AgrAbility Harvest 2025 An ingathering of helpful information on disability in agriculture

Next Steps

Technology is offering new options for greater mobility

Doug Boswell is no stranger to challenges. He grew up on a southern Oklahoma farm helping his dad raise beef cattle and grow forage crops. He left the farm after high school graduation, but the dream of farming again never left him.

A few years after his parents moved to Missouri, he followed so he could help them out. He and his wife, Teresa, met while working at Snap-On Tools in Springfield. But they wanted a rural acreage where they could raise cattle and hay and hunt. In 2014, the year he turned 52, they discovered 160 acres near Stockton.

“It had 80 acres of heavily wooded, and 80 open acres for cattle – it was perfect,” he says. “The plan was retiring from my job at 55 and farming fulltime.”

The Boswells continued their day jobs and spent weekends mowing their property, repairing fence, and building a hay barn. They made plans for a new home there, and within a few years their Gelbvieh herd had grown to 65 head.

Then on a cold November day in 2017 after they finished feeding cattle, Teresa headed back to the pickup to warm up a bit. One cow took off on a dead run through an open gate. Doug knew the fences wouldn’t hold her, so he jumped on the ATV. When the cow abruptly stopped directly in his path, he braked, and the ATV flipped.

He doesn’t recall much more. He didn’t have his phone, and it was 45 minutes before Teresa discovered him. He had broken all the ribs on his left side, along with two on his right side, shattered his right shoulder, and punctured a lung.

But worst of all, he couldn’t move his legs. He was transported 60 miles by helicopter to the hospital in Springfield where they confirmed his spine was fractured. The neurologist told Doug he’d be paralyzed for life.

He had two surgeries. After consulting neurosurgeons at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals in Lincoln, Nebraska, Frazier Rehab Institute in Louisville, Kentucky, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, and Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, his prognosis remained the same: T-11 spinal cord injury. But he was more determined than ever to walk again.

Help Closer to Home

During two and a half months of intensive physical therapy at Craig Hospital, his desire to farm never dimmed. His doctors told him about the National AgrAbility Project and its outreach to disabled individuals through assistive technology. After returning home, he followed up with Karen Funkenbusch, Missouri AgrAbility Project director and a University of Missouri Extension professor. She visited him at the farm in March 2018 with her team, including an agricultural engineer and case managers from the Missouri Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.

They advised him how to adapt his pickup and tractors with hand controls and apply for a lift to get him into his pickup bed, enabling him to attach implements. He also qualified for a track chair, a motorized wheelchair with treads to navigate the farm’s uneven terrain.

“As a patient, Doug became a strong advocate for what he needed,” Karen says.

He celebrated his successes when he could bush-hog again, cut hay, and change oil in his tractors.

In the spring, Doug began using a bud box corral to vaccinate his cattle. Cows are guided into it through an alley chute, and he pulls a lever to keep them stationary. He also installed gate openers.

He and Teresa modified the plan for their 3,200-square-foot house. It would be an accessible one-story with ramps and wide doorways and an exercise room for maintaining his upper-body strength. “I use a stand-up frame to keep my bones strong,” Doug says. They moved in by October 2020.

None of these retrofits and workarounds convinced anyone that Doug Boswell was resigned to his lack of mobility. “He refused to be a sit-down farmer,” Karen says. “His goal was to walk again.”

New World of Wearable Exoskeletons

Seven years ago, when Karen Funkenbusch and her team conducted two on-farm assessments, they agreed Doug’s best option was a standing wheelchair. It was fully funded, along with other devices, by Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation.

He spent five winters at Brooks Rehabilitation, a neuro recovery center in Jacksonville, Florida, where he participated in clinical trials, using robotic-assisted walking devices and body-weight-supported treadmills. In 2019, for the first time since going there, his knee-jerk reflex test demonstrated an ability to move his feet. It was a game-changer.

The stage was set for him to pursue his goal of walking. Beginning in 2015, veterans had been eligible for FDA-approved wearable robotic exoskeletons. Worn over clothing, an exoskeleton is composed of an external, powered, motorized frame that fits to the limbs and body. Powered by a battery waist pack, it enables individuals with spinal cord injuries or stroke damage to stand and walk and sometimes climb stairs.

The out-of-pocket purchase of a robotic exoskeleton, at approximately $100,000, was out of reach for most until it was approved by Medicare in January 2024.

Although AgrAbility closed his case in 2018, Doug and Karen had continued their conversations about how he could take the next steps to walk again.

He filled out forms for the Indego Exo Personal and ReWalk Exoskeleton and tried out both units. Next, Doug was required to see his doctor, where he passed a DXA scan for bone density and was checked for pressure sores, small fractures in his spine, height and weight criteria, and his level of spinal cord injury.

ReWalk set up a Zoom meeting. “They wanted to see if I could complete weight transfers in and out of my chair on my own. They needed to see how flexible I was,” he says. The next step was meeting a ReWalk team at Mercy Hospital in Springfield where he would spend two hours wearing a custom-fit exoskeleton weighing 60 pounds.

With the push of a button, a wrist-worn communicator powered him from a sitting to standing position. Forearm crutches assisted with his balance.

“I just got in it and started walking,” he says. “Everything was great. It was that quick to try it out.”

After 37 supervised sessions, Doug had learned how to get up if he fell, go up and down stairs, and navigate curbs. He was allowed to take the exoskeleton home in February 2024, where he walked 100,000 steps on the patio and in the house.

Medicare paid for 75% of Doug’s ReWalk, and his secondary insurance paid 25%.

The Good – and the Not Good Enough – of Exoskeletons

Although his dad, Roy, and his brother-in-law Bob Arrington often help him with farm tasks, Doug was ready to be more independent. “I wanted to work on my vehicle and tractors in my shop and carry tools back and forth,” he says.

But it’s still a work in progress. “My hands and arms aren’t free using the crutches,” he says. “I had to adapt my pickup to open up the driver’s side to get out easily.”

During haying season, Doug says it saves time to use his track chair. “It takes five minutes to get out of the ReWalk, and seven minutes to get into it,” he points out. “You can’t bend easily or get on your knees, so it’s not feasible for some work – it isn’t quite there yet.”

His goal is walking 2,500 steps in the exoskeleton daily. “In snow and ice, or on wet tile floors, you’re not going to do it –you’ll just tip,” he says. “You’re strapped in completely, locked in. It’s a learning curve; there’s a lot of balance involved.”

On the home front, he says, “I’ve tried brushing my teeth, bending down to rinse my mouth, but I have to undo two straps, and can’t straighten back up without those fastened.”

But he can shop for groceries, pushing the cart, sit in the church pew, and get daily exercise. He’s currently working with a University of Arizona study team to tailor an exoskeleton more to the ag sector.

Technology Advances Daily

Karen Funkenbusch continues to monitor assistive technology breakthroughs for Missouri AgrAbility clients and keeps in touch with Doug.

“Doug was not going to not walk,” she says. “When I met him, walking was his lifelong dream. We’ve gone through lots of emotions these past few years. Doug’s been willing to participate in various clinical trials to get where he is today, and AgrAbility has been a key partner.”

She adds, “Technology is changing by the moment. AgrAbility’s challenge is how to provide guidance, support, and direction to Doug and other farmers as they continue to move down this path.”

Doug’s goal this winter is wearing his ReWalk to repair a tractor with a burned-out top motor. “Mechanics use roll carts all the time,” he says. “I may need help for some work if it takes two hands.”

He adds, “I’m still learning what I can do.”

Photo credits: 1 – David Middleton, MU Extension Courtesy Appointment, Missouri AgrAbility Level 2 Assessor; 2 – Karen Funkenbusch. Project Director, Missouri AgrAbility

AT CORNER

Exoskeletons

Relegated to the realm of science fiction only a few years ago, exoskeletons are now firmly established in everyday life. These technologies can augment the use of virtually any limb or joint, depending on the design of the specific device. Some were developed for people with disabilities, but many find their roots in industry – e.g., for taking the strain off workers who repeatedly lift or work overhead for extended periods.

Lifeward ReWalk Personal Exoskeleton

This device enables persons with spinal cord injuries to stand, walk, and ascend/descend stairs and curbs unassisted. It consists of a frame that fits on both the lower limbs and part of the back plus a set of crutches.  Movement is generated by gears at the knees and hips that are controlled by a crutch-attached remote, wrist-worn smartwatch, and tilt sensors. (Visit agrability.info/rewalk)

Noonee Chairless Chair Exoskeleton

This exoskeleton converts from a leg-supporting brace for standing/walking into a chair, allowing one to sit comfortably while still carrying out the task at hand. Worn on the back of the legs with straps attached to hips, thighs, and shoes, the device’s skeletal legs have joints at knee height that adjust to body size, height, and desired sitting position. (Visit agrability.info/noonee)

Hapo NECK Exoskeleton

It’s designed to alleviate neck strain and attendant pain for those who perform tasks that generally require a looking-upward posture.  Employing composite spring rods, this device supports the neck muscles and concurrently redistributes effort from the neck to the middle back, which reduces shoulder tension. (Visit agrability.info/hapo-neck)

Skelex 360 Exoskeleton

This non-powered device is designed to take strain off both the shoulders and arms of one who does overhead or waist-up work. It supports the shoulders using flex frames and the arms via arm-cuff height/positioning adjustment and transfers shoulder/arm muscle activity to the lower body. According to the manufacturer, it’s lightweight, the material breathable, and contact with the body minimal, thus good heat dissipation and comfort. (Visit agrability.info/skelex360)

Leavo FLEX Exoskeleton

This customizable product is designed to reduce the risk of job-related back injuries related to a variety of actions (e.g., bending forward/backward, reaching up/out, squatting, kneeling, lifting) while minimizing physical hindrance from the exoskeleton. The main parts of the device include a vest and adjustable supports for both thighs, all of which connect to hip joint mechanisms that allow for variations to the amount of tension provided when lifting. (Visit agrability.info/leavo-flex)

Carbonhand Grip-Strengthening Glove

With pressure sensors in its thumb, palm, and two middle fingers, this glove detects and amplifies the hand’s gripping ability—i.e., as the user applies more force, the glove does likewise.  Worn like a regular glove, it connects to a power unit strapped to the body.  A control pad on the wrist lets one switch between three profiles (via an app) for different tasks. (Visit agrability.info/carbonhand)

* The authors assume no liability in connection with any use of the products discussed and make no warranty (express or implied) in that respect. References to products are not intended as endorsements to the exclusion of others that may be similar.

AgrAbility’s youth focus

Young people are an important AgrAbility target audience for multiple reasons. A significant number of youths with disabilities are involved with agriculture through family farms and organizations like FFA and 4-H. In addition, educating all young people about issues related to disabilities and agriculture can increase awareness, acceptance, and accessibility.

The National AgrAbility Project (NAP) recognized the importance of youth outreach early in AgrAbility’s history. In 1994, the A Perfect Fit resource kit, consisting of a video and manual, was published, which focused on 4-H inclusivity, while Bridging Horizons, published in 1996, encouraged accessibility in FFA chapters. In the coming year, NAP is scheduled to collaborate with National FFA to update Bridging Horizons, which will include new success stories of youths with disabilities involved in agriculture.

NAP also produced, with support from NEC Foundation, the Assistive Technology Curriculum for Rural Youth curriculum in 2009, a three-lesson multimedia teaching tool, which was provided to every FFA chapter in the U.S. During the past year, Osteoarthritis Action Alliance partnered with NAP to create a safety training program titled Healthy Harvest: Arthritis Isn’t Just for Aging Farmers. Part of the Gearing Up for Safety initiative that provides production agriculture safety training for youth, this free lesson contains valuable information for arthritis prevention in youth, including the physiology of arthritis, symptoms, risk factors, and ways to manage joint issues.

To access existing AgrAbility youth resources and keep abreast of upcoming ones, visit www.agrability.org/resources/youth.

New back health resource in Spanish

Back impairments are one of the most common complaints of agricultural workers. That’s why AgrAbility published Back on the Farm, Back in the Saddle in 2014 as a resource for farmers and ranchers with back problems.

Migrant and seasonal farmworkers can face even more back pain-related challenges because of the frequent stooping, bending, and lifting required in their work. Since Spanish is the primary language many of these workers, AgrAbility recently produced De vuelta a la granja, de regreso a nuestra actividad: Una guía para la salud de la espalda en la agricultura, translated “Back to the farm and return to our activity: A guide for back health in agriculture.”

This 12-page booklet discusses the causes of back problems, ways to prevent them, and treatment/management strategies. It is available in PDF at www.agrability.org/resources/back-health, and print copies can be requested by emailing agrability@agrability.org.

Upgrading The Toolbox

The Toolbox Assistive Technology Database is, by far, the most visited section of the agrability.org website. Currently containing more than 2,000 products/solutions to assist workers in agriculture and other outdoor work, The Toolbox registered more than 130,000 hits during the 2024-25 project year.

As useful as it is, The Toolbox is operating on a platform that’s 14 years old, which is geriatric in the IT world. Therefore, NAP is in the process of upgrading the database to a more nimble, user-friendly interface. Images will replace plain text in many sections, and users will have the option to filter products by such features as disability category and low-tech solutions.

Prior to its final launch, NAP plans to beta-test the upgraded database on a select group of users. If you’re interested in participating in this testing group, please visit agrability.info/toolbox-beta.

Two important networks that are available in every state may be overlooked assets for addressing disability in agriculture.

USDA Cooperative Extension

AgrAbility is part of the nationwide USDA Cooperative Extension network, but it’s only one small program out of many. Virtually every county in the U.S. either has or is covered by a local Extension office.

Extension flows through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. NIFA sets policies and priorities and distributes funding for Extension programs nationwide. Those initiatives are then administered primarily through land-grant universities, which are found in every state and six U.S. territories. A major aspect of the land-grant mission is to transfer research-based knowledge to the public through on-campus and off-campus Extension initiatives. Programs like AgrAbility generally operate from campus locations, as do Extension specialists in such areas as agronomy, horticulture, livestock, and many other concerns.

Image from https://www.nifa.usda.gov/about-nifa/what-we-do/extension

County-level activities are likely the most recognizable face of Extension, especially for those engaged in agriculture. The local Extension agent has been seen as a key source of evidence-based farming advice for more than a century. In addition, nearly six million young people engage in 4-H, which is facilitated primarily through local Extension offices. County-based professionals also provide valuable information related to health and human sciences and to community development.

Extension can be a valuable partner with state AgrAbility projects by serving as additional “eyes and ears” for identifying AgrAbility clients, and agents can provide local support to those needing agriculture or health-related information and resources. At the national level, AgrAbility is partnering with programs like EDEN, the Extension Disaster Education Network, to provide specialized resources to AgrAbility clients.

To connect with Extension in your state, visit extension.org/find-cooperative-extension-in-your-state/

Assistive Technology Act Programs

The term “assistive technology” (or AT) is frequently used in connection with AgrAbility and with its importance for client success. However, many people may be unaware of all that AT encompasses. “Assistive technology is defined as any piece of equipment, device, or system used to improve or maintain the ability level of the individual with a disability in the educational setting, in employment, in transportation, and in all aspects of daily living. Assistive technology can be handmade, store bought, a modified item, or a specially designed device.”[1]

Photo: INDATA Project, Easterseals Crossroads

Many may also be unaware that every U.S. state, Washington, D.C., and five U.S. territories have an Assistive Technology Act Program, which are administered through U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community Living (ACL). These programs offer several core services to help people with disabilities acquire and successfully use AT:

• Device demonstration: providing opportunities to test and compare AT devices
• Device loan: allowing individuals to borrow AT for extended periods to see if it meets their needs
• Reutilization: providing opportunities for used AT to be reused by others
• State financing: supporting financial loans or other incentives that allow for lower-cost purchasing of AT

Some state AgrAbility projects subcontract directly with their AT Act Programs, and the National AgrAbility Project is forming a closer relationship with the Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs (ATAP): www.ataporg.org . That organization facilitates the coordination of state and territory AT Act Programs nationally and provides technical assistance and support to its members. It also has an online directory where you can get contact information for state AT Act Programs: www.at3center.net/state-at-programs.

[1] https://ataporg.org/at-act-info/

Emergency prep an essential topic

Natural disasters are seldom out of the news for long. 2025 started with the California wildfires in January followed by multiple EF4 tornadoes in the spring in the South and Midwest and massive flooding in Texas and other parts of the Southwest this summer. CBS News reported that disasters have cost an estimated $131 billion in just the first half of 2025[1], and hurricane season isn’t over yet.

People with disabilities, particularly those in rural areas, are especially vulnerable during disasters. Some have medical needs that require constant electricity. Disaster shelters may be few and far between or inaccessible for those with mobility impairments. Transportation problems, already an issue for many with disabilities, can be compounded during disasters.  First responders may not be able to intervene quickly, and they may have limited disability awareness.

To help address disaster preparedness needs and develop resources for rural people with disabilities, National AgrAbility Project (NAP) recently launched a web resource page www.agrability.org/emergency-prep. Listed resources include:

• “Inclusive Emergency Preparedness” materials from Indiana PREPared and Purdue Extension
• Disaster education materials from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension
• Links to disaster-related organizations like EDEN: the Extension Disaster Education Network and FEMA: the Federal Emergency Management Agency

NAP is also collaborating with Georgia AgrAbility to develop, publish, and distribute a resource targeting farmers with disabilities who have been impacted by hurricanes or other disasters. In addition, NAP has become a regular participant in the annual EDEN conference and has invited an EDEN representative to participate in the NAP Advisory Team.

Regional workshops focus on non-AgrAbility states

During the next few months, NAP will be offering a series of workshops in states that currently don’t have USDA-funded AgrAbility projects. The goals of these sessions include raising awareness about resources for farmers with disabilities, strengthening networking with land-grant Extension services and nonprofit organizations, and encouraging submission of competitive proposals for AgrAbility grants.

Although final details are still in the works, proposed workshops and tentative time frames are:

• Saint Paul, Minnesota, October 20-21
• Lake Placid, New York, November 12-13
• Little Rock, Arkansas, February 18-19
• Charleston, West Virginia, February 28, which will focus on encouraging agricultural success for military veterans.

To get the latest news on these and other regional events, visit agrability.info/regional.

Purdue scholarship honors Life Essentials founder

The Breaking New Ground Scholarship has been established to provide financial support to students with disabilities enrolled in the Purdue University College of Agriculture. The endowment was established to honor the contributions of Hubert Von Holten, founder of Life Essentials (now LifeLyfts), the company that has long manufactured tractor lifts and other assistive technology for agricultural producers. Von Holten’s efforts have made significant improvements to the quality of life of farmers and ranchers impacted by disabilities. If you are interested in supporting this effort, please visit giving.purdue.edu/HubertVonHolten.

AgrAbility chosen for Forbes Accessibility 100 list

AgrAbility was recently named to the inaugural Forbes Accessibility 100. Renowned for its wide variety of lists, like “The World’s Most Powerful People,” “America’s Top 50 Givers”, the magazine states, “Forbes’ new Accessibility 100 will elevate and celebrate the 50 people and 50 companies making the most impact in the world of Accessibility for people with disabilities. Listees will be the most significant innovators and world-changing thought leaders in fields including consumer products, education, law and legal protections, sports, technological advancement, marketing, the workplace, the arts, and more.” Visit www.forbes.com/lists/accessibility-100.

AgrAbility is in impressive company as a member of this list, which includes such organizations as Apple, BraunAbility, Google, Microsoft, Nike, and Special Olympics.

[1] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/natural-disasters-damage-losses-2025/

Celebrate 35 years of AgrAbility at the 2026 National Training Workshop! Next year’s event is scheduled for Traverse City, Michigan, on March 16-19. Known as the “Cherry Capital of the World,” Traverse City also boasts beautiful scenery and abundant outdoor recreation options.

The NTW committee is accepting presentation proposals until November 3. Farmers with disabilities may apply to receive travel stipends (from non-USDA funds) to help them attend the event. Visit www.agrability.org/ntw for details, including links for registration and hotel rooms.