LEARN WITH US

Jason, a participant since 2018, has stepped out of his comfort zone and continues to grow in all aspects of his life. He holds a job at the Farmyard, takes part in a wide variety of social support services, expands his knowledge in Quest classes and is a proud Special Olympics athlete.

Through all of these new opportunities, Jason has a newfound confidence and an expanded circle of friends. He has learned that having a positive attitude and open mind motivates him to learn new skills, build relationships and have fun.

We are proud of Jason for having the courage to try new things and never letting his disabilities get in the way of his goals and dreams.

Lambs Farm is a place where possibilities are endless. We are grateful for your continued support, which helps us offer all participants the opportunity to see the world from a new perspective. We hope you will continue to learn and grow with us.

Kathleen Buresch President and CEO

At Lamb Farm, Participants are given the opportunity to explore a variety of job options including working in the community.

With guidance from our Employment Specialists, they learn how to fill out a job application and prepare for an interview. Though the process can be intimidating, the men and women of Lambs Farm are given the support and boost of confidence they need to succeed. When they get an offer and tackle that first day on the job, there is no greater joy than watching them beam with excitement as they proudly share their new responsibilities with family, friends and staff.

When Participants go out of their comfort zone, they inspire and teach us how to take on new challenges in stride.

Lambs Farm Programs

With 61 years of service to people with developmental disabilities, the vision of our Co-Founders, Bob Terese and Corinne Owen, lives on and serves as the foundation for the future of Lambs Farm. An innovation from its inception, Lambs Farm has grown from a small pet shop in Chicago to a 72-acre campus where opportunity flourishes for nearly 230 men and women. Lambs Farm helps to create these opportunities by offering a growing number of options for Participants through a full range of employment, residential, wellness and life skills programs.

Employment And Day Program Services

Many Lambs Farm Participants work in the community. Individual, integrated community employment is facilitated by the Employment Specialist who works directly with Participants to find and be successful in their chosen jobs. Using a team approach, Supported Employment meets the staffing needs of local businesses by providing an enclave of two-to-six workers along with a Lambs Farm Job Coach. The Lambs Farm campus businesses serve as vocational training sites for Participants and teach valuable work skills. Participants at Lambs Industries, located near the Lambs Farm campus, undertake subcontract jobs such as packaging and assembly. When it is time to retire, Lambs Farm offers the Enrichment Center, which provides a variety of activities designed to help participants have enjoyable and productive retirement years.

Home Based Services Program

Home Based Support Self Direction Assistance offers individuals with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to continue to live with their family or to live semi-independently, with provided supports. Self-Direction Assistants assist the individual, or the individual’s family or representative, to arrange for, direct and manage services such as recruiting Personal Support Workers, managing budgets, completing required paperwork, applying for requested services, providing training and assisting with employment and educational supports.

Residential Options

Lambs Farm offers residential options both on and off campus. Participants living in campus group homes learn community and daily living skills in a supportive environment. The W. Clement and Jessie V. Stone Apartment Building features individual apartment units for Participants who have already acquired necessary daily living skills and require minimal staff support. The Green-Field intermediate care facility is home for Participants who require more staff assistance. Staff are available 24 hours a day to provide an increased level of care. Participants may also choose to live in a nearby community. These homes receive intermittent staff support.

WELLNESS, RECREATION AND ENRICHMENT

The Wellness Center provides Participants a variety of options to practice healthy behaviors, offers a holistic approach to promoting healthy choices, and fosters a wellness culture. The focus is on overall health, promoted through physical activities such as our Healthy Lambs exercise program and ten Special Olympics sports, as well as educating and encouraging our Participants to incorporate wellness into all aspects of their lives. The Founders Building, located on the Lambs Farm campus, holds a regulation-sized gym and physical fitness center.

The Quest program provides opportunities for Participants to pursue their personal goals with classes available on a wide variety of topics, ranging from social and daily living skills to travel, history, sports and computers. Quest also offers many classes that help educate Participants on wellness related topics. Classes take place on campus and in the community.

The Fine Arts program offers classes in the visual and performing arts. On their days off of work, Participants can also take part in Venture, a leisure skills program.

Enriching Participants, Inspiring Capabilities (EPIC) is a new day program that enables off-work Participants to engage in therapeutic recreation, creative arts and educational activities in the gym. EPIC is open to all Participants and offers fun opportunities daily.

Community Involvement

The men and women of Lambs Farm are integral members of the communities surrounding the campus. Many volunteer at local churches, long-term care facilities and other local organizations.Others find camaraderie through membership in community groups. Participants may also choose to join group outings to sporting events, musicals, dinners and more or use scheduled transportation to visit area stores, libraries, theaters or restaurants. Whether participating in local events and activities, visiting area attractions, relaxing in the parks or shopping, our Participants fully enjoy all of the amenities of their local community.

As we implement new business ideas, the men and women of Lambs Farm grow their skill sets.

Participants and staff in our Country Store & Bakery learned the art of making ice cream. Together they mastered the process of mixing ingredients and operating the new equipment, and developed a wide variety of flavors guests can’t get enough of.

The Magnolia Cafe & Bakery also expanded their offerings, giving Participants the fun task of serving up snow cones, hot dogs, popcorn and lemonade at our special events.

As Participants exude enthusiasm and an eagerness to try new things, we learn how to think outside the box to help them achieve their wishes and dreams.