The nine adults, who range in age from 26 to 42, live at home, in a group home or with a companion caregiver. Barnard lives at home with his parents and sister. Twice a week the group meets from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in a small house in Dade City. Soon they will move to a building with a thrift store in the southern Hernando County community of Masaryktown. She has been working with this group since it formed.
Financial support comes through state and federal sources.
On a recent Wednesday, Barnard, Tony Lamar, Siloame Faircloth, Billy Fairfield Jr., Kim Smart, Ray Amison and Sissi Makinster were working on learning the alphabet and the days of the week. Antonio Villeral, who was absent that day, is also a part of the Artists' Gardens group. Puzzles with letters and pictures helped them learn. He responded with the sign for bear. Jeanette Marr is Keyes' assistant, and she is as zealous as Keyes.