|
News Releases
MARRTC's Farmers and Arthritis Project Presented at Conference
Columbia, Mo. (Oct. 13, 2000) - Sometimes gardening requires more creativity than picking out petunias.
For the elderly or disabled, gardening may require the creative use of assistive technology, adaptive equipment and ergonomic principles.
That's why the Farmers and Arthritis Project of the Missouri Arthritis Rehabilitation Research and Training Center presented at the national conference of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). The conference was held June 28-July 2, 2000 in Orlando, Fla.
The RESNA conference drew more than 800 members, according to Susan Leone, RESNA meetings director.
RESNA's membership includes more than 1,600 members in 32 countries, according to its Web site. Members include "professionals in rehabilitation technology, researchers, rehabilitation engineers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech language pathologists/audiologists, orthotists and prosthetists, educators, suppliers and manufacturers, end-users and advocates, policy specialists, and a variety of other rehabilitation and health professionals."
The Farmers and Arthritis Project presentation qualified for Continuing Education Units. The presentation was titled "Gaining Rural Independence Through Accessible Gardening Techniques and Adaptive Tools."
The class drew more than two dozen technology practitioners, occupational therapists, physical therapists, case managers and others involved in rehabilitation technology.
The presenters were:
- Karen Funkenbusch, M.A., director of the Farmers and Arthritis Project and the Missouri AgrAbility Project, of Agricultural Engineering Extension and Department of Physical Therapy of the University of Missouri; and
- Diana Baldwin, M.A., OTR/L, chairwoman of the Department of Occupational Therapy of the University of Missouri;
- Brad Marsh, assistive technology coordinator, Services for Independent Living, Columbia, Mo.
Teaching practitioners how to help people continue gardening is important, according to Funkenbusch. "Many older rural individuals and persons with disabilities give up gardening. For rural persons who have disabilities, having to give up gardening can create a sense of loss," said Funkenbusch.
The presentation offered information on an interdisciplinary approach of gardening techniques and creative ways of applying assistive technology techniques, adapting equipment, and creating a garden for people in wheelchairs or with low vision, upper extremity limitations, arthritis or mobility limitations.
The topics covered in the class included:
- Assessing abilities;
- Tips on gardening with wheelchairs
- Tips on easier gardening;
- Gardening links;
- Accessible garden books and booklets
- Principles of prevention of repetitive motion injury
- Tips on modifying gardens for people with back problems
- Tips on tools, health and safety tips for gardeners with disabilities
- Tips for senior gardeners;
- Instructions on choosing tools as well as how to create container gardens and raised beds.
The abstract of the presentation stated: "Rural Independence through Accessible Gardening and Adaptive Tools will be an opportunity for professionals to learn about specialized garden resources including a review of the literature and a demonstration of useful Internet sites. The presenters will discuss creative ways of applying assistive technology techniques, adapting equipment and using ergonomic and energy conservation principles. An emphasis will be placed on ways to access the garden, especially for rural persons who use wheelchairs, those with low vision, and those with mobility limitations. Rural case studies will be used to illustrate persons with disabilities maintaining independence through accessible gardening and adaptive techniques."
|
|
