Missouri
Missouri AgrAbility actively participated during the 2022 AgrAbility National Training workshops through poster and oral presentations; facilitating an exhibit and passing out resources; and participating in community of interest (COI) meetings.
Posters included:
"Cultivating Missouri AgrAbility's Social Media Strategy" by Tevin Uthlaut and Karen Funkenbusch, University of Missouri Extension- "Save Your Brain: Preventing Brain Injury through 4-H and AgrAbility Collaboration" by Emily Doosing, University of Missouri Extension/BIA-MO, Karen Funkenbusch and Lupita Fabregas, University of Missouri Extension, and Maureen Cunningham, Brain Injury Association of Missouri. Poster descriptions can be found toward the bottom of the page at http://www.agrability.org/agrability-national-training-workshop/schedule/
Oral presentations included :
"Building Resilience into your farm: Let nature do the heavy lifting!" by Susan Jaster, Missouri AgrAbility - Lincoln University Cooperative Extension- "Indoor Assistive Technology Show and Tell" by Ned Stoller, Michigan AgrAbility, and Susan Jaster, Shon Bishop, and David Middleton, Missouri AgrAbility - Lincoln University Cooperative Extension. Session descriptions can be found toward the bottom of the page at
http://www.agrability.org/agrability-national-training-workshop/schedule/ - "AgrAbility 'Accessing' the Amish/Plain Farmer" by Bill Field and Chuck Baldwin, National AgrAbility Project, Karen Funkenbusch, Missouri AgrAbility, and Dee Jepsen, Ohio AgrAbility
Submitted by Tevin Uthlaut and Karen Funkenbusch
Brain Injury Awareness Month featured the "Brain Injury Fact of the Day" sponsored by Missouri AgrAbility during March 2022. A unique Brain Injury Fact was posted each day on numerous agricultural, rural living, weather, brain injury, and healthcare websites and social media sites. Individuals were encouraged to learn more about the posted Brain Injury Fact of the Day on the Brain Injury Association of Missouri (BIA-MO) website. This campaign resulted in 2,263 new users to the BIA-MO website and a Facebook reach of 14,000 and 26,000 impressions.
Emily Doosing, Missouri Extension specialist in 4-H youth development, presented the "4-H Save Your Brain" poster during the 2022 AgrAbility NTW. The purpose of this Missouri AgrAbility educational activity is to help rural youth understand the causes, effects, and ways to interact with persons with brain injury. There is also a focus on the prevention of brain injuries on the farm, in sports, around the house, and more. The leaders' guide curriculum and manual include experiential learning activities to engage 4-H youth toward outcomes of connections with others, personal standards, academic or vocational success, and overall happiness and wellbeing. Co-authors of the 4-H Save Your Brain program with Emily Doosing are Karen Funkenbusch and Lupita Fabregas with University of Missouri Extension and Maureen Cunningham with the Brain Injury Association of Missouri.
The Missouri AgrAbility exhibit table offered copies of the 4-H Save Your Brain Leaders Guide. There were also samples of the Brain Injury Resource Kits that included a Missouri "Living with Brain Injury" Greenbook, Brain Injury Association of America Caregivers Guide, BIA-MO Brain Injury Recovery Step by Step brochure, and Missouri AgrAbility Journal of Hope. Each resource highlights Missouri AgrAbility for farmers, ranchers, and veterans with disabilities.
Missouri AgrAbility was highlighted as a program partner for the BIA-MO Survivor and Family Seminars that were held online on March 26 and April 2. Nearly 100 individuals across Missouri learned about Missouri AgrAbility as a resource for farmers, ranchers, and veterans with disabilities.
Submitted by Maureen Cunningham
Staff Changes and Recognition
"Hi, my name is Bessie Cox, the new Program Manager for the Brain Injury Association of Missouri. I have 15 years in healthcare, mental health, and case management, along with a BA in Psychology. With psychology having been one of my first loves, and it still is, the mind continues to fascinate me. I am passionate about life and being of service to others, whether it be through educating, empowering, and/or supporting others along their journey. Helping others in different ways to improve, strengthen, and rebuild areas in their life is vital to each of us individually, but also to the community as a whole. The more we know, the more we grow together! I am also a mom of seven amazing children whom I continue to learn so much from each day. Some personal hobbies/interests are: love for nature, outdoors activities, reading, art, music, cooking/baking, creating opportunities with new experiences that promote growth, curiosity, adventure, hope, joy, and unity, within myself, my family, and my community. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me! I am super grateful for being part of this amazing team and community here at the Brain Injury Association of Missouri (BIA-MO)."