National AgrAbility Project
Plans for the 2014 National Training Workshop are well underway. The event will be held March 31-April 3 at the Downtown Lexington Hilton. Watch your email for upcoming announcements including instructions for conference registration, vendor registration, and hotel reservations. Contact Kylie Hendress at khendres@purdue.edu with any questions.
Submitted by Kylie Hendress
The 2013 AgrAbility Virtual NTW is scheduled for December 10-12. Join the NAP for this series of six webinars. Below is a preliminary schedule of the sessions. All times are Eastern:
- Tuesday, December 10
- 11:00 a.m.: Welcome and Updates from NIFA
- NAP staff and Aida Balsano
- 3:00 p.m.: Alternative Production Systems for Farmers with Disabilities: Local Food and Beyond
- Kerri Ebert, Kansas AgrAbility
- 11:00 a.m.: Welcome and Updates from NIFA
- Wednesday, December 11
- 11:00 a.m.: The Affordable Care Act for Rural Americans
- Roberta Riportella, Kansas State University
- 3:00 p.m.: The Work of the Farmer Veteran Coalition + Working Well with Veterans
- Michael O'Gorman & Tia Christopher, FVC
- 11:00 a.m.: The Affordable Care Act for Rural Americans
- Thursday, December 12
- 11:00 a.m.: Product Liability in the Farm Equipment Industry
- George Vernon, Attorney
- 11:00 a.m.: Product Liability in the Farm Equipment Industry
- 3:00 p.m.: Selecting and Evaluating Farm Enterprises for Individuals with Limitations
- Richard Brzozowski, Maine AgrAbility
Registration information is scheduled to be released soon.
The NAP welcomed professionals from several organizations, including groups representing veterans and minority farmers, to the AgrAbility Regional Workshop in Jacksonville, Florida, on September 30 - October 2.
Participants were introduced to principles and examples of assistive technology through The Toolbox and a presentation from Florida's AT Act project. Both of Florida's Extension organizations - the 1862 land-grant from the University of Florida and the 1890 from Florida A&M University - were represented, along with leaders from the Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association - Florida Chapter. .jpg)
The final day's tours included a visit to Veteran's Farm, an agricultural training program for veterans (and home of the Red, White, and Blueberry), and the Hope Therapy therapeutic horseback riding program.
Perhaps the most beneficial part of the workshop was the networking that occurred and the seeds that were planted for future collaborations.
Submitted by Paul Jones
The U.S. Senate and House have both appointed conference committees to attempt to reconcile their versions of the Farm Bill. Click here for an article listing the members. While AgrAbility is currently included in both versions of the Farm Bill, each house of Congress gives it a different level of priority.
If you have clients that are interested in educating Senators and Congressmen/Congresswomen about the importance of AgrAbility, please let them know about the opportunity to contact a Senator or Congressman/ Congresswoman.
The Arthritis Foundation is committed to providing patients with arthritis the tools they need to make an educated decision about health coverage under the new Affordable Care Act. Thus, the Arthritis Foundation has assembled information, creating an interactive map, and crafting a checklist for people with arthritis on their website at www.arthritis.org/marketplace.
Amber Wolfe continues to serve on the Midwest Women in Agriculture Conference planning committee, serving as the facilities chair. This is a great conference, and provides numerous networking opportunities. Consider attending February 19-20, 2014, in Jeffersonville, IN, just across the river from Louisville.
Submitted by Amber Wolfe