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Rescued Animals, Rescuing Kids

May 13, 2008, 2:45PM MT

By Becky Monroe

By: Becky Monroe, Network Volunteer

A trip to a farm working miracles

I am unsure what was the most inspirational to me the day I went to visit The Light Center: a farm with expertise helping children with all types of special needs.

When I first arrived I was greeted by the founder and executive director, Jan Cederlund. Instantly, I was impressed by her excitement and enthusiasm. She had just returned from a weekend at the Kentucky Derby. She was thrilled to have been there but still saddened by witnessing the loss of second place winner, Eight Belles.

As she caught up on a few things, she let me roam the stables known as Paddock Hills Equestrian Center, a facility that the Light Center is allowed to use from time to time. The place is amazing.

After my brief self-guided tour of the arena, Jan and I were able to talk about the Light Center. Jan is a teacher by degree with a strong background in special education and mental health. When her family purchased this country property, she knew there was something unique that could be done with it. With a lot of vision and determination, she and her husband, John, turned part of their land into the Light Center.

In 8 years, the Light Center has served over 1000 kids, all of whom have some special need. Some kids come from at-risk homes. where their family life may be unpleasant. Programs like the Light Center allow them a chance to get away from it and learn about respect and kindness.

Other kids come because they have developmental disorders or mental illness. These kids use the animals as a tool for communicating and for learning. Kids can come to the Light Center and spend time just “being.”

It is during this period of “being”, they often feel free enough to speak their minds for the first time. The animals are all rescued souls. There are beautiful horses, some of whom were racehorses. There is a donkey, 2 ponies, a goat, a few sheep, a mini-dwarf horse, and some guinea pigs, rabbits, ducks and chickens.

Students rounding up a horse

These special animals are what the kids can relate to. A sheep, abandoned by her mother, a racehorse not fast enough to win, and a duck without any feathers (who is in rehab) because all the other ducks were picking on her. These animals represent the types of challenges some of these kids face every day.

While I was there, a class of about 8 was at the farm. These kids had special needs: mainly, autism and attention deficit disorder. I was able to watch them work with the instructors on the theme for the day: love. They were teaching love by showing the kids how to care for things. The kids were brushing the horses and learning about what the animals like and don’t like as well as how to show affection and care for them.

Students, Casey and Chris brushing Kali

I asked the teacher’s aide from the school the kids attended what he thought of the program. He explained that he has been coming out for about a year and couldn’t say enough about the program.

He said, “These are skills that these kids wouldn’t get anywhere else. This opportunity is very important for these kids because they don’t get others like it. Throughout the week, the kids ask, ‘Are we going to the Light Center today?’ It is one of the best experiences they get.”

I have a special place in my heart for animals. I never ask my animals to do anything but love me. But, seeing these beautiful creatures have such an amazing impact on these kids really struck my soul.

It was the most tremendous sight: rescued animals who once had nowhere else to go helping kids who may not have much else to look forward to in life. It is an astounding karma to witness.

While standing with Jan, we watched a group of kids grooming one of the animals. I couldn’t help but notice the sparkle in her eye. I said, “It must be a dream come true – to see your vision come to life in front of your eyes.”

Jan smiled, “It is, it really is.”

While the vision has undoubtedly become a reality, it is always a work in progress. Recently, The Light Center received a donation from the Rotary Club to re-build the fencing around the animals. A number of years ago, they raised all the garden beds so that they were more easily accessible to the kids.

Inside the barn is painted bright and bold, full of designs that are all student inspired or done by the students. They have a tree painted on the wall and each student who comes gets to paint their own leaf to hang. Soon, the Light Center plans to have donors make a leaf. One day the leaves of the students and the leaves of the donors will come together across the barn. The ultimate symbolism that The Light Center has touched the lives of so many.

Jan explained that while the Light Center is slowly being accepted by mainstream professionals, it still struggles to be understood. Jan would love to see the Light Center become an ordinary addition to more kids IEP’s (Individual Education Plan).

Though learning through animal assisted therapy might take some people longer to grasp, a short visit to the farm observing students will change most minds (and hearts). As Jan put it, “We are not a field trip destination.” The Light Center is a place where kids can come to escape their current situation and are allowed to share their feelings and learn to work around their disabilities through the help of the instructors but it is the power of the animals that makes a difference.

The animals prove to be the kids’ friends and allow them a safe place and opportunity they would, otherwise, never have. The Light Center demonstrated to me that kindness and acceptance could teach and heal more than any other medicine.

As with any non-profit The Light Center runs on the generosity of others. Right before I left, Jan suggested that if anyone had made derby wagers on Eight Belles, they might consider making a donation to The Light Center in honor of the fallen filly.

To donate or volunteer at The Light Center, you can call: 815-923-2613 or email tlcinunion@aol.com. Please check out their website at: www.tlcunion.org. and look for upcoming information on their annual charity benefit at the Anvil Club in Dundee, IL in late summer.