Our Macomb County Expansion Means Opportunity for Adults with Disabilities
Posted on June 16, 2026
It is so exciting to see the expansion of Dutton Farm in Macomb County. We have already outgrown our original location and are moving the program to a new facility, that needs some modifications and improvements. We have only been active in Macomb for two years so this is exciting but also a bit scary. The need for services in the adult special needs community is huge. As people leave the educational system they NEED some opportunities. Everyone else some when they graduate. College or career or trade school or marriage or employment or whatever path you want it is available to you if you choose to pursue it. However, the people from special education have none of this is open to them. It can be disheartening, to say the least, especially if you are not prepared.
Navigating the “system” can be difficult, both personally and professionally. Carving a trail is much harder than improving on one already made even if it’s inefficient and poorly cared for. At least you can move, albeit slowly, and it can seem very crowded and uncaring. But when you make a better and more usable route, with clear markers and stops for provision along the way, you can change the future. This choice takes a lot more work and resources though. In my mind’s eye I see Dutton Farm that way.
As policies and procedures change in the world of disability, not to mention the added component of technology, in positive and negative ways, it becomes more difficult as I get older. It’s not the same as navigating somewhat familiar territory like the school system. And just when I feel like I have attained some level of routine and understanding of what I need to do, something changes. And if you don’t keep up with it everything falls apart, sort of like the domino effect. I shudder to think of this situation in the lives of people without advocates. When we hear of a need like this at Dutton Farm we spring into action. Some of these situations are truly heartbreaking. What guardians and/or advocates do on a personal level we try to accomplish at Dutton Farm on a much larger scale.
Sometimes it seems like every time we solve a problem a new one appears. Whether it be discrimination in employment, or challenges with housing or transportation …the list goes on and on. Most of these opportunities a lot of us take for granted but in the lives of our participants these oftentimes seem insurmountable. The heartbreaking stories we hear can keep us awake at night if you let it. We do our best and leave it in God’s hands from there.
So, as we venture into our Macomb building we are excited to provide services for more people as we receive requests every day for information and applications to join our program. I’m sure we will be at capacity soon like we are in Oakland County. We will duplicate as much as possible, the wonderful program that we have developed there. Our horticulture and animal care will be expanded. We are planning on having a designated area for our Art Without Limits program in Macomb. We are developing a collaboration with Forgotten Harvest to create a food pantry in an area in our Macomb.
The development of a culinary arts program is also in the future plans for the new location. This is all so exciting but also a bit daunting. It seems like a lot to tackle but when you experience the gross lack of opportunity for our participants it fuels you to keep going forward. They have so much unused and unseen potential. They need and deserve a chance. I have to admit that it can be discouraging sometimes to knock on so many doors that remain unopened or sometimes even slammed shut for the people we serve. But our faith, grit and love for them keep us moving forward.
As you read this my prayer for you is that you will learn (as we all do) from our participants to appreciate your abilities and opportunities and, hopefully, use them to bless someone who might not have the same privileges.
Thank you to everyone who celebrated our expansion on June 15th. We look forward to a brighter future. And as always I encourage everyone to purchase our EveryBody products and support Dutton Farm in any other way you can. We are doing a good work!
