|
PSU | CAS | AEE | Agrability | Newsletters |
December 1999  You
Are Here.
December
1999
Funding Increase for AgrAbility
Projects
President Clinton signed the Agriculture Appropriation Bill into law on
October 22, 1999. This Bill provides a $1 million increase for the National
and State-level AgrAbility Projects. Many thanks to those legislators
that continue to support the AgrAbility Projects across the country.
In Pennsylvania, the increase in funding will be used to expand program
services. One of the main expansions will be to broaden services to those
farm families in Amish and Mennonite communities in south central Pennsylvania.
Each year, there are farmers across the country, which are affected by
a disability or health condition. AgrAbility Projects continue to provide
farm families with information about assistive technology for farm operations
through on-site farm visits and peer support networks. This exciting project
helps farm families maintain their independence and goal of continuing
in agricultural production.
Mall Raises Money for an AgrAbility Farmer
Many thanks to the Susquehanna Valley Mall, WJUN Country 92.5 FM and Weis
Market for their involvement in this year's Fall Festival. The Susquehanna
Valley Mall coordinated the Fall Festival and chose an AgrAbility farmer
as the recipient of the funds. WJUN Country 92.5 FM promoted the event
and Weis Market donate proceeds from the sale of cider and candy/caramel
apples.
This exciting event raised $200 through selling cider and apples, painting
pumpkins, and making scarecrows. The money will be given to a farmer with
a disability for farm modifications in Juniata, Mifflin, Northumberland,
Perry, Snyder or Union County. These counties comprise the Susquehanna
Valley Mall service area. If you are a farmer with a disability in one
of the six counties and are interested in using the money for farm modifications,
please contact Linda Fetzer at (814) 238-4434 {voice.TTY}.
AgrAbility Staff would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday
season. Thank you for your support of AgrAbility and the impact it has
made in the life of rural families.
UPCOMING EVENTS
National Young Farmers Educational Institute
Hershey Lodge & Convention Center , Hershey, PA -- December 7 - 11,
1999
2000 Pennsylvania State Farm Show
State Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg, PA -- January 8 - 13, 2000
Everyday Lives... in our Communities -- Pennsylvania's Year 2000 EXPO
Hershey Lodge & Convention Center, Hershey, PA -- February 23 - 24,
2000
Greetings from the New CEO of Easter Seals Central Pennsylvania
Hi, my name is Jeanne Hanlin and I recently accepted the position of CEO
with Easter Seals Central Pennsylvania. I really am no stranger to Easter
Seals because I was CEO back in the early 90's. I like to consider myself
as "recycled." Farming, vocational rehabilitation and the AgrAbility
Program also are very familiar to me. I grew up on a farm in Cambria County,
which is now "Prince Gallitzin Park." Milking cows, feeding
hogs and chickens were daily routines for me until I went off to college
in the late 1960's. The AgrAbility program has been an exceptional opportunity
for Easter Seals and I personally look forward to the on-going partnership
with Penn State University. But, more than that, I look forward to helping
people live productive independent lives in dignity, no matter what challenges
any of us are handed. Truly, working together we can all create solutions
that change lives. It is nice to be home.
Therapist's Corner - Working With Arthritis
By: Adam Frank, D.P.T & Renee Frank, D.P.T.
Arthritis can be a very painful and debilitating disease that sometimes
diminishes a person's ability to work. There are two main types of arthritis
including rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. If you have arthritis or know
someone who does, you know it can cause stiffness in joints, decrease
range of motion, swelling, fatigue and often audible "crunching."
Arthritis treatment and prevention can usually slow the disease progression
and allow increased function with less pain. Typical treatments include
medications prescribed by physicians to alleviate joint inflammation,
as well as physical and occupational therapy to strengthen muscles and
improve joint mobility. Modalities such as moist heat can be used to control
pain. Arthritis prevention should be considered by anyone who already
has arthritis or is at risk for developing it. Risk factors include family
history of arthritis, work that involves repetitive motions, and previous
injury to a joint. Strategies used to prevent arthritis are, avoiding
repetitive motions, taking short rest periods throughout the day, and
performing regular "warm up" exercises before using your joints
for strenuous activities. Simple warm up" exercises can involve bending
and straightening your joints 10-15 times before you begin working. This
will increase blood flow and stimulate fluid within the joint preparing
them for activity. For a specific arthritis treatment and prevention program
a physician or therapist should be contacted.
PROBLEM SOLVED
Problem: When operating the skid loader, the farmer's foot tends to slip
off of the pedal.
Solution: One farmer added a bolt in the top right corner and bottom left
corner of the pedal. The top of the bolt extends approximately 1/2"
from the pedal. This simple idea provides proper foot placement and reduces
the number of times that his foot slips from the pedal.
Assistive Technology Spotlight
During this harvest time, it is likely that many farmers have climbed
to the top of a grain bin. For many farmers, this is a very difficult
task. For example, it is difficult and sometimes dangerous, for a person
with a disability such as arthritis or an arm amputation to climb a narrow
ladder to the top of the bin or silo.
One way to reduce the number of times that a person needs to climb the
side of the bin is to install LevALERT Indicators at strategic locations
on the side of the bin. The LevALERT Indicator can be use on most corrugated
or flat bin walls up to 3/8" thick. The Indicator does not require
electricity and is visible from 200 feet.
The LevALERT Indicator is an easy concept. It fits on the outside of the
bin through a 1 1/8" diameter hole. As the bin material reaches the
Indicator, it pushes the rubber activator on the inside of the bin, which
changes the color of the color tube on the outside of the bin from black
to bright yellow.
For more information about the LevALERT Indicator or farm modifications,
please contact George Dills at (814) 863-7490.
From the Director's Desk ...
New Millennium for Agricultural Safety and Health
You may recall me writing about a national committee to look at agricultural
safety and health. Last month, Dennis Murphy and I participated on that
committee to help forge research, extension, and education priorities
in the area of agricultural safety and health. Although our plane trip
to Missouri was plagued with delays and cancellations, we arrived at the
meeting and made strong, positive and long lasting contributions.
States participating in this study group are California, Colorado, District
of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, New
York, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and
Wisconsin. As a result of the November meeting, a proposal has been written
for review and approval by governmental and University leaders in research
and extension. We feel very strongly that approval will be granted. With
such approval, we will become a new National Research Committee in Agricultural
Safety and Health. The primary goal of this committee is to reduce work-related
injuries, illnesses, and death. I will provide more information as it
becomes available.
Best wishes and may your new millennium be safer and healthier!
By Dr. Connie Baggett
Principal Investigator/Project Director
AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians
For more information about AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians or to share any
ideas about articles for future editions, please contact either Linda
or David.
|
The Pennsylvania
State University
Dept. of Agricultural and Extension Education
433 Agricultural Administration Building
University Park, PA 16802
Connie D. Baggett
– AgrAbility Project Director – (814) 863-7415
Linda Fetzer – AgrAbility Project Assistant – (814) 863-7490
Phone: 814-863-7490
Fax: 814-863-4753
Email: lmf8@psu.edu
|
Easter Seals
Central Pennsylvania
1300 S. Allen Street
State College, PA 16801
Jeanne Hanlin
– Easter Seals Central Pennsylvania CEO – (814) 944-5014
David Troutman – AgrAbility Case Manager - 814-238-4434 (Voice/TTY)
Phone: 814-238-4434
Fax: 814-238-3721
Email: DTROUTMAN@homenursingagency.com
|
|
