This week on Spotlight On Maryland, Gina Crash was joined in studio by Joan Marie Twining, Founder & Executive Director of Roses of Sharon Equestrian School, (ROSES), and Jaime Oakley, a parent of a student at ROSES, to talk about the non profit organization's programs and services, how it's grown over the last 25 years to help children and adults with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities, and how you can be a part of its future.
ROSES has been serving individuals of all ages with disabilities since 2001. The nonprofit was founded for the sole purpose of providing opportunities for individuals and small groups to learn and grow through interactions with horses in an authentic and supportive environment. At ROSES, they serve children as young as two- working through delays in developmental skills, all the way up to seniors of 102- who are living with dementia through therapeutic horsemanship. Horseback riding itself provides a myriad of physical, psychological and cognitive benefits to the rider.
Jamie's son Michael was born with a rare genetic abnormality, 17q12 deletion syndrome. When Michael was 19, The Baltimore County Public School's GREAT Program, (Growing Ready Employees through Applied Training) team, along with administrators from Michael's school and members of his family met with Joan, toured ROSES and learned how she would integrate a student like Michael into the ROSES program. That was in February of 2024.
Since he started at ROSES, Michael's experience has been amazingly positive, meaningful and rewarding for him. ROSES has played an instrumental role in Michael's discovery of his vocational talents. For a young adult who struggles with fine and gross motor skills, he has persevered to perform the tasks at the farm. He is held accountable for his job while being supported along the way so he is successful.
To volunteer, donate, ask questions, learn more about horse sponsorships and naming opportunities, or even arrange for a private tour of their facility, visit roseofsharonschool.org. You can also follow them on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Click the media player above to listen to the interview and find out more about ROSES and Michael's story as a student there.
ROSES Has Been Serving Individuals of All Ages with Disabilities Since 2001
ROSES Has Been Serving Individuals of All Ages with Disabilities Since 2001
