January 15, 2023 Laurie S. Romeo
435 Ralston Street
San Francisco, CA 94132
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing today to convey my dismay over hearing you are seeking to terminate your relationship with Brady Riding, the non-profit therapeutic riding group which has been operating at 1 Zoo Road, at the back of the zoo property.
When I heard of the exceptional therapeutic riding sessions available at this location, I was delighted, much relieved as a parent that it would supply an answer to an urgent need, and I was admittedly quite impressed that you had made this space for such a positive and powerful program on zoo property. As you may have heard, there are a great number of children and adults with developmental disabilities and physical limitations in San Francisco and its environs in great need of this specific type of therapeutic treatment/services. Many persons with this need are not only limited physically, but also are difficult to rehabilitate due to their reticence to cooperate daily with treatment. This is my son James’ greatest obstacle to receiving therapies he needs. Office-centered physical therapy is only as effective as its home program, and persons with this type of disability are almost always unwilling to participate in their home programming. Another obstacle has been that these important services are typically only available an hour or two away from the City and outrageously priced. Children in this City do not drive themselves to therapies, and the only existing City, State, and County supported services provide transportation services only within the City and County of San Francisco.
We have and continue to participate in the family-based education and support we have enjoyed from/at the San Francisco Zoo for many years, with easily accessible bus and other transportation services. Accessibility was perhaps the kindest and most generous gift the zoo has presented to our family, especially when my son received his first sessions at Brady Riding program. James’ posture has changed from curved over the front of his ribs to more upright, and within three sessions he was beginning to hold his head above his shoulders instead of over his stomach. The program is remarkably effective for him and the results are more lasting than office therapies.
We live local to the zoo, and have always considered it a blessing to be only a mile from you. Your location, vision of protection, respect and benefit to animals and their environment, and education all match well with the goals and vision of Brady Riding – protection and benefit to animals, rehabilitation of innocents, education, and environment. It’s a good match, and I believe, worthy of your efforts to reach a mutual agreement with Brady to continue. This agreement would confer hope and health to your community.
There are children in the City whose lives will be forever changed due to this extraordinary therapy program. At a time when you are reaching arms around the world to protect the innocent species of the world from harm and extinction, would it not be within that vision to extend to the very people here in your own community that same considerate outreach in the form of a cooperative agreement with Brady Riding?
Bottom line is that the need is great here in San Francisco for an urban therapeutic riding program. My request on behalf of my family and other families in need of this extremely effective therapy experience, is that you will find room for Brady Riding to continue to exist within or under the umbrella or environs of the San Francisco Zoo.
I gratefully extend to you my thanks and friendship for your kind consideration of this request.
Laurie S. Romero