April 25, 2013, Mary Hildebrand, OTD, OTR/L presented on the topic of the role of OT with aging farmers in a short course at the American Occupational Therapy Association 93rd Annual Conference & Expo in San Diego, CA. Dr. Hildebrand also presented at the NCVEWAAI, NCVE CAP Spring 2013 Training Conference in Atlantic Beach. She gave a full day lecture about the AgrAbility curriculum to University of North Carolina OT students as well and is working with UNC to continue this integration into their program. Dr. Hildebrand works with the NC AgrAbility Partnership and teaches OT at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC.
NCSU Biological & Agricultural Engineering teams completed their final AgrAbility-based project design presentations April 26. One team designed a conversion of a standard power chair into an all-terrain wheelchair. A YouTube video of this design is available on the NC AgrAbility Facebook page. The other team designed a water delivery system for a client with disabilities in Western NC. Both student projects were funded by BAE Undergraduate Research Grants or departmental project funds. Michele Proctor, project coordinator, and Dr. Gary Roberson at NCSU Biological & Agricultural Engineering accompanied the water delivery team to the client's farm for a two-day install. Local and state media representatives were present, and a short documentary of the install will be featured on RFD-TV in January.
Submitted by Michele Proctor