Indiana

The Fort Wayne Farm Show returned to an in-person event on January 18-20 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Indiana AgrAbility staff, Michigan AgrAbility staff, and volunteers staffed a display at the show, which included AgrAbility publications on arthritis, case studies, and emergency preparedness, plus Life Essentials publications and a John Deere tractor with a lift, and Gearing Up for Safety information. Staff also toured the show to make contact with vendors who have worked with Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation clients and to look for new products for the Toolbox Assistive Technology Database.

Submitted by Steve Swain

Ed Sheldon, Indiana and NAP Extension outreach coordinator, visited with the Morgan County (Martinsville, IN) 4-H Junior Leaders during their annual club lock-in January 16. After several members heard about AgrAbility from a teacher, they were interested in learning more about the program and contacted Indiana AgrAbility to extend an invitation to visit their club meeting. During the lock-in, the group learned more about the AgrAbility program, disability awareness, and working with individuals with disabilities. In addition, the 4-H'ers participated in hands-on activities that demonstrated challenges of a hand impairment such as arthritis, as well as the benefits of simple assistive technologies (including a long-handled toilet plunger!).

The group was challenged to participate in Indiana AgrAbility's Bridging Horizons Community Service Contest by completing a project that will assist people with disabilities in Morgan County. Indiana AgrAbility staff will provide advice and recommendations as needed when the club decides on a project.

A highlight of the evening was a visit by Remmy, an eight-month-old black lab being trained by a member's family to be a leader dog for the blind. After spending about one year with the family, Remmy will undergo further training and then be matched with a vision-impaired individual.

Submitted by Ed Sheldon