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Resource eBlast July 2019
Sharing Resources for Families of Children with Special Healthcare Needs
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Looking for something to do with your family that is relaxing and also accessible, educational, refreshing, productive, encourages exploration and FUN, too? Try gardening! This edition of the eBlast shares a small taste of ideas, tools, and places that will hopefully ignite ways to spend family time in the dirt together this summer.
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Magic of Sensory Gardens 
A sensory garden is a magical place where anyone can be captivated, and challenges of all kinds (disability, mental health, stress, age, etc.) disappear. It is a uniquely designed garden that appeals to our sense of taste, smell, sound, sight, and touch. If you cannot see, you can touch. If you cannot hear, you can smell. If you cannot taste, you can see. Peruse some of the websites below for the myriad of ways sensory gardens can provide help, comfort, joy, and health benefits.
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Getting Started 
Where to start if you don't have a green thumb? How do you ensure that each family member, regardless of age and ability, can be involved in the ideas, planning, creation, and enjoyment? Here are some ideas to get you started!
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Adapting Existing Gardens
Already have a garden and just need ideas of how to adapt it and make it accessible? Check out these links for considerations, ideas, and "how to" tips.
Need ideas for Adaptive gardening tools? Check these out:
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Publicly
Accessible Sensory Gardens 
Consider finding places in your area that may have sensory, therapeutic, or healing gardens. Here are two examples of large botanical gardens that feature accessible, sensory gardens:
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If it is your child with a disability that has the green thumb and wants to figure out how to explore a future working in gardening, farming, and getting their hands dirty, you may not have to look too far and hard! The societal movements of farm-to-table, focus on nature, and awareness of the environment have given rise to all kinds of private and public partnerships of garden-based training and employment options for those with disabilities. Check out these links and use them to start your own exploration:
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