The following is an excerpt from the September 2026 UVA Today article. Read the full article here.
An annoyance of gnats pesters in the hot, humid air as the late summer sun beats down on the pasture like a 10-pound sledgehammer, driving a small herd of cows into what little shade they can find.
They are not alone. Ty Hopkins and Megan McGrath keep them company, gently petting the head of a spud-brown cow named Russet, who returns the affection with long, slow licks of their hands and arms.
“Russet is a sweet one. She’s very affectionate,” McGrath says.
She’s also therapeutic. So are the chickens, vegetable garden, beehives and almost everything at the Autism Sanctuary, a state-licensed day support program in Albemarle County for adults with autism and related developmental disabilities.
It’s not an official affiliate of the University of Virginia, but “wahoowa” runs through it, deep and wide.
…The sanctuary provides support to adults with developmental disabilities, community-based activities and some individualized, off-site programs tailored to their needs.
“Most providers look at the services they offer and then figure out who in the population can then fit into their services,” Jason Brewster said. “Our approach has always been to try to make the services fit the person.”
“Our environment brings people together, regardless of their support needs. It offers a therapeutic atmosphere with skill-building opportunities, where people love being outside in nature, walking on trails, visiting with the animals, tending to gardens and being a part of the community that we have built here,” Bruno said.
For families, the sanctuary fills a critical gap.
Read the full article here.
The Autism Sanctuary working farm in the foothills of the Blue Ridge where people with developmental disabilities are supported and empowered to grow in nature. Learn more about their work on their website.
Ty Hopkins, left, and Megan McGrath get affectionate bovine kisses from Russet, the cow on the grounds of the Autism Sanctuary in Albemarle County. The support program for adults has deep roots in the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)