Special Strides therapy improves children's lives
Parents praise efforts being made at farm in Monroe Township
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer

An afternoon of art helped to raise money for the Special Strides program, which uses hippotherapy (horse therapy) to help youngsters who have special physical and emotional needs. The program's co-coordinators Laurie Landy (second from left) and Susie Rehr (third from left) were joined by Bradley Cregge (l), Gavin Schneider and artist Elaine Smith.

Children with special needs do not give up - at least not when they are creating art.

A group of 15 special needs children will see their artwork auctioned at a fundraising event to be held Oct. 14.

Much like an actor seeing his or her name up in lights, children like John Redding, 10, Katie McDonough, 8, and Bradley Cregge, 13, who are enrolled in the hippotherapy program at Congress Hill Farm, Monroe Township, will get to see their work professionally framed and placed up for sale during an auction to be held as part of the seventh annual Barn Benefit Dance, according to Laurie Landy, owner and operator of the therapeutic farm.

The program Landy runs on the family-owned farm is called Special Strides. It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children who have developmental disabilities and physical handicaps. Landy is the program director and an occupational therapist. Co-program director Susie Rehr is a physical therapist.

Special Strides is a therapeutic horseback riding center that uses hippotherapy (horse therapy) as a tool to elicit change and rehabilitation as a part of a physical and occupational therapy program for children who have autism, cerebral palsy and other sensory and motor conditions.

According to Landy, horseback riding gently and rhythmically moves the body in a manner similar to walking and running. Students see improvement in flexibility, balance and muscle strength.

"Our clients experience a unique bond with our horses, gaining a sense of accomplishment, patience, self-esteem and increased confidence in themselves and in their abilities," Landy explained.

Each child's program is changed as he or she makes improvement.

Landy does what she does because she loves helping children, she loves animals and she loves being on a farm. She has put her passions together and created a place where children are comfortable, happy and are receiving very special therapy. She said a horse is a wonderful animal for providing therapy.

Landy started the program about nine years ago. Prior to that she worked as an occupational therapist with the Freehold Township School District and at JFK Medical Center, Edison.

When asked why she chose a farm to do her work, Landy said she believes it is best to provide therapy in a natural environment rather than a sterile one. Therapy at the farm not only gives children what they need for their disability, it also provides recreation and socialization they may not otherwise receive.

Landy explained that through the generosity of Merrill Tilker, the owner of Around the Corner Art Center, Freehold Township, and the dedication of local artist and teacher Elaine Smith, the art program was a success.

"Elaine is the type of person we wanted to work with our children. She's angelic, spiritual and can add magic to our children's lives," Landy said.

The funds raised from the Oct. 14 art auction will go toward the Steven Werthan Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Landy's students showed up at the Around the Corner Art Center on Aug. 22 and, with assistance from Smith, put their paint brushes, markers and pencils to work to craft very special art work.

From horses to hand prints to turtles and flowers, the young artists seemed to enjoy the event immensely as their parents looked on. Smith doted on each child, encouraged each youngster and praised their work.

"They did a wonderful job," Smith said. "They are all creative and artistic. The children are comfortable in their own skin and seem to have a high level of self-esteem that I don't always find in my other students. Although these children may have been frustrated at times, they were persistent and they never cried or said 'I can't do this anymore.' "

Smith said the fact that every child chose bright colors to work with is significant.

"Choosing bright colors represents the fact that you are a happy person. No one chose any black or brown. All of their work was very colorful," Smith said.

The parents seemed to enjoy the art class as much as their children did. Amy Weiss, of Freehold, brought her daughter Lexi, 7, to participate. Lexi, who has de velopmental delays and difficulty with auditory processing, said her daughter was having a good time. Lexi's sister Sarah, 8, also participated in the class to keep Lexi company.

Weiss is happy Lexi is a part of Special Strides. She said the program helps Lexi with her motor skills, muscle tone and brings creative ways to learn and work.

"She's done tremendously well in this program," Weiss said. "This program is learning through fun. It's a break from her everyday struggles."

Lexi has a regimen of daily speech and physical and occupational therapy.

Tom Cregge, of East Brunswick, has three children enrolled in Landy's program - twins Bradley, 13, who has Asperger's syndrome (a form of autism), and Abigail, 13, who has cerebral palsy, and Timmy, 7, who has cerebral palsy and autism. Cregge said the therapy his children receive at the farm is wonderful.

Cregge said that before Timmy started his therapy with Landy, the youngster could not sit up. Now he sits up beautifully. The therapy has improved the youngster's muscle control.

Cregge is such a believer in Landy's therapy that although Timmy's doctors have said the youngster will never walk, Cregge will never stop hoping that someday, with all of the therapy his son is receiving, Timmy will walk.

Katie McDonough, 8, of Howell, who takes regular art lessons with Smith, had a great time painting a horse picture. Katie had brain cancer and her mom, Jean, said that after receiving chemotherapy Katie had difficulty with her motor skills and balance.

"See used to walk like a drunken sailor, but now the difference is night and day. The therapy has helped her gait, her balance and her muscle tone. And the best thing is she doesn't realize it's therapy. To her it's just fun," McDonough said.

Anyone who would like to support the memorial scholarship program may call (732) 446-0945 or visit the Internet Web site www.specialstrides.com.