Roundup Fellowship: A Place of Peace

As the children arrive at Roundup Fellowship, they are greeted with brightly painted walls that proudly display the children’s work. Each face has a smile on it and everyone gives an enthusiastic hello. One key phrase at Roundup is peace (with the hand gesture) and everyone gives lots of high-fives for encouragement for one another. The children are ready for class.

When making the best choices for a child with a disability, there are times when families are faced with very difficult decisions. Where does a child with a severe disability receive their Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) if his or her behaviors are too extreme for the public schools to appropriately handle?

An Alternative to Public School

Roundup Fellowship is a beautiful and friendly alternative placement school, Here, a child with a dual diagnosis of a disability and mental health issues, from 8 to 21 years of age, may attend to have his or her needs met, and receive a FAPE in accordance with IDEA. In Roundup’s Day Treatment Program, children with disabilities receive instructional and therapeutic learning, and an IEP is followed, as in regular public schools. The children are provided with therapies, such as speech therapy, as well as receiving a wide variety of accommodations, modifications or assistive technologies. Additionally, the child with a disability will receive behavior management, life-skills, and other training, to nurture healthy development.

Roundup is much more than simply a school for children with disabilities. Starting in 1973 as a small group home, it quickly grew when children with developmental disabilities were un-institutionalized in 1976. Today, Roundup still provides residential homes for adults and children with severe needs in Denver and Colorado Springs, as well as support in-home when they live independently. Its mission is to “serve children and adults who have developmental disabilities – recognizing their worth, affirming their contributions and promoting dignity in all relationships”.

Special Attention to Details

The teachers at Roundup Fellowship are a high-needs staff. They have seen it all and are extremely well-trained to handle it. There are many required certificates to become a staff member at Roundup, such as CPR and behavior management. Roundup also insists its staff have ongoing education on top of the hefty requirements at hire. Many of the staff are paraeducators, and all have an enormous heart for children with special needs. The staff strives to cater to the individual needs of each child. For example, one teacher uses sign language to bond with students. This is not a one-size-fits-all program.

The impact of these simple gestures for children with disabilities is immeasurable. Through Roundup’s different programs, the person with a disability is helped to function more meaningfully within our community. Family support is paramount for the success of the children through the programs, but Roundup is also here for the families. Usually, things get immediately better for the parents once Roundup is involved.

Support into Adulthood

Roundup provides programs to help children with disabilities develop into adulthood by providing life skills. One small group of children has started (with supervision) the Roundup Culinary Experience, and they serve meals to the staff and families. Sometimes they will even prepare meals for groups that just hope to foster these children’s love for cooking. This year the children are even doing a big Thanksgiving Dinner and making the stuffing from scratch. Roundup follows people with disabilities into adulthood and offers a Vocational Follow Along Program or Community Outreach Group to continue support. Both groups encourage the individual with a disability to be involved in the community and to acquire life skills and job training. Roundup sees the value in whole-life support for an individual with a disability, so the person can be a valuable member of our society.

Roundup Fellowship recognizes the struggles that families face daily. It is one option to support your child with a disability by providing an alternative placement to the public school. Roundup can further support families by providing residential homes for our most vulnerable adults and children. Roundup wants every child to simply have a chance to grow, learn and let the light from their souls shine. Peace.

Roundup Fellowship Main Office
3443 South Galena St., Suite 310
Denver, CO 80231
phone: (303) 757-8008

Roundup School
2121 E. LaSalle, Suite 100
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
phone: (719) 447-9333