Ohio

In addition to in-person outreach, Ohio AgrAbility was featured in two articles. Ohio AgrAbility helps farmers with disabilities find independence was published in The Lantern, The Ohio State University's student newspaper. The article featured interviews with Program Director Dee Jepsen and Rural Rehabilitation Coordinator Rachel Jarman, highlighting how the program supports farmers with disabilities through education, on-farm assessments, and connections to resources. The article helped raise awareness of AgrAbility among Ohio State students and the campus community.

In addition, Dee Jepsen and Disability Services Coordinator Laura Akgerman co-authored "Universal design tools makes farming safer for everyone" for Ohio's Country Journal. The article gave a brief overview of equipment for livestock systems, focusing on practical ways to make farming safer and easier for farmers with disabilities. The article highlighted examples such as gates and feeders that reduce physical strain and improve safety, while also benefiting farmers of all abilities.

Laura presented two sessions at The Ohio State University's ADA Coordinators Multiple Perspectives Conference. Session titles were "Intro to AgrAbility and Agricultural Assistive Technology: Building Infrastructures for Accessibility" and "Accommodating Youth with Disabilities." The second session was a panel discussion featuring 4-H educators examining effective approaches for supporting neurodivergent youth and youth with disabilities in camp settings, county fairs, and inclusive livestock shows. Panelists shared mental health resources, strategies for fostering youth leadership development, and practices that promote accessible and inclusive participation in 4-H programs. The sessions shared agricultural disability perspectives with a multidisciplinary audience and highlighted how AgrAbility outreach connects university resources, Extension programming, and community partners.

Disability Services Coordinator Laura Akgerman supported an Ohio AgrAbility Program (OAP) client's child in receiving accommodations to safely participate in showing her horse at the county fair. Through advocacy and collaboration, adjustments were made to ensure both the child's access to fair activities and the safety of all exhibitors. This opportunity not only supported the youth's participation but also demonstrated to fair attendees and fellow exhibitors that agriculture and livestock activities can be inclusive with minimal modifications-reinforcing the importance of encouraging participation for all within our communities.

Ohio AgrAbility Program staff hosted a peer-to-peer lunch and learn at Punderson Manor State Park Lodge in northeast Ohio in June. The event brought together 25 attendees, including farmers, Ohio State University and Central State University Extension educators, and supervisors from Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities. Staff provided an overview of Ohio AgrAbility services and shared client success stories highlighting the program's impact on farmers and agricultural workers with disabilities. The gathering encouraged networking, resource sharing, and collaboration among participants committed to supporting accessibility and independence in agriculture.

Spring and summer are busy times in the garden! Laura delivered gardening-focused education in community settings, providing training for Master Gardener volunteers in Hardin County through "Gardening and Ergonomics." She also presented "Gardening with Arthritis: It Doesn't Have to Hurt" to approximately 50 participants at an Ohio Association of Garden Clubs regional meeting in May. She presented the same topic to 30 members of the Westerville Garden Club in June. Participants learned about ergonomics, proper body mechanics, adaptive gardening tools, and practical techniques to reduce strain and prevent injury while gardening. These sessions emphasized safe work habits and simple modifications that can help individuals manage arthritis symptoms and other physical limitations, reinforcing that gardening can remain an enjoyable, accessible, and independent activity at any age.

Submitted by Laura Akgerman