NC AgrAbility project coordinator Michele Proctor and NC Agromedicine Institute's director Robin Tutor-Marcom presented a one hour Introduction to AgrAbility presentation at the 2013 NC Association of Agricultural Agents Annual Conference in Fayetteville, North Carolina on June 18. Thirty-five cooperative Extension agents received information about AgrAbility, improved competencies regarding assisting farmers and ranchers with disabilities and demonstrations of basic workplace ergonomics and helpful tools.
The NC AgrAbility Resource Directories have been completed and posted on the project's website. These will be made available in hardcopy as well. The resource directories are intended to assist a broad audience in locating local, state, and national resources regarding farming and disabilities.
Disability-specific and topic-specific assistive technology information packets have been completed as well. Packets for equipment and tractor lifts, upper extremity amputations, all-terrain wheelchairs, and quick hitch options have been created, compiled of various materials from NC AgrAbility, other SRAPs and NAP materials, specific to frequently requested information. These packets will be provided in hardcopy and are currently available digitally. CDs will be produced later this year, along with online links.
Submitted by Michele Proctor