Development Director

There’s an App for that.

November 3, 2011 by Development Director

In a time where white earbuds are ubiquitous, and everyone seems to own an iSomething, it’s no surprise that even toddlers are benefitting from the tech-craze. With patients showing up to sessions iPads in hand, and parents asking for advice on the latest apps, we’re finding ourselves thrown head-first into the often overwhelming world of Assistive Technology.

Though there exists countless Assistive Education apps, those involving language may be most useful in the equine-assisted therapy setting. Children and adults who struggle with verbal language can use these tools to communicate their wants and needs. From asking their horse to “Go, please” to choosing a red ball over a blue ring, they can begin to interact more fully with the environment and the people within it. Studies, such as that done by Charlop-Christy, et al, indicate acquisition of these systems lead to increases in age-appropriate behaviors and decreases in negative behaviors.

Though tending towards a sales pitch (which it ultimately is), this clip from the iPad 2 keynote gives you an idea of how these applications are being put to use. Below you’ll find a small sampling of some of the available options:

Conversation Builder by Mobile Educational Tools is designed to help elementary aged children learn how to have multi-exchange conversations with their peers in a variety of social settings. The auditory pattern of conversation is presented in a visual format to help students recognize and master the flow of conversation. Students will learn when it is appropriate to introduce themselves, ask questions, make observations and change the subject of the conversation.

Custom Boards by Smarty Ears is designed to serve as a board and activity creator for speech therapists, teachers, special education and parents of children who need symbols to communicate and learn. Custom Boards includes over 11 thousand built in symbols from the Smarty Symbols library and the ability to add your own photos.

SoundingBoard by AbleNet SoundingBoard transforms your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad into the latest in communication technology. In just minutes, you can create create custom boards using AbleNet symbols or your own photos. Perfect for children in special education, persons on the autism spectrum, and adults with disabilities.

ABA “Emotion” Flashcards and Games by Innovative Mobile Apps is ideal for kids aged 1-4. Using flash cards and interactive games, this app helps children identify, understand, and respond appropriately to over 20 different emotions.

“That won’t scare the horse?”

November 1, 2011 by Development Director

It seemed to be the question on everyone’s mind yesterday. Thankfully, our therapy horses proved good training makes even spacesuits seem normal. From Cowboys and Indians, to Disney characters and plenty of Black cats, NCEFT’s family was dressed and ready for a spooky good time!

Minnie Mouse takes a ride on Princess Valentine, with OT Brittany and Barn Manager Bonnie looking on

Buzz Lightyear was feeling a little camera shy…

Bonnie poses with her War Horse, Stormy

(From L to R): Bonnie, Brittany, and Shayna

Office mascot, Rudder, channels his inner James Dean

A Little Elbow Grease

October 25, 2011 by Development Director

Every year NCEFT would haul piles of tack and barn supplies from Woodside to Portola Valley for Webb Ranch’s Annual Tack Sale. It was no easy task moving mountains of saddles, and an idea began to travel through the office and barn: Our very own tack store. A small shed near the parking lot, holding little more than abandoned gardening tools and cobwebs, was picked to be the future location of “Bits and Pieces”, a tiny store selling gently used tack donations. Ownership of the project was handed over to the barn staff, and these industrious ladies quickly set to work evicting the spiders and replacing rotted floorboards. Paint was applied, homemade saddle-racks went up, and a transformation took place.

Weeks later Bits and Pieces held its first sale, a smashing success. Tack sale veterans, used to dusty leather and stained breeches, were surprised to find Ariat tall boots in pristine condition and racks of Wool hunt coats with dry-cleaning tags still attached. Priding itself on selling clean, like-new merchandise, the little store continues to provide some serious bargains.

Open this Saturday, October 29th, from 10am-2pm, Bits and Pieces will once again open its doors to the public. With a wonderful selection of Winter blankets, and the usual array of riding apparel, tack, and barn supplies, everyone is sure to find something they’ve been needing!

Janie

October 18, 2011 by Development Director

At only six years old, Janie ties Stormy for being the youngest NCEFT therapy horse. Bred in Atwater, California, Janie has the kind of bloodlines begging to be put to use in the cowhorse arena. Sold as a yearling to a woman looking to train her up as a cutting horse, it looked like Janie had a very bright future. Unfortunately, It wasn’t long before money ran short and Janie’s training was put on the backburner, leaving her to spend her days hanging out in the yard. That was when Sarah Warren came in to the picture. Seeing huge potential in her, Sarah decided to purchase Janie as a resale project.

Picking up where the old owner left off, Sarah was surprised by Janie’s gentle temperament. Despite having spent most of her life in a barbed wire pen, and being chased by a local pack of feral dogs, Janie was both trusting and willing. Sarah slowly worked through Janie’s fear of dogs, teaching her to faithfully follow her handler. When she realized how well Janie handled beginner riders and children, Sarah knew this was a therapy horse.

Bonnie ground drives Janie as part of her training for Hippotherapy work

A former NCEFT volunteer, Sarah had seen firsthand the healing power of horses. She’d had a number of horses over the years, some of whom seemed like they might have the makings of a therapy horse, but Janie was the first one Sarah had complete faith in. With a busy work schedule, Sarah was finding it hard to devote enough time to all three of her horses. After getting in touch with NCEFT, it was no more than a week or two before Janie was settling in to her new stall.

Our equine staff immediately went to work evaluating her temperament. Riding, lunging, leading, toys, and a host of other things many young horses would find terrifying. Janie impressed everyone, easily adapting to the daily routine. Though most new horses need a month or two of training before they’re ready for sessions, Janie had her first Therapeutic Riding lessons before she hit her one month mark. She needs a bit more practice between the lines before she’s ready for hippotherapy, but expect to be seeing a lot more of her over the next few weeks!

Reach for the sun

October 7, 2011 by Development Director

It’s not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can’t tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it myself. – Joyce Maynard

I was looking through a folder of photos taken some time ago, moments that had been captured and then somehow misplaced amidst the constant bustle that is a therapy center. There were beautiful shots of kids on horses, but what caught my eye was a series of a mother and son.

Everyday we see mothers and fathers who have found the strength and courage to be their child’s parent, advocate, and protector. They look past their fears and forwards towards a future that may at times seem impossibly out of reach. All parents know that raising a child is a feat of endurance, not a long race, but an inexhaustible series of short ones. But to raise a special needs child is to often run those races blind, unable to see what may lie around the next curve. Undoubtably there’s moments of exhaustion, but those are far outnumbered by occasions of extreme joy. Hearing your child howl with laughter as their horse trots down the arena, watching them put aside their walker to climb aboard their favorite pony, knowing for that half-hour they’ve forgotten about the doctor’s visits and all the times they’ve been told no. Because for that half-hour the answer is yes. Yes, you can play basketball. Yes, you can be a princess. Yes, you can be fast. So fast the rest of the world has to run to keep up.

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There’s an App for that.

There’s an App for that.

“That won’t scare the horse?”

A Little Elbow Grease

Janie

Reach for the sun

NCEFT: HORSES. HOPE. HEALING.

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