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The Huron Expositor, 1995-03-15, Page 64Pawl 8A -Futuro Prow*** '95' . /•I �I e'/ / 6 ;IIS oiti ltWbl {� le°456 6# '•6 6.407.6 i•i:4'1'• ,69 ti4:4 :•:'eh; • i'•i '• % a : ,KI iii ' ::::: e5goo. o i ii i. •li e47i i afea, Accidents do happen; the other side of the story by r Debbie Davidson There's maybe a lot of infor- mation available an how to prevent farming accidents, but what about after the accident? "We're the other side of farm safety. They tell you to do this or don't do that to prevent an accident. We're proof that accidents do hap- pen," said Bryan Jones of RR 4, Paisley. Jones is president of the Ontario Farmers with Disabilities program. Unlike many people, he doesn't mind talking about the 1974 motor- cycle accident that changed his life. Jones broke his neck in the ac- cident and is known as a C-56 quadriplegic. Although all four of his limbs were affected in the ac- cident, he's not totally paralyzed. He also has limited weight capability in his legs. Jones and his wife Marg fanned 100 -acres for several years after the accident. All of the farm buildings had ramps, while the tractor and power wagon had lifts and hand controls. Today he operates his own tilling business which involves climbing in and out of machinery. "I'd been wondering about something like this program for 10 years. There are people with all kinds of disabilities," he said, ad- ding that "we're not limited to helping just farmers. "So many people say they can't farm after an accident. We're here to prove it can be done. To help make things easier for them." The Ontario Farmers with Disabilities is part of a national program and provides access to mai i f of the resources developed by other ',aasorced' provincial or- ganizations. "It will provide a forum where farmers with disabilities and their families will be able to benefit from contact with others. We are working with other organizations in an effort to assist people with disabilities living in rural areas to maintain a lifestyle of their choice." The provincial program got its start after Mike Irwin, of Aylmer, was invited to attend the national board's annual meeting in Sas- katchewan. Irwin was an OPP of- ficer in northern Ontario when both his knees were shattered during a police chase. Irwin heard about Jones while he was out west and contacted him after learning that the Ontario Farm Safety Association had been budgeting money for a program like this for a while. Even though the association recognized the need for such a program, it could never find anyone willing to take the program on, said Jones. ""[hat's until I got a call out of the blue from Mike in May or June 1994 to see if I was interested in starting an Ontario chapter." In December 1994 the chapter held an organizational meeting in Exeter. Jones acid previous attempts at starting similiar p°grams "never seemed to get off tbo grand. "I credit our success to timing. We have people coming out of the woodwork. People at now finding out they're not the only disabled people to live on a farm in rural Ontario." The program's mandate is to prove its possible to function with a disability in rural Ontario. The The OFD Mandate • To operate as a non-profit association for the purpose of providing assistance to farmers with disabilities • To establish and maintain a list of Ontario Farmers with disabilities • To organize a visitation service for farmers with disabilities and their families • To promote and assist in the development of an information bank on machinery modifications and adaptations and publish a modifications manual • to publish newsletters • To promote and assist in the production of education materials which develop public awareness about the needs and abilities of farmers with disabilities' • To inform farmers with disabilities of the services available through other agencies and to develop awareness of the program QUALITY VITAMIN/MINERALS PREMIXES Custom Mineral Formulations For Special Needs Protein Lick - Tubs & Blocks For Beef, Dairy, Sheep & Horses Q - Q w f OUALITy 0 O SILO GUARD 11 BENEFITS * Reduces dry matter loss. * Speeds beneficial bacterial acid production. * Reduces heat and resulting nutrient destruction. * Prolongs "bunk life" of silage. * Reduces heat and dry matter Toss in baled hay. * Reduces yeast and mold spores. * Increases feed efficiency. * Nontoxic food grade. Ask for the best...ask for SILO GUARD IL CALL YOUR AGENT TODAY! Lyle Haney, Seaforth, Ontario (519) 522-1300 Gary McTaggart, Holyrood, (519) 392-6454 INTERNATIONAL P.O. Box 1024 Cambridge, Ontario NIR 5Y2 Tel: (519) 622-2730 Fax: (519) 622-4725 STOCK FOOD EM: S5 w- NET n t4 chapter is in the process of becoming incorporated as a non- profit recently attended a farm show in Toronto where the program gat lots of exposure and response. He said he wants to set up a program to take into the schools since kids typically "chew at their parents" about things like wearing seatbelts. A quarterly newsletter gots out to 100 members, and organizers hope that in the future they can offer special benefits for joining the organization. Monthly meetings are held in Exeter, but with members coming from great distances it is hoped branch meetings might soon develop. Jones has a drawer filled with positive responses to the program from all over Ontario. This is the result of Bruce Township's support of the program. After Jones at- tended a council meeting, the township sent its resolution of sup- port to other municipalities in the Oa March 13, Jones will be guest speaker at the Ontario Farm Safety Association's annual meeting in Toronto. That same week he's also speaking at the Bruce County as- sociation's annual meeting. erving Your Growing Needs. For over 100 years, Cook's facilities have served the growing needs of our farm customers. Ve.yr.\e i. s.-. SEED GRAIN Centralia (519) 228-6661 Iiensall (5191262-2410 Kirkton(519) 229-8906 Walton (519) 527-1540 Am (519) 395-3601 Atwood- (519) 356-2292 Parkhill(519)294.6256 Birchwood (519) 232-4281 ntvson of Parrish & Ikimfecter. limped Cod's Dn ssen of Pana 6 Nsrte ter torted n)901P 3I Heresal Oruro Centraks (flare 0 Whereyou can trade with confidence!