Vol. 1, No. 4 -- September 2000

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IN THIS EDITION:
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--CARM'S COMMENTS: I DIDN'T FAIL DOG SCHOOL
--IOWA FARM LAW PROJECT REFUDNED
--WELCOMING HOME AT FARM PROGRESS SHOW
--RESOURCES TO KNOW ABOUT
-- FARM AGRABILITY PROGRAM REFERRALS UP
--PEER SUPPORT UPDATE
--UPCOMING EVENTS
--PERSONAL PROFILE: RON BRADLEY
--QUOTE OF THE MONTH

CARM'S COMMENTS: I DIDN'T FAIL DOG SCHOOL as told to Carmen Schacht by Robert Davis

"I didn't fail dog school!" At age 60 and with 30 years experience as a professional educator, that was one of the most satisfying things I could say as I rode home from the North Central Regional Center of Canine Companions (CCI) for Independence in Delaware, Ohio. After two weeks of intensive training sessions, both Kachina IV and I had graduated, and Kachina was returning home with me as my new Service Dog.

For the first two weeks in August, I had been engaged in daily class sessions from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., alternating between learning about dogs, how they think and act, and working with seven to eight different dogs. One of these was my friend, Kachina IV who is a Golden Labrador Retriever not quite two years old. She has expressive brown eyes and a very affectionate personality. Our two weeks of training was intended to make it possible for her to make my life considerably more convenient.

When I get my household properly set up, Kachina is supposed to be able to open and shut doors, pick things up for me, turn the lights on and off, help get the mail, go shopping with me, help make purchases, and generally make life more enjoyable. At the time I met her at CCI headquarters, she knew 45 commands. I am teaching her new ones.

I learned a wealth of things I did not know about dogs before. Three are worth passing on in this brief report. First, there's no truth to the well-known cliché, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." Dogs are theoretically never too old to learn. It's more likely that the rigidity or inflexibility lies with the handler or person doing the teaching than with the dog!

Second, the old parental ploy, "You just wait 'til your father gets home" won't work with a dog. Dogs live in the here and now. Whatever correction you're going to give them must be immediate. Five minutes after the fact, the event you're dealing with will be ancient history to the dog. Owners have to work with this in mind.

Third, dogs love pleasant things. They hate unpleasant ones. Literally, if it feels good, the dog will likely do it, and the opposite is also true.

Kachina and I are still adjusting to life in Decorah, but every day is a new adventure. It's really nice to be able to say "I didn't fail dog school!" (CS)

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Good news from the legal advocacy front. Free legal services for Iowa farmers have been fortified by three seasoned Legal Services Corporation of Iowa (LSCI) attorneys. LSCI was recently granted money from the Iowa Reparations Fund in order to reinstitute their Farm Law Project, which helped many Iowa farmers in the 1980s. The following attorneys serve the state and will focus on farm law issues, such as problems with lenders.

LSCI can help low-income farmers with civil law issues. The resources and income criteria for farmers is more lenient than for other low-income persons. The central office in Des Moines (800-532-1274) can make referrals to the various regional offices around Iowa. (CS)

The 1999 Farm Progress Show is September 28-30 in Amana, Iowa. This is the largest agricultural trade show in the Midwest. Iowa State University Extension will feature more than 30 displays and six field plots. Among the educational exhibits will be the Iowa AgrAbility display, "The Welcoming Home." This exhibit shows an attractive way to make a no-step entrance for a home. No-step entrances are more convenient for everyone to use especially when pushing a stroller, carrying groceries, moving furniture, or using a walker or wheelchair.

Several AgrAbility Peer Support Leaders and AgrAbility staff members will be helping interpret the special features of the display for Farm Progress Show participants. These include Carmen Schacht, Bill Fry, and Tracy Keninger.

The AgrAbility display will be located in the ISU tent. People may bring photos of their existing home entrance to consult with a housing specialist about remodeling or building new. To see previews of all Extension displays at this year's Farm Progress Show see the following website: http//www.extension.iastate.edu/Pages/communications/FPS1999/homepage.htm (LW)

This is a partial list of resources that was supplied from the Governor's Developmental Disabilities Council at recent meetings around the state. We will include more in up-coming issues.

DISABILITY RESOURCE LIBRARY A lending library of books, video tapes, and other resources on disability issues: free for people with disabilities and family members. Other people, organizations and agencies may purchase yearly subscriptions or pay per item.

COMMISSION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (Iowa Department of Human Rights) A state-funded agency which provides individual assistance to Iowans with disabilities in the area of employment, education, physical access, housing, transportation, etc.

FAMILY SUPPORT SUBSIDY – Apply through local Department of Human Services (DHS) office for a monthly payment to help defray cost of keeping a child with special needs at home. Family's taxable net income must be under $40,000/year. Waiting list is about 250. (CS)

The FaRM/AgrAbility program received 26 referrals for service during March through May of this year. This is approximately half of the average yearly referrals, received in just three months. This is a clear reminder that these services are needed. (TK)

Northeast Iowa Artists' Open Studio Tour October 23 & 24 10 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Tour includes 34 different artist's studios at 19 locations. The handicapped accessible studios are marked.

In September of 1987, I became a victim of a serious crime, attempted murder. My ex-wife and two other people were involved. They put dynamite in my motor home. The dynamite was placed between the frame of the motor home and the transmission. It was wired to the two-speed rear end. I drove water tankers and heavy equipment for a reforestation company that subcontracted for the state fighting forest fires. I was called out to fight a fire burning out of control and was to report for work as soon as possible. I loaded the motor home with supplies and my gear.

Early the next morning around 7:00 a.m., I got into my vehicle to drive to the fire location. About 200 yards from my home, I shifted the two-speed rear end and the dynamite exploded. My right leg blew off above the knee. My left foot had a severe compound fracture and part of my right hand was missing. I knew what just happened to me wasn't the engine or transmission that blew up. The motor home immediately filled with gray smoke. I opened the door and pulled myself out still going 10 to 15 miles per hour.

My life changed forever, so many things were going through my head. I couldn't be air evacuated until seven hours later because of the fog and it was too far to drive to the hospital. Shock had set in and I didn't know if I was going to make it or not. I was finally lifted to the trauma center.

Three days later I woke up to find both legs missing and part of my hand and I couldn't understand why or who would do this to me. At first I blamed everyone else and than I blamed myself. I felt useless and felt like my life was over, with no one there to help me.

I moved back home to Iowa in 1989, where my family and friends live. I moved onto a farm and decided it was time to stop feeling sorry for myself and start walking again. I started rehabilitation at Mercy Medical Center in Davenport, Iowa. After months of hard therapy I was back on the road to recovery. I went to Vocational Rehabilitation in Des Moines, IA. This is where I met Tracy Keninger from Easter Seals. Tracy is the Rural Rehabilitation Specialist. We discussed my situation and she gave me positive impute about how to make the farm more accessible and put hand controls in my vehicle. I was on my way to being a productive person again and I am not alone.

I enjoy being a Peer Support Leader in southeast Iowa. This group is for anyone who has recently become disabled or has a life-long disability. You are not alone. (RB)

IOWA AGRABILITY - A joint effort of Iowa State University Extension and the Farm Family Rehabilitation Management (FaRM) Program of Easter Seals Iowa. The program can help farm family members with a disability stay in farming.

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This electronic newsletter from the Iowa AgrAbility Project will be sent monthly to AgrAbility families and other interested individuals. Please send comments and suggestions to:

E-mail: agrability@exnet.iastate.edu

Phone: Iowa State University Answerline at 1-800-262-3804

TDD: 1-800-854-1658.

Web site: www.exnet.iastate.edu/Pages/housing/other/agrability

...and justice for all. The Iowa Cooperative Extension Service's programs and policies are consistent with pertinent federal and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, and disability.

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