AgrAbility.org: Helping People With Disabilities in Agricultural Fields

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Persons with disabilities who live in rural and agricultural communities now have an easily accessible location for equipment and other resources. Agrability.org was created as an easy way to locate various organizations that provide services to those living with disabilities. These organizations specialize in providing disability resources and equipment to farmers or others with disabilities who reside in agricultural and rural areas. Agrability.org is an extension of Purdue University in Indiana.

Farm workers with disabilities may require specially customized equipment and tools in order to get the job done. Because of this, there are companies and organizations who specialize in these custom tools and equipment. However, some people may not know what equipment they need or where to find that information. This is one area in which resources and information from Agrability.org can help.

One organization accessible through Agrability.org is the Warm Springs Resource Center. This organization provides educational, social and cultural resources for anyone with disabilities. People with disabilities can be linked to resources within their community or over the internet. The Warm Springs Resource Center also houses the Texas Agrability Project, which is also easily accessible through Agrability.org. Through a combination of both of these organizations, those with disabilities may access information on support groups, accessible technology and equipment and other resources.

Also accessible through Agrability.org is the Breaking New Ground Resource Center and Outreach Program (BNG). Through this organization, farmers with disabilities may access information and resources on obtaining agricultural equipment, tools, machinery and a variety of other relevant resources. The equipment, tools and machinery are all specially designed for farm workers with disabilities.

Dr.Val Farmer, Ph.D. is also cooperating in this effort. Through his website, accessible through Agrability.org, those with disabilities may access self-help and medical articles. One of his topics readers may find interesting is farm stress, among other related articles. The Research and Training Center on Rural Rehabilitation Services (RTC: Rural), with funding from the National Institute on Rehabilitation Research, strives to help those living with disabilities lead a more independent life. This is done through research, resources and training.

Through the organizations above, as well as others, Agrability.org has been helping those with disabilities gain access to important resources, such as tools, skills, technology, information and equipment. With this simple and accessible platform, farmers and others with disabilities who are living in rural and agricultural areas should be able to more readily access any resources they may need.

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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