Ohio AgrAbility has been conducting "I'm not as young as I used to be!" farming and gardening workshops throughout the state. The two-hour workshops have included discussions on mobility, managing arthritic limitations, planning a productive day, applying universal design concepts to the farm, and showcasing adaptive tools and equipment. To date, three workshops have been conducted and another seven are scheduled throughout the spring.
Ohio AgrAbility staff will be continuing to work with the University of Dayton on AgrAbility-related projects. Ohio AgrAbility will begin another semester working with the University of Dayton's "Introduction to Engineering Design" class by introducing the students to the agriculture industry and the individuals who work in agriculture while overcoming the challenges of a disability. Additionally a partnership with University of Dayton's Innovation Center will look at developing agricultural systems that will assist veterans with disabilities to remain in the work force.
Positive feedback leads to collaborative opportunities! Ohio AgrAbility staff recently followed up with an Ohio AgrAbility member who received services from Ohio's Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) / BVR. The outcomes from the services were excellent, with the member using the assistive technology to its fullest capacity. Ohio AgrAbility Staff reported the positive outcome to Ohio's Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation and the counselor who worked with the member. As a result, news of the positive outcome was circulated throughout the offices of OOD / BVR, including Ohio OOD's executive director. The results of such an outcome have lead Ohio OOD/BVR administrators to reach out to the Ohio Department of Agriculture for future collaborations to assist farmers with disabilities.
Submitted by Andy Bauer