The primary objective of Indiana AgrAbility is to provide services to farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers and their families with disabilities. November has been spent providing direct services thru on-farm visits to nine farmers with disabilities and their families. The injuries and impairments included foot amputations, leg amputations, double knee replacements, arthritis, spinal muscular atrophy, high-level spinal cord injuries, and lower-level spinal cord injuries. Each producer had a different need and farming operation. Recommendations included tractor and truck lifts, utility vehicles with full cabs that included heaters and air conditioners, hand controls for tractors and trucks, lifts into their trucks, drive-thru gates, standing tracked power wheelchairs, drones, and assistance in evaluating their farming operation for changes in enterprises or methods. AgrAbility's services include assistance in finding funding to acquire the products and modifications for farmers to continue in the work they love.
Submitted by Steve Swain