Riding into the future
PHOTO BY CASSIE JACOBY
Our Children's Academy volunteer John Updike helps Stephanie Rogers paint a platter to be auctioned at the gala on Saturday, Mar. 16.
PHOTO BY CASSIE JACOBY
Twelve-year-old Anna Gross paints a platter with Our Children's Academy Executive Director Sharon McManus to auction at the gala on Saturday, Mar. 16.
PHOTO BY CASSIE JACOBY
Larissa Duby and Alex Ledbetter, both age 7, create "hand" painted artwork for the Our Children's Academy gala auction on Saturday, Mar. 16.
PHOTO BY CASSIE JACOBY
Sonny provides a ride for 7-year-old Dakota Rand with help from Ellynne Draper, theraputic riding instructor; Geni Cablish, OT; and Heike Reeves, PT.
PHOTO BY CASSIE JACOBY
Our Children's Academy students enjoy riding Bella in the therapeutic riding program.
PHOTO BY CASSIE JACOBY
Megan Barton assists Victoria Collier riding Bella with helpers Katie Ingram and Trudi Cantor at Our Children's Academy.
PHOTO BY CASSIE JACOBY
Larissa Duby and Alex Ledbetter, both age 7, create "hand" painted artwork for the Our Children's Academy gala auction on Saturday, Mar. 16.
A child who never spoke before now says “ride on.” Children with cerebral palsy who couldn’t sit independently now hold their heads high. When 7-year-old Dakota Rand mounted a horse named Sonny, he climbed to new heights. Amazing things are happening at Our Children’s Academy in Lake Wales where the motto is “you belong.”
There is no cost to families to attend the public charter school that serves the special needs of preschool through eighth grade students with a variety of developmental disabilities. After opening its doors with 18 students in 2006, now 203 students enjoy interacting with a service dog named Dublin, horses and a variety animals.
