620-Lancaster Famine, Saturday, Marcli 14,1967 Mid-AHantic Workshop For Disabled Focuses On Practical Applications BY SHARON SCHUSTER Maryland Correspondent WESTMINSTER, Md. - Far ming is one of the most hazardous occupations of all. Dr. William Field of Purdue University has identified farmers as “one of the highest of any segment of the population affected by physical impairments.” Disabilities related to the far ming community were addressed in the third Mid-Atlantic Workshop for Disabled Individuals and Their Families in Rural and Agricultural Communities on March 6 and 7 at the Ag Center in Westminster, Md. The focus of the workshop was on practical applications for those who have difficulty, due to physical impairments, in com pleting everyday tasks. Vera Stauffer, an Extension agent from Pennsylvania State University specializing in rehabilitation, outlined the steps to problem solving in her presentation of Task Analysis. “What is your problem, anyway?” asked Stauffer. Whether the task is home management or farm management, Stauffer said in dividuals must learn to maximize the benefits of their resources. Resources such as “time, physical and psychological energy, money, skills and knowledge, and en vironmental” must be considered when completing a task, she said. Taking it a step further, Stauffer said that problem solving can be likened to a philosophy of mechanics to which she subscribes - “they didn’t build it all in one piece;” just as a piece of machinery can be taken apart, your problems can be solved by examining the parts more closely. “Define the problem, look at the alternatives, choose the best alternative, take action and take the responsibility for that action, and evaluate,” suggested Stauffer. One method of attack is to break the task down into parts. “Look at the three W’s - the Work, the Worker and the Workplace,” she added. Tom Rothrock, 41 years old and blind from birth, made his second appearance at the conference this year, by popular demand. Rothrock offered specific suggestions for ways of “doing things without looking at them.” His bag of tricks included handy devices such as a Braille writer, a talking calculator, and a knife with a built in cutting guide for regulated thickness. “A lot of us are impatient,” cautioned Rothrock. He advised the audience to be “slow and systematic and to keep everything in a certain place.” Rothrock said dealing with denial of an acquired impairment is one of the most difficult things. Through practice and the aid of friends he has run three marathons, including a 50 mile hike and run in Hagerstown, Md. Joann Guthrie, associate professor of home economics at West Virginia State University, gave an enthusiastic and in formative presentation on Adapting the Farm Home. While assisting West Virginia families to adapt their rural homes to ac commodate a handicapped person, Guthrie is often faced with the problem of low financial resources and even homes with no indoor plumbing. “Housing for the handicapped doesn’t look different,” said Guthrie. In her slide presentation she showed completed projects such as ramps for accessability r widened doorways, handrails, removed doors, etc., and all at little or no cost to anyone. Guthrie attention to the interface areas of workplaces. They pay a lot of attention to placing a person in a job; I contend they have not paid nearly enough attention to the same man’s driveway,” said Guthrie. Many brochures were available at the workshop. Some were geared to adapting homes and clothing, and many were resources for farmers and rural families. Tractor lifts, starting at about $BOO, can be designed to lift a farmer in his wheelchair right to the tractor seat. “Breaking New Ground” is probably the most innovative and complete resource guide for farmers. The publication is produced by Purdue University. Attendance to the workshop was down from about SO last year to just a handful. “We have the in formation, but the people who need it just aren’t here,” said program coordinator Gary Smith of the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service. Some of the resources for in formation and/or equipment to aid persons with disabilities follow. PrenJdeatial Communion on Employment of the Handicapped 111120th Street, NW RoomOM Washington, D.C. 20030 Phone (202) 65M044 Jerome Bollinger and Ronnie tractors equipped with chair lifts, his hands or legs. The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. 1383 Piccard Drive Rockville, Maryland 20690 Phone (301)0484026 National Rehabilitation Hospital 101 Irving Street, NW Ridgely, both of A diving accident Washington, D C 20010-2049 Phone (202) 877-1000 National Rehabilitation Information Center The Catholic University of America 4407 Eighth Street, NE Washington, D.C. 20017 Phone (202)6308826 TDD (202) 639-3884 S TT? ft'.’’'* Sykesville, Md., examine photos left Bollinger, left, without the use ABLEDATA (202) 835-6080 REHABDATA (202) 635-5822 Cleuinfhouie on Ike Handicapped Dept. ofEducation Switzer Building, Room 3132 330 C Street Washington, O.C 20202 Phone (202) 732-1241 (Turn to Page B 21) * ** ••♦» i » « ♦
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