Missouri's AgrAbility Project

Recently at the Great Plains Growers Conference in St. Joseph, I met a University of Missouri Extension specialist, Donald Schuster.  Donald works with people in agriculture who are overcoming physical and psychological impairments. At his booth, he displayed some really fascinating gardening implements that compensated for different physical impairments.

An increasing number of Schuster’s clients are veterans and he is a veteran from the Vietnam era. Within Extension, Schuster is a coordinator of assistive technology services for the Missouri AgrAbility Project. He knows all too well the challenges of trying to return to regular activities after an injury has occurred. He also noted that “Not all disabilites are physical injuries.”

Today, some veterans arriving home from Iraq and Afghanistan will face months of rehab, recovery and for some even unemployment due to their physical impairments. The Missouri AgrAbility Project can help. But the Project serves all persons with all kinds of disabilities, not just veterans who were wounded in service. Schuster also works with survivors of farming accidents, car accidents and those dealing with physical and emotional illness.

To learn more about the Missouri AgrAbility Project, or to connect someone who might benefit from the services offered, call 1.800.995.8503 to find a representative closest to you.

Comments

[Willard Downs]

Karen,

It's great that you had a chance to visit with Don about the Missouri AgrAbility project, which has been active in Missouri since 1994. AgrAbility is supported by a grant from NIFA (the National Institute of Food and Agriculture) an agency within the USDA. Our mission is to provide help to farmers and ranchers (and family members) who have disabilities. Our project can help with farmstead assessments, referrals to other helpful agencies and service providers, and links to peer groups with similar disabilites. We work with individuals with any type of disablities, whether from chronic diseases such as arthritis or stroke, or from accidental injuries from accidents. We network with many agencies that provide services including Vocational Rehabilitation, Rehab Services for the Blind, and Missouri's system of Centers for Independent Living. If you have a disablity, or know of someone with a disability, please encourage them to contact us! Our toll-free number at the University is 1-800-995-8503.

Thanks!
Willard Downs, PI, Missouri AgrAbility Project