Farmers with Disabilities releases first-of-its-kind catalogue

Manitoba Farmers with Disabilities are launching a first-of-its-kind assistive tools kit resource catalogue.

The 50-page-book — a project that was more than two years in the making —contains dozens of ideas on how tools can be modified for farmers with prosthetic limbs to make it easier to continue with work on the farm.

“The assistive tools ideas started a long time ago, when farmers (with disabilities) would gather and share ideas,” said Jill Stafford, executive manager of the MFWD.

“When you talk to other people with a disability, you gain knowledge, especially with another farmer of how to do certain jobs and tasks.”

Stafford said the MFWD first thought of cataloguing people’s ideas three years ago. They approached Farm Credit Canada with the concept, and FCC liked it so much they offered to help finance the production of the catalogue. The MFWD spent the last few years consolidating ideas.

“We’re hoping this will be the first edition and once it is out there, people will say I’ve got a good idea, you guys should have this in the book,” Stafford said.

The catalogue contains a cross section of modified tools, household items and farm equipment, including everything from shovels to tractor pedals and rolling pins.

For example, Neil Enns, president and co-ordinator of the MFWD, who lost his his right hand and part of his lower arm in 1996 in a farming accident, designed a sleeve to go over the handle of a shovel which slides up and down the shovel and makes it easier for him to work comfortably. Enns also designed a tool that makes it possible for him to drive standard vehicles and tractors.

“I went to the Rehab Engineering department at the University of Manitoba and they made a cup to go over the knob of the shift. I took my hook off, and it goes right in, and the knob goes over the shifter,” Enns said. “You can use it on different things (like) throttle controls. It makes life so much easier. The independence is great.”

All of the modified tools are presented in the book, which includes photos of how the tools should be used.

Stafford said recent statistics released by the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association indicate that accidents and fatalities on farms are decreasing. However, the statistics show that the majority of fatalities occur among people over the age of 60.

“What that is telling us could be a couple criteria — older farmers could still be using old equipment; the other thing is they don’t want to change the way do things and your mobility and reaction time gets slower as you age,” she said.

“When you have an accident, you would feel that you had the carpet pulled out from underneath you. It would be devastating. You might think you have to sell your farm. But there’s a whole world of things out there that people can use that help.”

The catalogue will be officially released March 21 at the MFWD’s annual general meeting. Copies will be made availableonline. For more information, visit www.fwdmanitoba.com.