的社区中取得成功所必需的技能. 提供有意义的工作途径是至关重要的，我们的目标是扩大我们在这一领域的服务.

JW Children with special needs and their families want the same things most, if not all, 家庭希望他们的孩子:快乐，并在他们所能完成的事情中感到被重视. 许多来到绿烟囱的孩子在学校或社区都感觉不到什么成功，我们认为我们的首要任务之一是改变这种模式，提供技能，帮助他们看到自己的价值，并能够体验成功.

EP That they want their children to succeed, they would like their children to be independent, and live a productive adulthood. And that’s where the K-12 system comes in to help prepare a youngster, and their family, for that type of level of independence. 对于一个有残疾孩子的父母来说，在州里工作并不容易. 学校和学区必须为家庭提供路线图，帮助他们确保他们的孩子或年轻人得到他或她所需要的. 这是一张很难导航的地图，我认为这是十大网赌靠谱网址平台做得很好的地方.

EP In the simplest terms, it’s a high school graduation. 我现在已经参与了大约25个高中毕业典礼，这是每个学年的亮点.

SBR I enjoy that I am still able to work. I love the children. I am thankful that my family is still very involved. 我希望我们能得到更多的人的支持，让十大网赌靠谱网址平台永远在这里.

JW In my 45 years, 有一件事让我热泪盈眶，那就是看到20多岁的校友和他们的伴侣一起来看望我, and maybe their son or daughter. 看到他们展示他们经历成功的地方，或者以一种告诉他们他们会成功的方式认识到他们的价值. 很明显，他们的经历非常重要，必须与他们所爱的人分享, and the importance of sharing it is significant to me, and to all of us who work at Green Chimneys.

JW Not the funniest but the best thing I hear being said to my staff, and sometimes to me, is “Thank you.” I know that my staff really earned that thank you and it is appreciated.

SBR 当30年前的一个学生要求看他在这里照顾过的一只山羊时，我总是被逗笑.