A Maine AgrAbility Case study
by Ellen S. Gibson
Shea’s Story: A Maine AgrAbility Case Study
This is one of the ways Maine AgrAbility assists our clients. And we continue to be there when their needs change over time.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The Office of Disability Employment Policy within the U.S. Department of Labor states, “Held each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month is a national campaign that raises awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.”
At Maine AgrAbility, we focus on the relationship between disability and employment in agriculture. Whether it’s farming, fishing, or logging, working in agricultural professions is inherently dangerous and economically risky. The story of Shea Rolnick, an AgrAbility client who raises goats and makes soap, illustrates how we work with individuals to help them move beyond physical and mental health limitations. When Shea was debilitated by Post Traumatic Stress, having animals to take care of got her up and outside of her house and into the community. Read her story here: “Continuing to Recover,” by Shea Rolnick of Knotty Goat Soapery, Feb. 2016.