Ohio

Ohio AgrAbility (OAP) sent four staff members and one farmer to the NTW in Knoxville. It was great to see what other SRAPs and the NAP are working on, and they enjoyed meeting the people they e-mail, call, and hear/see on webinars in person. They had great idea sharing in their sessions: "Using LED Lighting on AgrAbility Farmsteads," and "Urban Gardens: People Place and Partnerships" (unconferencing session). Staff also enjoyed sharing table display space with Missouri AgrAbility.

OAP Rural Rehabilitation Coordinator (RRC) Randy Joseph met with the Power Over Parkinson's group in Versailles, OH, to share information about OAP services and resources for farming with Parkinson's and other disabilities. He also offered tips on simple modifications they could make at their farmsteads and homes to decrease risk of secondary injury. The group was especially interested in OAP's Fact Sheet series, and said they would tell their friends and neighbors about AgrAbility's resources and services.

OAP Disability Services Coordinator Laura Akgerman attended a training session, "Taking Action to Combat Ohio's Opioid Epidemic", which was sponsored by Ohio State University Extension. OAP staff are talking to clients about effective ways to educate their communities about this issue. At a recent client meeting, Laura shared information on several OSU Extension healthy living programs, as well as a handout from GenerationRx.org, an initiative from OSU's College of Pharmacy, which provides educational materials and resources about safe medication practices. Clients appreciated the information, and asked that OAP provide more information about healthy living and community involvement, and more opportunities to advocate for AgrAbility within their community and at regional and state events.

OSU Extension, Ohio 4-H Health Heroes, and the OSU College of Pharmacy, are collaborating on an interactive exhibit for the 2017 Ohio State Fair. The exhibit will feature a medicine cabinet and is intended to make people think about what is in their medicine cabinet and who has access to it. The idea for the medicine cabinet was developed with the Ohio 4-H Health Heroes, a group of teens from around the state who are advocating for health-related issues in their community. They hope that their medicine cabinet will be a model for others to create their own medicine cabinet displays and raise awareness of this issue in their communities. Pictured are Theresa Ferrari, associate professor and OSU Extension specialist: 4-H youth development, and OSU Pharmacy student and 4-H alumnus from Fayette County, Riley Evans, displaying their prototype medicine cabinet and its contents.

OAP had a newsworthy month in March. The program was featured in an article in the Opportunities for Ohioan's with Disabilities (OOD) weekly newsletter (from the state vocational rehabilitation office). OAP has a great partnership with OOD, and provides training (and CEUs) for the OOD counselors and supervisors. OAP's rural rehabilitation coordinators are frequently requested to provide vocational assessments of OAP clients, which has led to OOD purchasing more than $235,000 in adaptive equipment and equipment modifications for OAP clients. OAP client Austin was featured in an article in Farm and Dairy magazine. RRC Charlie Landis was interviewed about AgrAbility's involvement with Austin and OAP's work to advocate for clients and provide expert advice on adaptive equipment.

Submitted by Laura Akgerman