Missouri

A complete set of Bilingual Arthritis Teaching Tools, which consists of arthritis curriculum and flip chart, can be purchased for $80.00 from the Missouri AgrAbility Project. Specific information about the Bilingual Arthritis teaching tools can be found at agrability.missouri.edu/Resources/ArthritisTalk.pdf. If you have questions or want to purchase these contact Sandy Zaring at 800.995.8503 or via email at ZaringSJ@missouri.edu.

The Missouri AgrAbility Project assisted Rehabilitation Services for the Blind to host their second Counselor Academy on October 18-19, 2012. The focus of Counselor Academy II was on Comprehensive Assessment and development of the individualized plan of employment. Karen Funkenbusch assisted Michael St. Julien, assistant deputy director, Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind with counselor training. The purpose of AgrAbility staff involvement was to help counselors consider agriculture as a viable employment option for farmers and ranchers with disabilities. Thirty RSB counselors were provided with an AgrAbility PowerPoint Presentation and programmatic materials in an electronic and Braille format.

Paul Leverenz, vice-president of FARM & Vocational Services, Easter Seals Wisconsin, and Manuel Lugo, retired deputy administrator for Wisconsin's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, worked with Chris Clause, Ray Drake, and John Arellin, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Jackie Allenbrand, Willard Downs, and Karen Funkenbusch, AgrAbility staff, to facilitate this training workshop. The purpose of the Agricultural Assistive Technology Training (AATT) workshop was to train Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation staff to consider agriculture as a viable employment option for farmers and ranchers with disabilities. This joint VR and AgrAbility training enhanced the cultural competencies and preparedness in rehabilitating agricultural clients.

Jackie Allenbrand, AgrAbility rural outreach specialist, MERIL, reported the following AgrAbility activities:

• Set up an AgrAbility booth at the ACCESS II Disability Awareness event and answered questions about services. About 25 attended, representing organizations including: Vocational Rehabilitation, Modern Medical Mobility, Area Agency on Aging, Special Olympics, and the local Regional Center. Staff from ACCESS II also shared AgrAbility information.
• Set up an AgrAbility booth and assisted at the "No More Stares" Conference held October 25 in St. Joseph, MO. Breakout sessions were held on iPad communication, advocacy, and other disability related issues. One hundred attended.
• Attended the Visionary Partnership for a Rural Community committee meeting in Gentry County. Discussed a fall cleanup day for persons in need. Young Farm wives will assist in rural areas.
• Attended leadership meetings at MERIL, 2 times a month. Attended MERIL service coordinator meetings to discuss upcoming events and discuss any issues that the service group may bring to MO AgrAbility's attention.
• Continued to work with AgrAbility client cases.

On- and off-campus University of Missouri AgrAbility staff participated in the following AgrAbility activities:

• MU Extension Regional AgrAbility Coordinators were busy assisting with onsite farmstead assessments and showcasing AgrAbility at University of Missouri field days.
• Karen and Willard are using Adobe Connect conferencing to co-facilitate their monthly AgrAbility and Gardens for Every Body updates to campus-based agricultural systems management and statewide regional extension faculty.
• MU Extension AgrAbility staff facilitated training programs in Jefferson City, St. Louis, and Columbia. AgrAbility staff closely worked with key stakeholders (agencies, organizations, and volunteers) to help them (1) intervene directly with greater expertise and (2) make competent referrals to appropriate service providers, including Project staff members and other collaborative partners.
• On October 19, pharmacy students from UMKC School of Pharmacy at MU facilitated an AgrAbility children's prevention program at Midway Heights Elementary School.
• On October 30, Karen Funkenbusch provided an AgrAbility lecture to 125 students in the Adapted Recreation class at the University of Missouri.

Submitted by Karen Funkenbusch