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Agriculture program in Georgia helps farmers with disabilities return to work
Author: | Wednesday January 31, 2007
Workshops were held recently to provide assistance for farmers with physical disabilities.
Program Assists Farmers
With Disabilities Through
Technology and Training
The State of Georgia is at the top of the agriculture industry in pecans, peaches and peanuts and it is also among the top states in helping injured farmers return to the fields. Under a program called AgrAbility in Georgia, farmers with disabilities are helped toward independence.
The program in Georgia is a partnership between The University of Georgia's Cooperative Extension Service in the college of Agricultural an Environmental Sciences and The Institute on Human Development and Disability in the College of Family and Consumer Services.
AgrAbility provides direct assistance to agricultural families with assistive technology, work site modifications and independent living. The program also provides information through individual contacts, agency referrals and public education.
The program also provides training opportunities on available resources and assistive technology for consumers and professionals. Recently, a free workshop called "Duck Tape, Velcro and Beyond" was held in four cities; Macon, Albany, Tifton and Valdosta.
The workshops were possible through the recently funded AgrAbility program. They provided hands-on opportunities to demonstrate over fifty materials and techniques that can be used to adapt solutions to accommodate for physical challenges in completing tasks.
There will be a national AgrAbility Workshop Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2007 in Sacramento, CA. To learn more about this program visit the organization's web site at www.agrabilityinga.com.
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