#785LIFESTYLE
A field of greens, field of dreams by Tom Krebs | photos by Amber Farmer
"Our families are here to provide a vehicle for their success, we're just in the backseat enjoying the ride."
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Just what is opportunity?
Colby and André are on the autism spectrum and Luke was born with Down Syndrome. All three participated in the special education program at Auburn-Washburn USD 437, which earned a shout out from André’s father, Luis Guillén. “André was in an awesome program. It helped him open up a lot.”
Opportunity is clearly different for different people. For three young men in Topeka, all with, in a parent’s words, “different abilities,” opportunity has a different face than for many of their peers. But thanks to an collaborated effort by family and friends, Colby Myers, André Guillén and Luke Gerhardt will have the opportunity to enjoy personal success All three earned a high school and meaningful employment through diploma and are currently enrolled in the special education program their lifetime. that allows them to continue their They will achieve this dream through an work on building life skills until amazing indoor field of greens. their 21st birthdays. There is nothing small in scale about But knowing they would be aged either the field of greens or the dreams out soon, questioning government these parents have for their children and services, now and in the future, but others. (The families dream to replicate, wanting more for their children, over time, these opportunities for other Chuck and Kris Myers, Luis and local citizens with "different abilities.") Marisol Guillén, and Tim and About one in every 66 children born in the US is diagnosed with autism, but the severity ranges across a wide spectrum. About one in every 700 children born in the US is born with Down Syndrome.
Rhonda Gerhardt set about creating a food production facility that could be fiscally viable as well as providing a work environment that aligned with the young men’s capabilities