Deas Testimony
"The typical Massachusetts arrangement for a disabled adult like Will includes placement in a group house overnight and weekends, and in a workshop during the weekdays. We knew he would not be able to handle the constantly changing staff at the house and workshop as well as the daily transport."
With High Spirit and the Greenes we found the realization of our dreams for Will; the life-sharing home at High Spirit Community Farm has proven to be exactly what he needs. On good days when his seizures are fewer, he fully participates in family life and the gardening work. He is in charge of wheelbarrow trips to the compost, filling the birdfeeders, setting the table and doing the recycling, to name a few of his daily challenges and successes.
On days when he has many seizures he remains in this same home with his High Spirit family’s support, joining in as best he can. Under this kind of flexible, loving, and respectful care he is both challenged and thriving. Every parent hopes his or her child will find a nurturing community life that encourages that child to be the best he or she can be. I have worried for so long that Will’s special needs might prevent his ever being part of such a community. High Spirit has provided it for Will.
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Dea Angiolillo, Will's Mom and member of High Spririt Board of Directors
For Bars Birthday
"Bar spent his 22nd birthday doing what he enjoys most – working. As he’s shoveling manure into the wheelbarrow and bringing it to the compost pile, you can see he loves what he’s doing. This is no small thing."
Our child, who could never learn to play; our child who needed constant activity, who fussed, tantrumed, broke stuff, ripped the pages out of books and would only be soothed with constant trips to the slides, food or another bath tub. What would become of this child? What would his life be like? I watched for people like him, and saw people bagging groceries in the market, or carrying mail at the hospital. I knew he could never do that.
Our boy is a young man now. He walks with purpose towards his destination. He knows what to do, how to do it, and he is proud. This is not just amusement, like swimming or slides, this is real work and he knows it. As Bar’s teacher once said, “The day Bar discovered the wheelbarrow and the pitchfork was a day of deep and abiding enlightenment." And it is just so. We are grateful to High Spirit for providing the place that supports and allows Bar to work with his wheelbarrow.
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Ginny and Bob Swain, Bar's Mom and Dad, and founding Board Members of High Spirit Community Farm
Office: 4 Brattle Street, Suite 303 Cambridge, MA 02138 p: 617- 699 - 2231 Farm: 144 Seekonk Cross Road Great Barrington, MA 01230 p: 413-717-4034
