Ohio

The Ohio AgrAbility Program's dual missions of education and assistance to farmers with disabilities were on display at the 2019 Farm Science Review on September 17-19. Staff, farmers, and vendors were on hand to answer questions, greet visitors, demonstrate assistive technology and equipment, and talk about Ohio AgrAbility. To ensure no mobility devices ran out of power, OAP provided a mobility scooter and chair charging station for participants needing a re-charge. To facilitate access to the field demonstrations, AgrAbility sponsored an accessible shuttle bus to transport visitors from the main exhibit area to the farm fields.

OAP held daily "Fitness for Farm Life: Stretching and Everyday Exercises" sessions. Attendees were offered tips on safely lifting and carrying heavy items and other ways to protect their backs from injury. Leah Schwinn, occupational therapy doctoral student, also led participants in a quick stretching routine, demonstrating how farmers can easily add stretching to their workday.

In addition to publications and workshops, OAP showcased some of its most important education and outreach partners: their farmers. For FSR 2019, OAP invited their farmers to spend a few hours in the tent to greet visitors, try out new equipment, share their experiences with Ohio AgrAbility, and talk to students about farming with a disability.

AgrAbility education and outreach went well beyond the OAP exhibit tent. In the Utzinger Memorial Garden, staff presented a session on gardening through the life span. Even when staff were not presenting workshops in the garden, OAP was still on display: staff designed large "garden signs" with tips on gardening with low vision, arthritis, and other imitations, which were planted throughout the garden. In addition to the exhibit tent and workshops, Ohio AgrAbility hosted the Universal Design Garage (part of a larger UD house) and offered examples and information on using universal design in the workshop and farm.

OAP featured a new exhibit area in 2019 - "Ohio AgrAbility: A Focus on Livestock", with adapted equipment and information posters detailing how modifications and assistive technology can help farmers with and without disabilities farm safely. The exhibit featured equipment and vendors from Life Essentials, PWR EZ Systems, K & M Manufacturing, and Propel Sliding Door Automation. The vendors displayed and demonstrated their products, answered questions, and worked with staff and farmers to problem-solve issues that may limit the farmers' productivity or ability to safely use and access their equipment and facilities.

Submitted by Laura Akgerman