Iowa AgrAbility

Agrability Chit-Chat, Newsletter
Vol. 3, No. 3 -- March 2001

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IN THIS EDITION:
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CONTENTS: SEEING WITH LOW VISION

CARM'S COMMENTS: Carmen Schacht

This Month we are dealing with low vision. I have a very good friend who has Macular Degeneration. Carolyn is a person who has been involved in many areas of volunteer work in the town of Cresco. She has slowly lost her vision. She has gone to the Department for the Blind in Des Moines to learn how to deal with this disability. It has been a wonderful experience for her. She didn't just sit back and feel sorry for herself.

Carolyn recently started a low-vision support group in the Cresco area. The response has been great.

My husband is also dealing with some peripheral vision loss. His is a deteriorating retina. Being able to see is such an important part of our lives that it is hard to imagine what it would be like to be blind, especially from birth.

I am certainly ready for Spring. Winter just doesn't want to give up this year and I know you are all very tired of it. THINK SPRING! (CS)

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MATT'S DETERMINATION! Lorrie Long

Throwing bails of hay had never been a problem for Matt Root until one day in 1991, when he was between 22 and 23 years of age, he found himself stumbling around on the hayrack. "I had a very hard time lifting some hay that I normally lifted with one hand," he stated, "I knew something was wrong." It wasn't a matter of strength; Matt had lost his sense of balance.

Matt went to the doctor. For two to three very difficult years he had all kinds of tests including MRIs, EKGs, EEGs, spinal taps, and eye exams. Finally, with the help of the Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology at the University of Iowa, Matt's illness was named: Spinal Cerebral Ataxia Type 7, a very rare (1/100,000) hereditary illness. Because Matt was adopted as an infant, there is no history of this illness in his family.

Gradually Matt noticed that his vision and ability to walk began to get worse. He said, "when I was driving, I couldn't see things as clearly and I couldn't see as well at sporting events." The ophthalmologist informed Matt that he had Macular Degeneration. While Matt can see people and objects, they are fuzzy, not in focus, and his center vision is gone. However, "I can see things moving on the side; it freaks me out!" he exclaimed.

Everything bad seemed to happen to Matt all at once. He explained, "I was very mad at everybody. I figured I had my whole life to be flying around. Being young like that, you think you are nearly indestructible. I broke up with my girlfriend because I didn't know what was happening to me. I didn't want her to have to worry about me."

In 1995 Matt was declared legally blind and lost his driver's license. Today, at the age of 35, Matt can't read the newspaper or a telephone book. He concedes, "it is very hard -- to lose the ability to see." In addition, Matt uses a walker and walks slowly because he lacks balance.

So, has Matt given up on life? Not by a long shot! He has strong family support including his farmer dad with whom he lives, his Colorado mom whose understanding and support give him strength, and a brother who designed his website as well as the building he uses for his greenhouse business. He has a good friend that helped him get the greenhouse started with a grant Matt received from the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services and the Department for the Blind.

AgrAbility, also, has been part of Matt's life. Sheri Mathis, representing the Easter Seals arm of the AgrAbility program, contacted Iowa Department for the Blind who provided Matt with several items including a calculator that talks, measuring cups and spoons with large numbers, and a checkbook with bigger print. And then in the summer of 2000 Matt broke his leg. That forced him, temporarily, to use a wheelchair. Mary Yearns and Lorrie Long, representing the Iowa State University Extension arm of AgrAbility, visited Matt and his dad, snapped pictures and drafted a floor plan that resulted in several ideas for ways Matt and Monte could modify their home for wheelchair accessibility.

Above all, Matt has a strong determination to respond to the challenges of life. He lifts weights for strength and endurance, and declares, "I could beat Mike Tyson!" He manages a garden from seed to harvest with the assistance of a helper who provides the speed and accuracy that he no longer has available to him. He manages the Four Corners Market -- a greenhouse business, open from May through October, with veggies of all kinds plus nursery stock, eggs, honey, craft items, and hundreds of scale model tractors. (Check out Matt's website at http://members.aol.com/fourcornermarket/page9.html).

Matt has a sense of humor that is evident when he says, "it would save so much time if I had a computer that could talk. People would think I was strange talking to a computer, though. I'd have to make it a lady's voice - kind of seductive." In addition, he jokes around with people so that they'll forget his disabilities.

Matt says in closing, "back when my disease started, I was really wild. I was going a hundred miles an hour. I didn't look at it that way then, but if it hadn't happened, I'd probably be in jail today, or dead. It took me quite a bit of time to adjust. I'm probably still mad but don't show it as much. I can't do anything about it; so have to accept it."

Matt has the support of Iowa AgrAbility, a partnership between the Easter Seals FaRM Program and ISU Extension. The FaRM Program specializes in helping farm families with disabilities achieve greater independence through assistive technology and rehabilitation services. ISU Extension provides expertise on a wide range of agricultural, business, and family issues including financial management, housing, and handling stress. AgrAbility staff care personally about members of the entire family. The goal of AgrAbility is to help farm families with disabilities stay engaged in life. (LL)

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GOT A SOLUTION!

LeRoy Haberl, a farmer from Carroll with Macular Degeneration, shares some of his solutions. Chuck Larson from AgrAbility has been of great help to the Haberls in supplying ideas and in getting funding from the Iowa Department for the Blind.

--When planting, follow the side of the furrow with the deeper cut as it will be a more visible guide.
--Put a wheel on the end of the harrow to leave a guide track.
--Attach large lettered scales to your feeder wagon.
--Farm at times other than between the hours of 12:00 and 2:00 p.m.; shadows created by the slanting sun's rays will help you see.
--Use fence line bunks for feeding cattle so you can feed from outside the corral (sold by most concrete businesses).
--Protect yourself from being hit and kicked by cattle by using a half circle crowding tub with swing gates (www.pearsonlivestockeq.com and/or www.strongholdbyhagie.com).
--Attach a radar device to your tractor to alert you to oncoming traffic (on LeRoy's "wish list").
--Ask the County Department of Transportation to erect signs to alert other drivers to your potential presence.
--Wear prescription sunglasses to keep out ultra violet rays.

In the house

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RESOURCES

The University of Iowa Center for Macular Degeneration is a research center and, also, provides rehabilitation and counseling services. Information for both patients and doctors can be found on the website http://cmd.ophth.uiowa.edu/ which has larger print available for those with low vision.

Low Vision Rehabilitation Services, University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, assesses drivers with low vision and provides a complete low vision program including a treatment plan, as well as a wealth of information on low vision and resources available in local communities (http://webeye.ophth.uiowa.edu/; 1-800-322- 8442).

Lighthouse International (www.lighthouse.org) is a low vision accessible website that includes a catalog of products, educational courses and events, newsletters, and news articles.

Iowa Program for Assistive Technology - Infotech is an information and referral service on assistive technology for residents in Iowa (www.uiowa.edu/infotech/InfoTech.htm). It includes a used equipment referral service and free product information.

The Iowa Department for the Blind (www.blind.state.ia.us) provides information and services to Iowans who are blind including a library with books and magazines in alternative media; vocational rehabilitation programs; a Business Enterprise Program to help Iowans who are blind set up food businesses; a used equipment bulletin board, and tutorials and keyboard guides that will allow you to use popular Windows programs to access screen readers.

Support Group

A support group for people with low vision meets at the Carroll Health Center, Northwest Street, the third Wednesday of each month from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Contact LeRoy and Carol Haberl for more information: 712-792-2059. (LL)

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AGRICULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES

Jeff Iles, Horticulturist "Plant Guy," has answers for some plant problems at www.extension.iastate.edu/newsrel/2001/mar01/mar0103.ht ml

Will you be applying pesticides this spring and summer? You will find information on ways to protect yourself and your family at www.iastate.edu/~tc-ext/publist.html .

Would an individual farm financial analysis be helpful to you? ISU Extension Farm Management Specialists perform the analysis in individual sessions with farm families: www.extension.iastate.edu/Pages/communications/farm98/se rvices/ffp.html#top .

Are you interested in organic farming, either crops or livestock? Organic farming is one of the fastest growing agricultural businesses in the U.S. today. ISU Extension recently announced that the USDA Agricultural Marketing Services has national standards governing agricultural products marketed as organically produced www.ams.usda.gov/nop/ .

A quick check of the ISU Extension calendar of events identifies many interesting events scheduled for April such as meetings to answer agriculture questions related to feedlot management, farrowing, and financial management for dairy production. Also, there are events scheduled on the basics of tree farming, pesticide applicator training, greenhouse management, becoming Master Gardeners, and much more. Either access this information through your County Extension website: www.extension.iastate.edu/Counties/state.html or through the ISU Calendar of Events: http://dbs.extension.iastate.edu/calendar/ . (LL)

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HELP?

Would you be interested in becoming a Barn Builder or Caregiver? National AgrAbility has a peer support network of farmers and ranchers (Barn Builders) and their spouses (Caregivers) who volunteer to become personally involved in the life of another individual who could benefit from the volunteer's prior experiences. The requirements are interest in helping another farmer, rancher, or caregiver and completing an application form. Your name and information will be published in the Barn Builders Resource manual. Call 800-825-4264 or contact Tracy Keninger (tkeninger@eastersealsia.org) for an application form and/or more information. (TK)

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ANNOUNCEMENT

To learn more about the recent Olmstead Supreme Court decision, which may help more people with disabilities live and receive services in the community, attend the Legislative Symposium in:
Room 116 of the Iowa State Capitol
Thursday, April 12 from 11:30 to 1:00

For reimbursement and/or accommodations, please contact Nancy Witt at 319/345-2609 (collect calls accepted). (MY)

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AGRABILITY FRIENDS AND FAMILY EVENTS

• · Make sure your equipment is properly maintained and ready to go before harvest gets underway. Taking the extra time to "fine tune" your equipment before you get in the field will prevent costly, and frustrating, breakdowns during the harvest. Remember, proper maintenance includes making sure all PTO shields and machine guards are in place.
• · Once your equipment is ready, give yourself a check-up as well. Prepare yourself physically and emotionally so that you will be alert while operating harvest equipment.
• · Train all workers. Be sure each operator is familiar with the operators' manual, and understands the appropriate procedures for possible emergency situations. Do not assume "experienced" operators will remember everything from the previous season - a thorough review is appropriate for everyone.
• · Before you begin harvest, check your fields for large rocks, tree stumps, holes, or ditches. If you can't remove obstacles, mark their locations with tall warning flags. Check the edges of ditches carefully for undercut banks.

During harvest

• · Make sure everyone takes short, frequent breaks to avoid becoming fatigued (this is particularly important for older operators). Stretch your arms and legs to increase blood flow, and allow yourself to relax mentally, as well.
• · Avoid operating equipment if you are ill, taking medications, drinking alcoholic beverages, or if you become overly tired. That extra hour in the field isn't worth the chance of wrecking your equipment or experiencing an injury.
• · Communicate. Two-way radios or cellular phones can be used to periodically check on workers, to improve work efficiency, and to provide critical communications if an emergency should occur.
• · Work efficiently but don't rush. When it comes to working on the farm, the old adage "haste makes waste" has a multitude of very serious meanings. Cutting corners in safety procedures will cost you more than money. If you're careless, eventually you will be injured.