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November 2011

National AgrAbility Project News

Thank you to all the presenters, sponsors, and participants who made the 2011 AgrAbility NTW a success! This year's conference had a record-setting attendance of approximately 230. more

NAP staff members have been involved in publishing six peer-reviewed journal articles related to AgrAbility in the past year. more

The Toolbox assistive technology database is online!
Visit http://www.agrability.org/Toolbox

Staff members from the NAP and Indiana AgrAbility represented both projects at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis October 19-22.

AgrAbility was represented at the 19th National Small Farm Trade Show & Conference, November 3-5, in Columbia, Missouri by Karen Funkenbush, Don Schuster, and KB Paul of the Missouri AgrAbility Project.

Click here for the schedule of upcoming Community of Interest and Standing Committee call information.

State and Regional AgrAbility Project News

California

CalAgrAbility was represented at several farm events this month, including the Orland Community Resource Fair in Glenn County, Resource Fair in Lindsay, and Sacramento Multicultural Fair as part of the Bi-National Health Month. more

CalAg conducted the Rehabilitating Farmers and Ranchers program to regional specialists of the North Bay Workers Compensation Association in Rohnert Park. more

A CalAg outreach rep received advanced training at the Disabilities Conference in Stillwater, Oklahoma. more

Indiana

An AgrAbility/Arthritis Foundation booth was hosted at the Hamilton County Chiropractic Health Fair October 15 in Carmel, Indiana, with approximately 200 people in attendance. more

Maine

Maine AgrAbility hosted a training in October with NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness). more

Mid-Atlantic

Coit Custer, AgrAbility specialist, and Ron Jester, project director, just completed a two day partnership tour in Maryland. more

Missouri

Russell Ramsey, AgrAbility volunteer and farmer liaison, University of Missouri Extension, has been busy traveling around the Southeast region disseminating AgrAbility information, AgrAbility resource materials, his AgrAbility business card, and grain safety booklets to locate MFAs. more

Don Schuster, AgrAbility assistive technology coordinator, University of Missouri Extension, has been busy conducting onsite farm assessments. more

Faculty members from the University of Missouri Extension and AgrAbility program staff showcased the AgrAbility program on the University of Missouri campus during MU’s Celebrate Ability Week. more

Lisa Wallace, University of Missouri Extension human development specialist and Henry and West central region county program director, disseminated the MO AgrAbility Emergency Preparedness Booklet to 100 participants during her adapted lesson, Who Gets Grandma's Yellow Pie Plate. more

Faculty members from the University of Missouri Extension and MO AgrAbility program showcased at the Mature Living Festival held in Boone County. more

Seventy five participants (Nurses, OTs, and PTs) from across the state attended the 2011 Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Update, held in Columbia, MO. more

Human development specialists from the University of Missouri Extension Center in Nevada, MO presented eight sessions of Live Like Your Life Depends On It at the local independent living center, On My Own, Inc, in Nevada, MO. more

Ed Browning, University of Missouri Extension natural resource engineer and Jasper County program director used selected resources from the AgrAbility: Gardens For Every Body program to prepare and present container gardening for individuals with disabilities at the local Center for Independent Living.

Using Adobe Connect web conferencing, Willard Downs and Karen Funkenbusch have been able to provide monthly AgrAbility and Gardens for Every Body updates to agricultural systems management and Extension regional faculty. more

Jackie Allenbrand, AgrAbility outreach specialist, MERIL, reported she presented PHARM Dog project and AgrAbility activities to the Happy Hour Club. more

Nebraska

Following a huge turnout at Husker Harvest, staff have visited smaller communities to promote AgrAbility. more

Nebraska AgrAbility is on Facebook. more

Oklahoma

Eighteen rehabilitation professionals attended a 2-day, advanced-level course "Serving Farmers and Ranchers with Disabilities" Fall conference led by OK AgrAbility.

County Family and Consumer Science Extension educators in the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service published a cover article promoting National Disability Employment Awareness Month. more

Oklahoma AgrAbility had a visible presence, either presenting or hosting a booth at the following events in Oklahoma: Tools for Life Senior Conference, an RSVP Health Fair hosted by Love and Marshall Counties, and a 4-County OHCE meeting held in western Oklahoma (Custer County).

The Oklahoma AgrAbility website is now accessible to persons with disabilities. Visit our new look at www.agrability.okstate.edu.

Vermont

Vermont AgrAbility is very happy to participate in the third Vermont Agricultural Medicine: Occupational and Environmental Health training sponsored by Vermont Farm Health Task Force.

George Cook and Gail Lapierre presented Farming with a Disability, Tom Younkman and Margaret Gilman offered administrative and technical support and Janis Moore participated to gain the course certificate. more

Dr. Kelley Donham of ICASH combined his years of expertise and Iowa charm to lead the engaging and highly informative 40 hour training. more

Wisconsin

AgrAbility of Wisconsin (AAW) hosted the Western Technical College Occupational Therapy Assistant Program students for a farm experience. more

AAW also held a brown bag presentation with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) on October 20. more

West Virginia

Green Thumbs, Healthy Joints, an accessible gardening program in partnership with West Virginia AgrAbility, is excited to announce a new addition to its web page—an online forum. more

Wyoming

Wyoming AgrAbility produced a new fact sheet titled "Choosing a Counselor or Therapist" by Randy Weigel. more

Staff Changes

Nebraska

Congratulations to Dr. Ron Yoder, PI for Nebraska AgrAbility. Dr. Yoder was selected to be the new Associate Vice Chancellor of UNL's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources in early October.

AgrAbility in the News

Click here for news stories featuring AgrAbility projects.

Other News

Click here for other news of interest to AgrAbility staff members.

Upcoming Events

Click here for professional development events related to AgrAbility.

Problems? Contact Clifford Racz, National AgrAbility Project, racz@purdue.edu