Indiana

Indiana AgrAbility/Breaking New Ground is again sponsoring the Bridging Horizons FFA Contest that challenges FFA chapters to complete service projects for people with disabilities in their communities. Last year's winning projects included accessibility modifications to a bowling alley and two ramps (see photo for one example). Prize money is awarded from non-AgrAbility funds to the top three projects, and they are recognized at the Indiana State FFA Convention. For more information on Bridging Horizons, contact Steve Swain at swainsj@purdue.edu or visit the Bridging Horizons web page.

The Indiana AgrAbility/Breaking New Ground advisory team continues to play an important role in the project. Team members include county Extension educators, a VR counselor, assistive technology fabricators, former staff members, former customers, an FFA advisor, a Purdue nursing professor, and a representative from the Indiana Department of Education. The semiannual meetings between the advisory team and Indiana AgrAbility staff members, the most recent of which occurred last October, allow the AgrAbility Project to receive external feedback and fresh ideas on various initiatives and provide valuable networking opportunities among team members.

Submitted by: Paul Jones, BNG