Maine AgrAbility

You don’t have to be a sports fan to know that this month kicks off baseball spring training. Preseason began in 1886, by Albert Spalding (founder of the Spalding Ball Co.) who was then president of the Chicago White Socks, and Cap Anson, a former baseball player. They chose Hot Springs Arkansas for its warm […]

Morgan Becker, B.S., OT/S Johnson & Wales University Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Doctorate Have you ever been operating a joystick while working a machine and experienced pain or swelling at the base of your thumb? Maybe even coupled with a “sticking” sensation when you move your thumb and wrist? Well, those symptoms might be caused by […]

Morgan Becker, B.S., OT/S Johnson & Wales University Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Doctorate Have you ever been pulling in a lobster trap and experienced pain or swelling at the base of your thumb? Maybe even coupled with a “sticking” sensation when you move your thumb and wrist? Well, those symptoms might be caused by De Quervain’s […]

Imagine taking your loved one to the ER, and the medical doctor (MD) finally attends to you, only to find out they’ve already completed a 12-hour day, marking their 70th hour of work this week. Do you think your loved one will receive the best care? You may be concerned that the MD might miss […]

Toni Small of Ice House Oysters has been an aquaculture farmer with her husband John Cotton for five years. They currently farm diploid oysters in Port Clyde, Maine. John (62) has a traditional background in fishing, including tuna and other pelagic game fish, lobster, and groundfish. Toni (53) has a background in dance and became […]

As published on Page 28 in the SEPTEMBER 2023 issue of Commercial Fisheries News Few jobs are as physically punishing as commercial fishing. The average day’s work would challenge any CrossFit program, with the added strain of being done in positions and conditions markedly less ideal than in the gym. The risk for musculoskeletal injuries, […]

As published on Page 28 in the JUNE 2023 issue of Commercial Fisheries News By James Wall, Occupational Therapy Student University of Southern Maine   From the moment you wrap your fingers around that first cup of coffee in the morning through hauling traps, handling line, and operating boats, your hands play a critical role […]

As written in the January 2023 edition (Pg 28) of Commercial Fisheries News Each New Year, 30-50% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions. The practice helps us frame a vision of where we want to be in the future and invites sober self-assessment. Weight loss tops the popularity list, but fitness goals in general are […]

Reposted from Commercial Fisheries News, November 2022 by Brie Weisman, OTR/L with Maine AgrAbility It’s early morning. A cold, damp feel is in the air. You’re dressed for the elements, but a day of work awaits, maybe you’re hauling lobster traps, oyster bags, or line catching tuna. You already notice the soreness in your hands, […]

by Brie Weisman, OTR/L with Maine AgrAbility Fishermen are at particular risk for slips, trips, and falls (STFs). On-deck injuries account for 12% of the fatal injuries and the largest number of hospitalized non-fatal injuries in the U.S., many caused by STFs.  About a quarter of the industry’s deaths result from falls overboard. Boats in […]

Maine AgrAbility’s Assistive Technology Specialist, Kelley Spencer was featured on the County Ag Report. Click on her picture to watch the awesome interview!  

Reprinted from September 2022 Commercial Fisheries News by Brie Weisman, OTR/L with Maine AgrAbility Last month we discussed best practices to reduce slips, trips and falls (STFs) while fishing. This month we’ll cover exercises for a strong and limber core. Strength and agility dramatically reduce both the likelihood and severity of STFs. Because falls can be […]

Re-printed from The Loggers Voice Summer 2022 (Part 1 of 2)  by Brie Weisman, OTR/L with Maine LogAbility Improvements in logging technology are making the industry safer and more efficient. One surprising consequence of the shift from muscle to machine is the increased risk of slips, trips, and falls (STFs) in certain situations.  Increasingly, mechanized […]

by Brie Weisman, Occupational Therapist. Also published by Commercial Fisheries News July 2022 People might assume that commercial fishermen working on moving vessels cannot possibly be prone to dizziness; however, fishermen can suffer from dizziness just like anyone, and working at a taxing job on waves in the hot sun will only exacerbate the problem. […]

Maine News The Boots-2-Bushels class visited King Hill Farm in Penobscot ME on May 2 to learn  about harvest and storage methods. The farm co-owner, and military veteran, Paul Schultz gave an excellent overview of their diversified and organic farm operations. These farms tours are also open to new Maine farmers participating in the Maine […]

Join AgriSafe! Each day during this week AgriSafe will host a different safety and health topic dedicated to protecting women’s safety while working in agriculture! See the list of the training topics on their website.

AgrAbility Webinar: June 23 at 2:00 p.m. EDT Design by What You Can Find.  Ingenuity is the prize quality of a farmer far from town with a problem that needs to be solved without spending half a day driving to stores and buying materials. Once the problem to be solved is apparent, the process begins […]

by Brie Weisman, Occupational Therapist. Also published by Commercial Fisheries News June 2022 Hollywood often gets things wrong, but when the Academy gave CODA the Oscar for best film, best adapted screenplay, and CODA’s Troy Kostur best-supporting actor, it got it right. Kostur played a deaf Gloucester fisherman, working on his boat alongside his deaf […]

The Windham Eagle Newspaper featured a Windham High School student who has designed a model mechanical hand-controlled prototype for people with disabilities who drive vehicles. Windham High School senior Dillon Foley created the model for his senior capstone project. Foley said, “My end goal is to be able to donate the hand controls I create […]

Maine News As Spring emerges in Maine, staff have been across the state meeting with new and existing clients. What a nice chance to meet people in person again!  One farm visit included a 75-minute ferry ride to an island off the coast of central Maine. In April 2022, several sessions were offered to engage […]

by Brie Weisman, Occupational Therapist Also published by Commercial Fisheries News May 2022 “Industrial Athlete”, a relatively recent term, refers to workers in physically demanding jobs outside of sports. Being on your feet all day, doing physically demanding work while being exposed to weather, and keeping your balance on a boat requires prowess, strength, and […]

By Brie Weisman, OTR/L,  with assistance from Michaela Marden, OTR/L  Also published in The Logger’s Voice Spring 2022 Shoulder injuries may not be the first thing that comes to mind when contemplating the dangers faced by loggers, but it only takes a moment to realize why they are commonplace in the industry. Tasks like pitching […]

Maine News The 2022 Boots-2-Bushels class hosted their first in-person farm field day at Morning Dew Farm Seedling and Supply in Damariscotta, Maine. The 30 attendees learned all the tips and tricks that Farmer Brady could teach about starting and growing seedlings. Coast of Maine also provided an organic seedling starter mix to all participants. […]

UMaine News April 13, 2022 Richard Brzozowski, University of Maine Cooperative Extension food system program administrator and Maine AgrAbility project director, was recognized at the National AgrAbility Project training workshop and conference held March 14–17 in Madison, Wisconsin. Brzozowski was awarded the Purdue Breaking New Ground Achievement Award for his 11-year leadership of Maine AgrAbility […]

by Corey Young, OTS, UNE and Maine FishAbility Also published by Commercial Fisheries News April 2022 According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, approximately 17,700 spinal cord injuries (SCIs) occur each year in the United States, with men accounting for about 78% of cases. The highest risk of obtaining a SCI is while […]

Maine News Maine AgrAbility currently has a master’s OT student doing her 12-week, level 2 fieldwork experience with them. Corey Young, University of New England (UNE), grew up on a dairy farm in southern Maine. Corey has been creating AT bulletins to share with B2B students, including a presentation on hand health for farmers and […]

New Extension publication! Bulletin #2026, Establishing and Using a Support Network for Individuals with Disabilities Farmers with an injury, disability, or chronic illness often need a helping hand to get through hard times. You may wonder how you will complete daily tasks or specific aspects of your farm operation, or you may be concerned about […]

by Brie Weisman, Occupational Therapist Also published by Commercial Fisheries News March 2022 Strokes are the fifth most common cause of death in the U.S., affecting up to 30% of Americans. The vast majority of strokes are the result of a blood clot to the brain, which can cause brain damage, disability, and death. In […]

Harvesting seafood for a living can exact a stiff toll on the lower back. A new program — a collaboration between yoga instructor and Port Clyde oyster farmer Antonia Small, Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, and Maine AgrAbility — aims to introduce fishermen to yoga to keep them on their feet and out on the water. […]

One of Maine AgrAbility’s advisory council members, Donald Burr, Professional Logging Contractors of Maine’s safety and training coordinator, recently created this YouTube video for the Maine LogAbility program. Transferring fuel can be strenuous and messy. These AT suggestions may help address these barriers. Fuel Transfer Pumps as Assistive Technology Starting in February, Maine FishAbility will […]

By Brie Weisman, OT/L Maine FishAbility Also published by Commercial Fisheries News February 2022 For many today, yoga conjures images of rubber-boned, slender women imitating pretzels, but this ancient, ever-evolving practice was devised as a practical method for everyone to improve mind and body awareness. More athletes turn to yoga every year; LeBron James does […]

Assistive technology (AT) is any piece of equipment that is used to improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.  Let’s face it, disability is ordinary, and affects most of us for some part of our lives. Here’s an AT idea shared by one of our Advisory Council members, Donald Burr, Professional Logging Contractors of […]

Maine News Maine AgrAbility is launching 2022’s Boots-2-Bushels: Boot Camp for Market Gardeners and Farmers. This program is supported by Maine AgrAbility, the Extension Risk Management Education (ERME) Program, Farm Credit East, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), and local farms throughout Maine. There are 25 people signed up, of which 15 are veterans/family, […]

By Courtney Lanning Financial worries, unpredictable weather, and isolation make farming a tough job, but COVID brought a new layer of stress for Maine agriculture workers, especially if they’re disabled. “Farming can be stressful even in the best of times,” Leilani Carlson, Maine AgrAbility coordinator at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, said. When those […]

by Brie Weisman, OT, Maine FishAbility Also published by Commercial Fisheries News January 2022 FishAbility: Secrets of Lobstering as a Centenarian Maine’s newest celebrity is the world’s oldest commercial lobster harvester. At 101, Virginia Oliver has hit national and international news and was the November cover girl for DownEast magazine. I had the opportunity to […]

By Brie Weisman, Occupational Therapist with Maine LogAbility Knee pain is the second most common musculoskeletal complaint in the logging industry, after back pain. The knee is regularly put under stress. Just walking on level ground produces force on the knee of 1.5 times your own body weight. Over time, wear and tear on knees […]

From NewsCenterMaine.com, written by Courtney Lanning. “Financial worries, unpredictable weather, and isolation make farming a tough job, but COVID brought a new layer of stress for Maine agriculture workers, especially if they’re disabled.” For farmers, fishers, forest workers, and other agriculture workers who face a barrier or disability in their profession, Maine AgrAbility provides recommendations […]

Three events are brought to you by the Cultivating Resiliency collaboration. Have a Happier New Year! – New Goals, Fresh Start January 13, 2022 –  12:00 PM CT Registration Link:  https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2639669452650360078 Join Doris Mold and Megan Roberts, Cultivating Resiliency Co-Leads for a goals-orientated approach to the new year. Whether looking forward to the upcoming year […]

From: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MEGOV/bulletins/3041763 Governor Mills Announces $3.5 Million in Lifeline Loans to Cover the Property Tax Bills of Older or Disabled Maine People “As increasing home values burden Maine people on fixed incomes, an initiative of the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan will help pay property tax bills for Maine seniors and those who are permanently […]

Maine News We are excited to have launched registration for the 2022 Boots-2-Bushels: Boot Camp for Market Gardeners and Farmers. This class teaches how to go from seed to salary for all beginning farmers of all abilities interested in growing and selling their own farm produce. Registration is open to veterans, family members, and all […]

Written by Brie Weisman, OT- FishAbility   Aging is inevitable. How you age is up to you. With the average age of commercial fishermen being 40 years old, it’s incredible to know there are few still fishing at 100 years old. You may suspect centenarian fishermen of having good genes, but they also do a […]

by Brie Weisman, Occupational Therapist with Maine LogAbility. Article published in the Fall 2021 Logger’s Voice (Volume 15, Issue 4) Low back pain is one of the leading causes of disability, occurring in similar proportions in all cultures, interfering with the quality of life, and the ability to earn a living. Logging is a physically […]

By Brie Weisman OTR/L The rate of new adult cases in the Diabetes epidemic has been slowing down over the past 10 years; however, indigenous peoples continue to have the highest percentage of cases according to the CDC. Maine’s most northern and eastern counties also tend to have the highest rates of diabetes in the […]

Maine AgrAbility’s program Boots-2-Bushels (B2B)  finished up the 2021 growing season with two sessions of Farm Coaching discussing effective communication between farm partners and employees. The season has been remarkable working with veterans learning to farm in Maine. “This has been an amazing journey into the world of farming.  (We) have learned so much, we […]

This will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.  (Elmer Davis) On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we celebrate the bravery of our Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen – many of whom fought in far-off lands to preserve the […]

By Michaela Marden, Masters Occupational Therapist Student, USM Also published by Commercial Fisheries News November 2021 FishAbility: Fishermen and Rotator Cuff Injuries Shoulder and back injuries are commonly reported by fishermen. The movement of a boat on rough seas and inclement weather conditions can increase risk of a traumatic injury, and more specifically to the […]

Maine AgrAbility News Maine AgrAbility’s Boots-2-Bushels (B2B) finished the growing season with its last on-farm tour. B2B participants and Maine AgrAbilty staff visited Grace Pond Farm in Thomaston, Maine on September 15th for an in-depth tour of their organic poultry, livestock, and dairy farm. The field day focused on the history and lessons learned by […]

Because sometimes having a third party present can help a conversation move forward. The Maine Agricultural Mediation Program provides alternative dispute resolution through mediation to farmers, their lenders and others directly affected by the actions of certain USDA agencies, neighbor disputes, and workplace and family disagreements that affect the farm.  Read more here.

By Brie Weisman, Occupational Therapist Also published by Commercial Fisheries News September 2021 FishAbility: Fishermen and Occupational Therapists FishAbility works with fishermen who have chronic health issues or had an accident or injury, and want to continue working safely and productively. To do this, Occupational Therapists (OTs) on FishAbility staff help identify and address fishermen’s […]

  No matter what your age or ability, make sure your tools are right for the project and they fit your size and strength. Tools will really make the work easier, especially if they’re designed with ergonomics in mind.  An ergonomic tool is one that assists with the work you need to do and at […]