National AgrAbility Project News
The Toolbox Assistive Technology Database Online was recently chosen to receive a blue ribbon award in the 2012 ASABE Educational Aids Competition.
AgrAbility: Creating Opportunities for Veterans and Other Agriculture Workers with Disabilities, was organized by GII and hosted by Goodwill of the Finger Lakes in Rochester, New York, May 15-17. more
Amber Wolfe presented a free community-based educational workshop on arthritis and agriculture in Alabama and Montana. more
The Arthritis COI call for May focused on Fibromyalgia. For a copy of the call notes, please email Amber Wolfe at awolfe@arthritis.org.
Toolbox Spotlight
See what's new in The Toolbox online this month. These solutions can be easily replicated with materials found around the farm to make tasks more efficient or less stressful on the body.
State and Regional AgrAbility Project News
Colorado
CAP was invited to host a table at the second annual Community Veterans Coalition Rendezvous in Conifer, CO. The service fair for veterans brought together a broad range of governmental, nonprofit and community groups to share information with local veterans and their families.
Indiana
On May 22, Paul Jones toured the Aspire Indiana Farm, a community supported agriculture operation staffed primarily by those undergoing mental/behavioral health treatment. more
The Indiana AgrAbility Advisory Team had a semiannual meeting at Spring Mill State Park on June 6. more
Indiana AgrAbility was an exhibitor at the 2012 Purdue Caregiver Fair. more
Linda Tarr coordinated a workshop led by Dr. Roberta Schweitzer to provide training in Mental Health First Aid on May 3-4 at IU Health Paoli, Indiana, with 30 participants.
Kentucky
The KY AgrAbility team has attended several events in the past months and is looking forward to a full summer. more
John Hancock, Kentucky AgrAbility project director, and Robin Stroud, OT from Cardinal Hill, attended the AOTA conference in Indianapolis April 25-28. more
In early May, Linda Bokros, project coordinator, attended the Rochester, NY workshop focusing on the opportunities in agriculture for veterans. more
On June 13 and 14 Kentucky AgrAbility and their partners will be hosting the 9th Annual Summer Institute in Assistive Technology Workshop. more
At the end of the month, John and Linda will be presenting at the APSE conference in Arlington, Virginia, followed by John and Carol Weber from the Kentucky State Vocational Rehabilitation Office at the RESNA conference in Baltimore, then head back home for county fairs and the Campbell County Back Roads Farm Tour. more
On the home front the program has been able to help several Kentucky farmers get back to the business of farming. more
Missouri
During the month of May, the Missouri AgrAbility Project had several radio spots that aired AgrAbility farmer/rancher success stories and financial assistance they received from Rehab Services for the Blind, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative.
Using Adobe Connect web conferencing, Willard Downs and Karen Funkenbusch, University of Missouri Extension, provided their month's AgrAbility updates to CAFNR agricultural systems management and MU regional extension faculty members.
MU Extension launched a newly designed programmatic Missouri AgrAbility Project webpage, agrability.missouri.edu as well as updates to the Gardens for Every Body website at agrability.missouri.edu/gardenweb and Creating A Healthier Home at agrability.missouri.edu/iaqhome.
Jackie Allenbrand, MERIL AgrAbility rural outreach specialist Northwest Region, presented to forty-seven second graders at the ACCESS II ILC Disability Awareness Day. more
Connie Neal, MU Extension housing specialist and AgrAbility co-coordinator Northwest Region, organized the Grundy County MU Extension Day to help local citizens become more aware of Extension services. more
Bob Schultheis, MU Extension natural resource engineer and AgrAbility co-coordinator Southwest Region, provided an AgrAbility presentation for the Mercy Springfield staff in-service training, held in Springfield, MO on May 10, 2012. more
Sherry Nelson, MU Extension human development specialist and AgrAbility co-coordinator Northeast Region, had an exhibit at the Marion County Senior Health Fair. more
Sherry Nelson and Jim Meyer, nutrition and health specialist, co-hosted the Lewis County Safety Day 2012. more
MU Extension AgrAbility staff provided an in-service for the Columbia Center of Neurology and Multiple Sclerosis. more
Hispanic and Latino farm workers in the Kansas City area are continually encouraged to participate in the Bilingual Tai Chi for Arthritis class offered at the Guadalupe Center and facilitated by Nina Chin, MU Extension. more
MU Extension AgrAbility staff provided an in-service for the Alzheimer's Support Group Mid Missouri Chapter in Columbia and Alzheimer's Support Group Southwest Missouri Chapter in Springfield. more
The MO Rehabilitation Services for the Blind as a core partner to the MO AgrAbility Project continues to print AgrAbility programmatic materials, brochures, Farming with Low Vision tip sheets, and other relevant resource materials in Braille for free.
North Carolina
NC AgrAbility partner members Dr. Jimo Ibrahim of NC A&T State University and Disability Advocates & Resource Center Executive Director Helen Pace attended the Veterans Conference in Rochester, New York, where they learned more about veterans assistance and services.
The NC AgrAbility Advisory Board met again May 30 in Greensboro, North Carolina, to discuss current consumer needs and share resources to meet those needs.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma AgrAbility staff presented a workshop on Assistive Technology in Agriculture and staffed a booth at the Langston University Small Farmers Conference in May.
Oklahoma AgrAbility collaborated with the Arthritis Foundation in Oklahoma to train 16 Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Family & Consumer Science Educators as Arthritis Exercise Instructors. The Project now sponsors 34 instructors who provide this exercise program in communities across the state.
The Oklahoma AgrAbility Project had a presence at the Oklahoma State FFA Conference.
Arthritis Foundation Exercise classes were held by OK Cooperative Extension Educators in Atoka, Jefferson, and Seminole Counties, reaching 92 participants.
During March, April, and May, Oklahoma AgrAbility was mentioned in news articles across the state 24 times discussing Arthritis Exercise, Caregiving, the Oklahoma AgrAbility FFA Contest, AgrAbility Day at the Capitol, and the AgrAbility Project in general.
Vermont
Vermont AgrAbility staff had an inspirational time meeting veterans, veteran service providers, Farmer Veteran Coalition, AgrAbility, and AgrAbility partners in developing planning goals for providing greater services to local area veterans and their families at the Creating Opportunities for Veterans & Other Agricultural Workers with Disabilities May 15-17 in Rochester, New York. more
Sadly, Vermont lost a few more dairy farms last month.
The summer farmers markets have opened around the state and a new localvore index ranked Vermont as the top state in its commitment to raising and eating locally grown food based on the number of farmers markets and community supported agriculture farms (CSAs). more
Vermont AgrAbility staff members look forward to meeting everyone at the ISASH conference June 24-28, 2012 in Burlington, Vermont. more
Staff Changes
Colorado
Katheryn Ernst is currently doing an internship with CAP. Katheryn is a student in the Communication Studies program at Colorado State University.
Oklahoma
Stacy Bauter has resigned as program assistant with the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project. We want to thank her for her service and wish her the best.
AgrAbility in the News
Click here for news stories featuring AgrAbility projects.
- A Compact Track Loader Helps a Disabled Kansas Farmer Regain His Productivity
- AgrAbility Day at the Capitol Highlights Project's Success
- Arthritis is Leading Cause of Disability Among Farmers
- Caregivers of Loved Ones Need to Self-Care, Too
Other News
Click here for other news of interest to AgrAbility staff members.
- iPad Gives Voice to Kids with Autism
- New Biomarker Test Predicts Arthritis at Much Earlier Stage, MU Researchers Say
- Paralyzed Rats Walk Again in Swiss Lab Study
- American Council of the Blind Applauds U.S. Senate for Including Accessible Prescription Drug Labeling Legislation in User Fee Authorization
- High Tunnel Crop Talk Sessions
- Justice Department Settles with Flint, Michigan, to Make Voting Accessible to People with Disabilities
- State Sues on Behalf of a Disabled La Grange Teen Who Wants to Swim in State Meet
Upcoming Events
Click here for professional development events related to AgrAbility.Problems? Contact Clifford Racz, National AgrAbility Project, racz@purdue.edu