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2008 National AgrAbility Workshop
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Promoting Success in Agriculture for People with Disabilities and Their Families
Assistive Technology Solutions for Farmers or Ranchers with Multiple SclerosisThe disease process for individuals with MS can be highly variable. Changes in symptoms could be hourly, yearly, or longer. Because of this variability, the need for assistance in performing farm or home activities will also fluctuate. When assistance is needed, it may come in the form of changing the way things are done on the farm/home or by using technology to ease or accommodate tasks. For many farmers/ranchers with MS it may be very important to conserve energy, pace work activities, and accommodate temperature sensitivity. Some common sense practices might include doing outdoor activities during the coolest part of day, ensuring limbs with sensory loss are adequately protected during extremely cold weather, shortening steps needed to do work by rearranging the work area, and planning frequent breaks to conserve energy.
Sensitivity to heat can be problematic when working outdoors is unavoidable. Air-conditioned cabs in farm equipment can help maintain a controlled, comfortable temperature. Cool Touch Comfort Cushions and SteeleVest® cooling vests use cooled gel-like substances to provide cooling for up to four hours.
Farmers/ranchers with MS may experience visual disturbances and/or visual fatigue. This could affect the ability to read anything from read outs on automated milking equipment to managing financial records on the computer. Visual fatigue caused by reading printed material may be reduced by using large print, off-white paper, magnifiers, or prism glasses. A portable magnifier like the Lighted Pocket Magnifier could be useful in reading gauges and instructions or manipulating small hardware. A number of devices, ranging from magnifiers to computers designed to enlarge and/or read aloud text on the screen, are available and could assist people with visual acuity disturbances. Check www.lowvision.org for more information. For the farmer/rancher who uses the computer to maintain agriculture records, adaptations are available for the computer to accommodate low vision, visual fatigue and blindness; such as screen magnification, voice output and input, and Braille. One source listing computer adaptive equipment for people with low vision or blindness is www.assistivetech.net. A number of new technologies can assist a farmer in scheduling and remembering daily work activities. The WatchMinder special purpose wristwatch has a reminder mode. Multiple messages can be activated at specific times during the day to remind the wearer of tasks that need to be done. When activated, the displayed message is accompanied by a continuous vibration that lasts about four seconds. The farmer/rancher may use this device to remind him/her when to do specific work activities or take medications. Being able to access the home, shop, grain storage sites, and livestock housing, and to use tractors, trucks, and combines is very important to agricultural operations. Suggestions for home modifications, independent living aids, and mobility equipment were presented in the Spring 2002 AgrAbility Quarterly on Strokes. Other home modifications ideas can be found in the Assistive Technology Database on the AgrAbility Project website. Accommodations related to tractors and machinery, utility vehicles, and livestock feeding and care systems are available in the Fall 2001 AgrAbility Quarterly on Arthritis. All documents can be found at www.agrabilityproject.org. A new technology for manual wheelchairs promises to reduce the amount of effort to maneuver. The iGLIDE™ Manual Assist Wheelchair is designed to supplement the operator’s natural effort with a smooth, motorized motion over a variety of terrains.
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