Mandy's Special Farm is a parent's dream realized, designed and built from the ground up, with developmental disabilities in mind, across more than four picturesque acres for living, learning, working and playing.

Mandy’s Special Farm is a private nonprofit organization designed and dedicated to providing quality care for individuals with developmental disabilities in a family environment. MSF does not discriminate or choose applicants receiving DD Waiver funding based on gender, disability, ethnicity, religious preference, or any other personal factor.

MSF was founded in 2000 by Ruthie and David Robbins with a goal to create a safe and caring environment where individuals could grow and thrive to become all that they can be. It is named for their daughter Amanda (“Mandy”) who has autism.

MSF is on 4.22 acres of land in the South Valley of Albuquerque, near the Rio Grande River. There are goats, chickens, guinea hens, turkeys, cats, dogs, and horses for riding and therapy. MSF also has a large organic garden, an orchard, pasture, and an indoor swimming pool.

MSF provides supported living services that include 24-hour care by qualified direct support staff. MSF is homey, with “family” dinners and a cozy house. MSF strives to be more than just a place to live; it is a structured environment.  We work closely with the interdisciplinary team, follow the individual service plan, and bring in outside therapists (occupational, physical, behavioral, speech/language, etc.) who cross-train staff in the most current therapy techniques so the residents’ abilities continuously grow. Staffing is based on individual need and we strive to help residents improve on all skills possible so they always continue to be more independent.

MSF is the residents’ home; they help take care of it, doing simple chores around the house. With any needed assistance, residents feed, groom, and tend to the animals, and even harvest the garden for fruits and vegetables they can eat and help prepare for meals. Along with participating in fun activities at home, residents go on community outings of their choice several times a week.

Security and Safety: The perimeter of Mandy's Special Farm's 4.22 acres is secured by fencing designed to prevent climbing from the inside and to keep undesired guests out. Access to the farm is controlled by a key-coded automatic entrance gate. Each staff member is trained in first aid, CPR, and emergency procedures.

Programs Offered:

• Equestrian: care (grooming, feeding, tacking), recreational riding, practice, and instruction, and consulting hippo (horse/occupational) therapist
• Animal Husbandry: care for animals on farm (horses, dogs, cats, goats, chickens, turkeys, and guinea hens), learn how to handle and play with animals appropriately
• Fitness: swimming, walking, biking
• Therapy Program: occupational, speech, behavior, and physical therapists work with residents (provided as needed through DD Waiver or private pay); therapists provide training and consultation to MSF staff
• Community/Social: go on community outings to interact with and meet new people and work on how to interact with people in a polite and appropriate way
• Farming: plant, water, and harvest garden and orchard
• Community Outreach: provide university student , and grade school student experience through volunteering and internships, provide developmental disabilities awareness through small group and conference presentations, and bring the community to MSF through other volunteer involvement Miscellaneous

MSF Facts

• Incorporated in 1996 as a 501 (c) (3)
• Established the first residential facility in the United States built with autism in mind
• Built and designed an entire facility, program, and setting around the needs of adults with autism
• Created a secure and structured environment for individuals that may find daily living with the rest of society a challenging experience
• Helps adults with developmental disabilities become happier and establish a better quality of life
• Opened in 2000, privately funded for two residents until 2008 when approval for state funding was granted
• Approximately half of funding is from the state; the other half is from private donations.

Licensing, Certifications, and Accreditations
NM Developmental Disabilities Waiver Facility
Bernalillo County Business License
NM Board of Pharmacy Boarding Home
Bernalillo County Environmental Health Department Certificate for Swimming Pool and Care Facility
Counsel for Quality and Leadership (national accreditation awarded in 2010)

Bedrooms
Comfortable, bright, cheery individual bedrooms – with a homey feel and ready to be individualized with personal items, each with its own bay window. Fully equipped, ADA compliant bathrooms are shared by adjoining bedrooms, “Jack and Jill” setup, for use by a maximum two residents each. Hygiene, dressing and toileting and other self-help skills are all included in the curriculum, if necessary.

Living Room
A spacious, relaxing living room is a welcome place to lounge and play, complete with television, books, games, music and entertainment to enjoy.

Kitchen
Among the daily living and independence skills assistance residents receive is meal preparation, in a spacious kitchen that can easily accommodate eager cooks and their helpers

Multipurpose Rooms
Two large multipurpose rooms, side by side, provide plenty of space for mealtime, computer activities, board games, puzzles, music, arts and crafts, therapy, and many other indoor activities.

Aquatic Center
An outstanding 1,200-plus square foot aquatic center - with therapeutic temperatures, wheelchair access, and a diving board - is a tremendous resource for therapy, recreation, and fitness.

Outdoor Recreation
With four and a half acres of land and a quiet neighborhood, there’s plenty of space for outdoor recreational opportunities, including an adult swing set, horseback riding, bike riding, walking (taking dogs and goats for walks), playing with animals, basketball, barbequing, and harvesting fruits and vegetables from the garden and orchard.

Horseback Riding & Farm Animals
It wouldn't be a farm without animals, and Mandy's Special Farm can stable up to six horses for this tremendously therapeutic and fun activity. A beautiful arena and corral await individual or group riding, always under supervision. Additionally, the farm includes goats, chickens, guinea hens, turkeys, cats, canaries, and two very friendly Labrador Retrievers. Residents are encouraged to help with all animal care, including feeding, grooming, walking (dogs and goats), and playing.

Gardening
Mandy's Special Farm has an organic garden and an orchard. Residents are encouraged to help garden, learn about growing the food they eat, gaining confidence and finding their way to greater independence.