CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A farm in the northwest suburbs helps people find their special ability.
Partners for Progress in Wauconda is a horse farm established in 2012 that allows people who were born with any number of physical ailments to discover the strength and talent within.
"We have kids with autism, any kid in that spectrum. Cerebral palsy. Spina Bifida," executive director Diane Helgeland told WBBM Newsradio.
"We have kids that come in and they're scared. They cry. We have parents who come in who are hopeless because of things they have been told," Helgeland said.
Helgeland said families come to Partners for Progress either by word of mouth or through the recommendation from a therapist. Horse therapy helps a child in a number of ways. The motion of the horse can calm spastic muscle movements. Riding a horse can help a child build core strength and muscle tone, allowing them to move their arms and legs in ways they never thought possible.
"Literally you see kids that were told that they weren't going to walk, walk. Kids that never spoke, speak. It's amazing," Helgeland said.
Horse therapy has been a part of Corbett Ryan's life since he was two years old. Ryan is 43 and horse riding is a component of his therapy for cerebral palsy. He also helps other people get comfortable around horses.
He said the calm horses convey a reassuring message.
"I'm good too. I'm not nervous. I'm here for them," Ryan said.
Ryan said his dream was to show horses at horse shows, and he will be able to do just that at a horse show in Florida next month. Some people who started out with horse therapy graduate to performing tasks around the barn.
"Dreams and miracles happen here every day," Helgeland said.
"Partners for Progress is here to stay, and I plan to ride the rest of my life, as humanly possible," Ryan added.
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