Nebraska

The Easterseals Nebraska team recently gathered at the future site of its new campus in Blair, Nebraska. It was an inspiring day filled with updates on upcoming projects, innovative technologies, and valuable face-to-face time, something extra special for their largely remote team.

This campus represents an exciting future, with plans for a Barrier-Free Camp and Agriculture Centers designed to showcase assistive technology and promote accessibility for all. The future is bright, and staff can't wait to see what's next for this incredible space!

AgrAbility connected with students in Albion, Nebraska, during Boone County Business and Industry Day. Students stepped into the shoes of farmers and ranchers with visual impairments, experiencing firsthand the challenges faced in agriculture.

Through interactive tasks and thoughtful conversations, students gained a better understanding of how adaptive solutions can help keep people in agricultural careers-no matter their abilities. Thank you to Boone County for inviting Nebraska AgrAbility to be part of such an impactful day!

Emily Jacobson, Nebraska AgrAbility program manager, recently learned about a new assistive device that makes driving small T-posts into the ground easier. This task is especially important for farmers and ranchers during fall when fencing off cornstalks for cattle.

The device is a connector head that attaches to an air chisel, allowing posts to be driven directly into the ground. It's recommended for up to 1/2-inch steel electric fence posts. This tool can make fencing more efficient for farmers and ranchers with upper extremity limitations or lifting restrictions.

The device is produced in Stanton, Nebraska, by Benjamin Wolken. If you'd like more information or Benjamin's contact details, please reach out to Emily.

A video featuring this device was posted on the Nebraska AgrAbility Facebook page on October 19: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3213994408778294

Ed Sheldon (Purdue/National AgrAbility) and Soni Cochran (Nebraska Extension/AgrAbility) presented at the National Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) Conference held in Maine, October 21-23. Their session, "Emergency Preparedness: Supporting Individuals and Families Impacted by Disabilities in Rural Disaster Planning, Preparation, and Response Efforts," highlighted strategies for inclusive disaster planning.

Soni Cochran serves as the EDEN Executive Leadership Team liaison on the National AgrAbility Advisory Board. In her new role, she attended the board meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, the week of October 13. Soni shared that it was a terrific opportunity to connect the EDEN network with the important work of AgrAbility. She looks forward to working with the advisory board and making those connections with EDEN.

Submitted by Soni Cochran