What is Shamrock Acres?

The concept of a 250-acre, environmentally conscious community campus, tailored to aid individuals with developmental challenges and their families in reaching their full potential; empowering them to serve as valued members of society. This purpose-built environment fosters independence, growth, and social connection while cultivating a mutually beneficial relationship with the local community. The campus includes a   K-12 School, Transition and Employment Center, Wellness Center, “Main Street” Business Area, Farm / Outdoor Therapy and Discovery Area, Country Store Retail Outlet, a Crisis and Respite Care Facility, and residential neighborhoods.

Is there a need for this?

YES! Most public-school districts lack the specialized resources necessary to fully accommodate children with significant developmental delays. Currently, Holy Childhood (https://holychildhood.org) is the predominant provider of educational and transition services for children and young adults with developmental disabilities in the greater Rochester area. They are a critical resource, assisting more than 200 children and young adults from five counties and more than 40 school districts. However, the need is greater than their capacity and they turn away eligible and deserving children and young adults each year. Those that do attend Holy Childhood sometimes travel more than an hour each way, each day to participate in these programs. Holy Childhood occupies a former elementary school which they have adapted to meet their needs, but children often must leave the school to acquire services and basic healthcare (e.g., physical therapy, speech therapy, physicals, dental exams, vision checks), often in settings not specifically designed for children or young adults with special needs. Shamrock Acres aims to cultivate a community that is fully resourced on-site to meet the needs of this unique population and accommodate more children who might otherwise go without the services they need. The Shamrock Acres programs are also designed to assist their clients from the initial stages of their education (kindergarten) all the way through integration as productive young adults in their local communities.