What We Do
Gardening used as catalyst for improving skills, lives
There's something special about tilling the soil, planting seeds and watching
new plants take root. The newly funded Kentucky Gardening for Recreation or
Work Project (KY GROW) will allow people with physical, sensory and mental
disabilities to come together with other gardening enthusiasts in inclusive
settings to see how well their gardens can grow.
The project received a $301,382 grant from the U.S. Department of
Education-National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research and will
be administered by staff of the University of Kentucky's Interdisciplinary Human
Development Institute, the UK College of Agriculture and the Kentucky Department
of Vocational Rehabilitation.
"This project will be a little different," said Kathy Sheppard-Jones, KY GROW
field coordinator. "We are definitely going to get our hands a little dirty.
These types of recreational and vocational opportunities are much needed for
people with disabilities in Kentucky."
The project's principal investigator is IHDI's Barney Fleming and co-PI is Wade
Bailey from the Kentucky Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. The project
director, Matt John, is a former Edmonson County Extension agent. John Hancock
from UK's College of Agriculture AgrAbility project will serve as technical
advisor, with Sheppard-Jones lending support as the project's field coordinator.
The project was funded in October and will operate through September 2004. The
project will involve at least 150 participants statewide, with about half of
those being individuals with disabilities.
The project will team participants with varying levels of ability in a fun,
recreational setting. Program participants will be encouraged to pursue
certification as Kentucky Master Gardeners which is a designation offered
through the state's Extension offices. This will lead to opportunities for
today’s project participants to become tomorrow’s leaders in horticulture. The
project's key goal is to develop a consumer-driven pilot program that will
introduce people of all ages and abilities to accessible gardening activities in
an inclusive community-based setting. It will begin by developing gardening
programs at four regional sites across Kentucky. Additional locations around
the state have already requested being considered as pilot sites as well. As the
project progresses, it will provide training for professionals, volunteers and
participants. It also will develop accessible training materials that can be
used as resources for future inclusive gardening programs.
Dissemination of project activities will be strongly pursued through county Extension. All publications will be submitted directly to Extension as potential official Extension resources. This will allow for statewide access by all Extension offices, and more importantly, by community members who already recognize Extension as a trusted resource. The end result will be increased knowledge of disability and accessible horticulture for all community members. The collaboration between Extension and Vocational Rehabilitation will enable interested participants with disabilities to pursue gardening as a potential source of increased income. Through hands-on participation and increased resources for professionals, KY-GROW offers opportunities for recreation, leadership, and vocation.
Written by Alyssa Eckman, IHDI Public Relations