Extension Connection
Sullivan County
Participants of the 2024 Tai Chi series celebrating the end of their class series and the experiences gained along the way.
Upcoming Events & Programs
Upcoming Events & Programs
Eat Healthy, Be Active
Caregiver Cafe
Sullivan Fresh Farmers’ Markets
Integrated Parasite Management Workshop
Swales: Water Management for Farms
Parkinson’s Support Group
Sullivan County Youth Fair
Bone Builders Fall 2024
See more events and opportunities on sullivancce.org/events.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
New York Farm Directory 2-Year Update
Why the Fair Means So Much to Us
Start to Finish: Growing A Cut Flower Garden
Prevent Heat-Related Illness on Farms
Thank you to all 4-H Sponsors!
Technology and Disability Rights
Celebrating Seniors
August 15th is National Relaxation Day! Check out page 10 for some fun facts!
Welcome to the Issue!
Page 3
Message from the Executive Director
Page 4 New York Farm Directory 2-Year Update
Page 6 Prevent HeatRelated Illness on Farms
Page 8 Start to Finish: Growing a Cut Flower Garden
OFFICE HOURS
Hours: Mon - Fri | 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Phone: 845-292-6180
E-mail: sullivan@cornell.edu
Website: www.sullivancce.org Facebook.com/ccesullivanagfood Instagram.com/ccesullivan
YouTube: bitly.com/ccesullivan
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dara Smith............................President
Alex Alorro...................Vice President
Robert Kaplan.......................Secretary
Dawn Parsons.......................Treasurer
Brian McPhillips...........Legislative Rep.
Adam Hughes..................Cornell Rep.
Freda Eisenberg
John Garigliano
Amanda Langseder
Denise Luckman
Erika Malmgreen
Steve Marton
Mark McLewin
Gary Silver
Gary Silverman
Nicole Slevin Nikolados
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Heather Brown
Roberta Chambers
Nu El
Courtney Hanback
Carmela Hugel
Carol Roig
Stephen Stuart
Eugene Thalmann
Deborah Worden
Page 10 Fast Facts!
Page 12 Thanks to our Sponsors for supporting the Sullivan County Youth Fair!
Page 13 Technology and Disability Rights: Accessibility, Not Disability, is the Problem
Page 16 Celebrating Seniors
Page 18 Why the Fair Means so Much to Us
Page 19 Thanks to our Sponsors!
Page 20 Join us at the Sullivan County Youth Fair!
NotifyCCESullivan if you have
Notify CCE Sullivan if you have a change of address: 845-292-6180
sullivan@cornell.edu
EXTENSION CONNECTION
Produced by: Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County Edited by: Aaron Denman & Colleen Monaghan Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with DisAbilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.
NOTICE: Official endorsement of advertisers and their products is not intended by the acceptance of their sponsorships for the Extension Connection.
STAFF MEMBERS
Colleen Monaghan..............................................................................Executive Director
Taylor Adam.............................................................Beginner Farmer Program Manager
Monica Ponce-Agredano ...............................................................Ag. Program Assistant
SueAnn Boyd.........................................................Healthy Schools Program Coordinator
Tracy Broyles...............................................................................SALT Program Manager
Alan Carroll...................................................................Food Systems Program Manager
Luciana Carvo.........................................................................Sullivan Fresh Market Coordinator
Lynn Colavito..............................................Community Cupboard Program Coordinator
Martin Colavito...........................................................Prevention Programs Issue Leader
Haley Collins...................Agriculture Farmland Protection & Planning Program Manager
Wanda V. Cruz...............................................Healthy Communities Program Coordinator
Aaron Denman.........................................................Association Operations Coordinator
Erin Doherty..................................................................Prevention Program Coordinator
Eugene Doyle...................................................................................................Custodian
Katie Gasior........................................................................Horticulture Subject Educator
Jenna Gangel..........................................................................Shop Taste NY Coordinator
Christopher Jones....................................................................Taste NY Market Manager
Joy Leon.................................................................Nutrition & Physical Activity Educator
Katie Rose Lugauer...................................................................4-H Program Coordinator
Erica Lynch..........................................................Catskills Kitchen Program Coordinator
John Mastrangelo............................................................................Assistant Ag Market Manager
Nancy McGraw....................................Caregiver Resource Center Program Coordinator
Melinda Meddaugh.......................................................Ag & Food Systems Issue Leader
Barbara Moran................................................4-H Youth Development Program Manager
Patricia Ocasio...................................................................Prevention Program Coordinator
Shanice Owens..............................................Community Cupboard Program Coordinator
Abyssinia Pla El...................................................................................Finance Coordinator
Michelle Proscia..............................................Agriculture Production Program Manager
Lindsey Serapio.............................................................................................Bookkeeper
Ann-Marie Sidtis......................................................................FOR Program Coordinator
Tara VanHorn.........................................................................................Finance Manager
Malinda Ware........................................................................................Program Director
John Wilcox..........................................................................................Facilities Manager
Vinny Bonizzi, Kayla Evans......................................................................Ag Market Coordinators
Best,
Colleen Monaghan Executive Director
cm638@cornell.edu
The 4-H Ag & Livestock Auction is right around the corner! Come out to the Sullivan County Youth Fair at the Grahamsville Little World’s Fair on Sunday, August 18th to support Sullivan County kids. Proceeds go to youth participants and the 4-H Scholarship Fund. See you at the Fair!
KATHY HOCHUL Governor
RICHARD A. BALL Commissioner
New York Farm Directory 2-Year Update
The Department of Agriculture and Markets has launched the online Farm Directory, which can connect consumers to producers of farm products across the state and help strengthen the local food supply chain.
The Farm Directory is active on the Department’s website: https://agriculture.ny.gov/farming/new-yorkstate-farm-directory. To search the Directory, view the “Search the Directory” section on the Department’s webpage and click the “Search the Directory” button. Upon landing on the Farm Directory homepage, you will see information for each listed farm, which can include the farm name, farm type, point of contact, addresses, telephone number, email address, website, social media, and a listing of all available products produced by the farm.Other categories of interest to the public, like the farm’s inclusion in the New York State Grown & Certified Program and designations of Organic, Halal, or Kosher certified,may also be noted.Public users cansort or search by any field.
The Department understands that not every farm offers products to the public at the farm site, so each farm can indicate whether it is open to the public or if there are other ways to access their farm product. This might include listing a distributor, a brand name that your product is eventually marketed under, or a specific consumer-facing website where the public can determine where to purchase your product in a retail location. The information available on the Directory for each farm can be tailored to meet the individual needs of each business,and farmers will be able to update their information as desired.
Section 16(52) of the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law, firstenactedin 2021and amended in2022,requires the Department to create a directory of every farm in New York State. The purpose of the Directory, as stated in the law, is to allow entities to access available products grown in New York State, strengthen New York agriculture, and supportthe environment, communities, small businesses, and local economies.
Farms that choose not to participate in the Directory must notify the Department of this decision by opting out, as required by law. Farms may do this via email, telephone, or by indicating it through the online Directory linked tothe website above.
Farms that initially opt-out can later choose to be included at any point.Also, farms canopt out after initially choosing to participate in the Directory. Sign in to the Farm Directory usingyour NY.gov ID to opt out for an existing user. Go in to edit your farm and choose the delete button at the bottom of the page.
If you own a farmand wantto participate in the Directory, please visit the Department’s website and create your farm listing.If you are an existing Farm Directory user, please update your farm information to reflect any relevant changes or updates. Finally, if you own a farm,have not participated in the Farm Directory, oropted out, please do so by July31st
For questions or additional information on the Farm Directory, please contact the Department at (518) 485-1050 or FarmDirectory@agriculture.ny.gov.
PREVENT HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS ON FARMS
Written by Sara Nicolas
Submitted by
Taylor Adam, Beginner Farmer Program Manager
Educate yourself and, if you’re a farm owner or manager, your workers.
Elena Velez, a consultant who advises farm owners, managers, and workers in California, takes a very practical approach to heat awareness and worker safety. She shares with workers medical information on heat stress and stroke, warning signs, and human physiology. She advises farmers to take basic precautions like wearing cotton clothing instead of synthetics, hydrating regularly, taking breaks based on outside temperature and conditions, and learning the signs of heat stress. The table below summarizes different levels of heat illness, from least severe to most severe. You can find more information about the signs and symptoms of heat illness here on Penn State Extension’s website (also available in Spanish).
Have a plan if heat illness or stroke occurs.
For many workers, Velez notes, posting emergency information and safety steps in English and in Spanish, or any other language that workers know, may be critical. Velez also spends time with farm owners and managers to help them understand potential dangers, how to address them, and basic information such as how emergency crews can find their workers in the field. Tragically, a farmworker in the Pacific northwest last year died of heat stroke when ambulance crews couldn’t locate him.
Be willing to change practices to adjust to hotter temperatures.
Ali Ascherio, a farm manager with Weavers Way Coop in Philadelphia, acknowledges that urban farms in particular can be oppressive with heat and humidity. Shifting habits and schedules can help. Weavers Way started a safety committee that encourages pre-hydrating for staff and volunteers, taking electrolyte tablets, and cutting field work
back on hot days to half a day, with other tasks performed in the afternoon. Harvest days are cut back from 12 hour days to 10 hour days, and planting trees and adding structures for shade has helped head off heat exhaustion.
Take advantage of the natural cooling opportunities on your farm.
Jenifer Glenister, owner of New Morning Farm—a vegetable operation in Huntington County— says she’s lucky to have plenty of trees and a cool creek that workers can stand in on hot days. She acknowledges part of the problem is a farmer mindset that “farmers make the sacrifice for all of us,” and encourages a team leader to be the point person for heat awareness. She has benefited from a farm staff person with EMS training who reminds workers every day about hydrating, staying in the shade, and taking breaks when needed. They also provide lots of electrolytes, “treating ourselves like the endurance athletes that we are,” she explained.
Unfortunately, not all farms are practicing heat safety, and farmworkers continue to be asked to work hard in extreme conditions. In four states to date—California, Oregon, Washington State and Montana— state legislatures have approved heatrelated regulations that protect workers when temperatures reach specific limits, requiring breaks and shortening hours in the field. In 2021, the Biden administration asked the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) to promulgate federal rules to protect outdoor workers from heat illnesses. Pasa’s comments to OSHA include many suggestions from our farmers and experts, including incorporating heat awareness into workforce training and apprenticeships; offering more resources for safety equipment and education; supporting more trees planted and adding more structures for shade— perhaps including solar panels that both provide shade and help reduce carbon emissions that
increase annual average temperatures. Adapted from: Nicholas, S. (2022, August 3). Prevent heatrelated illness on farms. Pasa Sustainable Agriculture. https://pasafarming.org/ prevent-heat-stress-on-farms/.
START TO FINISH: GROWING A CUT FLOWER GARDEN
Submitted by Katie Gasior, Horticulture Program Educator
If you love having vases full of fresh flowers around the house, but not the price tag cut flower gardening is for you! A little planning now will have your home full of unique floral arrangements all summer long.
First off, what is a cut flower? A cut flower is simply any flower or flower bud that is cut from the plant and used decoratively in fresh or dried vase displays, wreaths and garlands.
In a sunny spot: Most cut flower plants prefer the sun
Close to water: Make sure your site has an easily accessible water source
Somewhere you’ll see them often: Flowers mature quickly, so plant somewhere convenient to be able to cut them at the right time.
The right soil: It’s always recommended you get a soil test to understand the soil that’s at your site before you plant and any amendments you might need to make.
Raised beds are great if you don’t have highquality soil or you like the convenience. Ground beds are better for large amounts of flowers. Or, you can incorporate cut flowers into your existing landscape to save space. Some flowers need stakes to help them grow straight so consider that when planning a site.
What
flowers should you grow?
That depends – do you want to grow from seed or transplants? Seeds are cheaper and more varieties are available, but you need an appropriate place to start seeds indoors. Transplants are more expensive, but they save time and space. Whatever you chose, try to stagger what you plant by bloom times so you always have flowers available.
Annuals: Many are easy to start from seed ahead of time or to direct seed into a sunny spot in the garden. Examples: Zinnia, Strawflower, Celosia, Gomphrena, Amaranthus, Cosmos, Black-eyed Susan, Sunflowers.
Bulbs: Many require staking for support. Examples: Spring Flowering: Tulips, Daffodils, Lily of the Valley; Summer Flowering:
Dahlias, Gladiolus, Lilies.
Perennials: Spring Flowering: Hellebores, Bleeding Heart, Peonies, Lady’s Mantle; Summer Flowering: Iris, Liatris, Coneflowers, Eryngium, Poppies, Astilbe, Clematis, Yarrow, Garden Phlox; Late Summer/Fall Flowering: Autumn Joy and Similar type Sedum, Mums, Perennial Black-Eyed Susan.
What type of maintenance is needed in a cut flower garden?
Weeding – you didn’t think you’d get out of this one, did you? To prevent weeds, use mulch, landscape fabric or black plastic. Watering needs will vary depending on what you’re growing. Consider soaker hoses or drip irrigation. Some flower plants may need pinching, disbudding and pruning.
What’s the best way to harvest cut flowers?
This depends on the flower. Some are best to cut as buds or before the blooms fully develop and some are best cut when they’re fully open. It’s best to cut flowers in the late afternoon or evening. Cut
the stems longer than you will need and place in cool water for one to two hours to let them take up enough water.
Cut Flower & Care Handling
• Always use a clean container. Use a container that doesn’t have straight sides to make it easier and the proportion should be 1:1 for container to flower height.
• Remove any foliage that will be in the water.
• Use a floral preservative: Sugar, Acidifier, Bactericide. At-home preservatives can be made, but they need to include those components.
• Place in a cool location away from sunlight.
• Change water frequently.
Source:
Gucker, Douglas, and Candace Anderson. “Start to Finish: Growing a Cut Flower Garden | Know How, Know More | Illinois Extension | UIUC.” Extension.illinois. edu, 24 Apr. 2020, extension.illinois.edu/ blogs/know-how-know-more/2020-04-24start-finish-growing-cut-flower-garden. Accessed 10 July 2024.
DHI Report:
June
August Focus: Fast Facts, Cool Tools, & News to Use
August
15th
is National Relaxation Day!
For many people, simply listening to calm music is enough to lower stress levels.
Stress is a part of life. But sometimes, stress becomes overwhelming or chronic. When our minds focus on something stressful, the body responds, whether we’re thinking about past or future stressors, or actively experiencing a stressor in the moment.
We’ve all come home from a particularly stressful day and noticed that our necks, shoulders, and backs feel tight and painful. A common side effect of being stressed, angry, or frustrated is feeling our muscles tighten.
Celebrated on August 15 every year since 1985, National Relaxation Day was introduced by Sean Moeller, who was only nine years old at the time! He wanted to create a day that was dedicated to stress relief and giving everyone an opportunity to take a collective sigh as we release whatever it is we’ve been holding onto.
Disturbed sleeping patterns, loss of appetite, frequent zoning out, and panicking, are just some of the tell-tale signs of stress.
Many of us have experienced the frustration of not being able to fall asleep. Thoughts may be swirling around in our heads causing sleep to become evasive. When combined with a consistent sleep schedule, relaxation practices can reduce fatigue and allow us to wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and renewed.
If you’re stress-free, someone close to you could probably use some help reaching the same state of mental peace. If they’ve got a lot on their plate, consider taking on some of their least-liked tasks to help lighten the load.
It might seem counterintuitive, but for many busy people, the only way to ensure that you’ve got time to relax is to commit to a schedule. Schedule your chill time just like any other appointment. Before you know it, relaxation will become a part of your daily routine.
Source:
Wingle, Rebecca.“National Relaxation Day: 4 Fun Facts about Relaxation.” CMBM, January 11, 2024. https://cmbm.org/national-relaxation-day-funfacts-about-relaxation/.
Chronic or overwhelming stress drains our energy and a ects our mood. Over time, it can contribute to many health conditions, including depression.
There is no one right way to relax. Some people may prefer to focus on mindfulness with meditation while others may want to spend time nourishing their bodies with mindful eating. Still others may prefer a more active approach with a movement practice or engage their creative side with self-expression.
Pittman, Cody.“National Relaxation Day.” National Today, August 11, 2023. https://nationaltoday. com/national-relaxation-day/.
CCE Sullivan Spotlights
Thanks to our sponsors for supporting the Sullivan County Youth Fair!
HoferLog&Lumber
HahnBrosFarm
HarrisFuneralHome
SpottedCowCafe Grill
HalloranOutdoor
Boilers
WestForkFarm
PaulaFrumkin
McGuire&Sons
MovingCorp
BuckBrookAlpacas
Just-In-Time
Contracting
Dick’sAutoSales
RemarkablyBetter Together
BarlettStrategy Group
SpringBrook
BluestoneCo.
ThunderViewFarms
HankinsTire&Auto
G5Insurance
KaysTruckingLLC
JosephNebzydoski
PrestigeTowing& Recovery
Kyle&AmyKerber& Family
Bob&LindaKays& Family
DiehlHomestead Farm
DelawareValley
Farm&Garden Center
LaurenS.Roman,MD
OohLaLaPetTreats
KaysFarmLLC
IntegrityAutomotive
RoscoeDiner
CatskillSales Associates
JennPowellDesigns
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PerformanceHorses
JeffBank OutsideMatters
HoferLog&Lumber
MarshallMachineryInc
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IraceArchitecture
SafeHarborExcavation
VillaRomaResort
PeekamooseMountain Farm
ThompsonSanitation Corporation
RockHillPharmacy
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RoscoeRehabilitation& NursingCenter
RedBudMaple
JohnDiehlMasonry
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BrettErdman
Contracting
MallElectric
NancyBuck
WhiteSulphurAuto& Truck
SeibertFamilyFarm
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Insurance
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Maintenance
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Cafe
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HarryO’sCleaning Services
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Contracting
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TECHNOLOGY AND DISABILITY RIGHTS: ACCESSIBILITY, NOT DISABILITY, IS THE PROBLEM
Written by SanhoSteeleLouchar
Submitted by Aaron Denman, Association Operations Coordinator
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I’m a totally blind attorney writing this on a standard Windows laptop. I use Braille and accessible technology to coordinate a nationwide legal program in all 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico. I’m conversant in five languages, have lost count of the number of countries I’ve visited, and independently manage a household. And earlier today, I still needed sighted help to fillout a government form.
Johns Hopkins University has found that 47.4 percent of people in the United States believe that going blind is the worst possible health outcome a person can face. Johns Hopkins, Research America, and the National Institutes of Health consistently find that about 90 percent admit some level of fear when we even so much as imagine life as a blind person. And yet, when questioned, people don’t seem to fear a literal lack of eyesight. They fear the
inconvenience created by a lack of access. The good news? It’s 2024. There’s an app for that. The bad news? That app may or may not be accessible, and if it isn’t, there’s very little you can do about it.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 27 percent of adults in the United States now have a disability. Examining blindness alone, Cornell University’s Employment and Disability Institute found in their 2016 American Community survey that an estimated 7,675,600 adults and 706,400 children in the United States identify as having a significant visual disability. Further, while blind children and adults are disproportionately reliant on technology forbasic access needs when compared to either our disabled or non-disabled peers, we are also one of the populations most likely to encounter substantive access barriers when attempting to use that technology.
Few people could have predicted just how ubiquitous the internet would become when the Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA) was ratified more than three decades ago. Statista estimates that more than 311 million people in the United Statesuse the internet, with 85 percent of us using it at least once a day. This suggests that upward of 76
million disabled people in the United States are using the internet on a daily basis. Compare that to Web Aim’s 2023 test of the million most trafficked websites for material accessibility barriers -- those accessibility barriers are expected to negatively impact a disabled person’s ability to gain key information or content from a webpage. The average number of material accessibility errors per page was a staggering 50. What’s more, this analysis only examined those barriers found on homepages. The analysis couldn’t account for errors located on information-laden pages elsewhere in the site, such as those for e-commerce, videostreaming, public databases, or, as you might recall, government forms.
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is the federal law that most generally pertains to daily life for people with disabilities. Title I requires most employers to make the workplace accessible to disabled employees; Title II requires stateand local governments to make their programs and services accessible to the disabled public; and Title III requires places of public accommodation, such as stores and businesses, to ensure customers with disabilities can access the same goods and services as everyone else. Yet, even after more than 30 years, endless litigation, and
multiple amendments, nowhere in the entirety of the ADA will you find the term “internet.”
Unfortunately, the ADA’s silence on the issue of our right to web accessibility has created a circuit split. The Third, Sixth, Ninth, and Eleventh Circuits take a narrow view of the phrase “place of public accommodation” as found in Title III.”Place,” they reason, must mean a physical place -- a brickand-mortar location. So then what do we do with virtual businesses such as entirely online retailers? Are they exempt from Title III solely because they don’t maintain a physical storefront? Are virtual banks, cell phone companies, telehealth providers, streaming services, or manufacturers of virtual office products which lack physical storefronts given blanket coverage for that company to openly discriminate against aprotected class? Still, the nexus test is just one of many hurdles standing between disabled people and equitable access. Every jurisdiction recognizes two primary affirmative defenses to reasonable accommodations under the ADA: undue burden and fundamental alteration. The ADA Action Network defines undue burden as an action “requiring significant difficulty or expense” given the “nature and cost of the accommodation in relation to the size, resources,
nature, and structure of the employer’s operation.” A fundamental alteration, on the other hand, is defined by the Department of Justice Office of Civil Rights as a change that is “so significant that it alters the essential nature of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations offered.” Some covered entities seek to expand these affirmative defenses such that they become blanket exemptions from the law altogether.
In July 2023, the Department of Justice issued its longawaited Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) ostensibly intended to clarify Title II of the ADA pertaining to websites, mobile applications, and social media accounts run by state and local governments. The NPRM opens with an acknowledgment of the existing affirmative defenses before going on to propose seven additional exemptions that would allow a government actor to preemptively decide not to make their content accessible to disabled users.
The seven proposed exemptions are archival web content (excluding individual requests), preexisting conventional electronic documents, web content posted by third parties to a public entity’s website, third-party web content linked from a public entity’s website, course
content on a public entity’s password-protected or otherwise secured website for admitted students enrolled in a specific course offered by a public post secondary institution (excluding individual requests), class or course content on a public entity’s password-protected or otherwise secured website for students enrolled or parents of students enrolled in a specific class or course at a public elementary or secondary school (excluding individual requests),and conventional electronic documents that are about a specific individual, their property, or their account and that are password-protected or otherwise secured. It is noteworthy that when the final rule was announced in 2024, five of the seven exceptions remained.
Breadth aside, note that while some of the NPRM’s most egregious exceptions correctly point out that public entities are already required by law to make certain content accessible upon request, unfortunately, this simply isn’t what’s happening inpractice. Even if it were, requiring people with disabilities to notify the covered entity, remind the entity over time, wait for an accessible draft, test the draft once it’s delivered, and repeat as needed puts it squarely onto the shoulders of the person experiencing the harm. The NPRM for Title III-covered entities is
expected in the coming years.
That being said, we celebrate those entities that do the right thing while we continue to push for change. The Internal Revenue Service worked closely with the National Federation of the Blind to ensure the new E-File service was accessibleto blind screen-reader users before it could be released to the public. The National Federation of the Blind also regularly meets with third parties such as exam proctors and textbook publishers to ensure increased compliance over time. Recently, when a major testing body initially refused to provide reasonable accommodations to blind candidates, the proctoring organization joined with us to successfully advocate for prompt and thorough change.
There are also several bills currently pending that would drastically improve the digital landscape for disabled people. H.R.5813 and S. 2984, known collectively as the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act, would explicitly codify our right to digital accessibility into federal law. It would also clearly define what it means to make a website accessible, establish a technical assistance center to provide much-needed assistance to covered entities, commercial
providers, and individuals with disabilities, and explicitly direct the Department of Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to promulgate accessibility regulations. H.R. 1328 and S. 3621, the Medical Device Non-Visual Accessibility Act, would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to promulgate non visual accessibility regulations for Class II and Class III medical devices with digital interfaces, require manufacturers of such medical devices to make their products non visually accessible, and authorize the FDA to enforce those requirements.
These are only two of the many bills blind people advocated for at the 2024 Washington Seminar -- an annual advocacy event started in 1973 in which more than 500 blind people speak directly with members of Congress about issues affecting our everyday lives. And right on the heels of the Washington Seminar comes the Jacobus ten Broek Disability Law Symposium. This year’s theme was appropriately titled “The Right of People with Disabilities to Live in the World: Emergent Barriers and Unrealized Potential.” Topics included the negative impacts of artificial intelligence in the municipal law and disability employment spaces, the Federal Communication
Commission’s ongoing accessibility work, using technology to remediate inaccessible crosswalks, the impact of Olmstead on communication access, accommodations for disabled inmates, accessible transportation options, and more.
The National Federation of the Blind remains steadfast in our commitment to achieving equity, opportunity, and prosperity for the blind. A disabled person’s right to live in the world is fundamental to our work within the Federation because we know that accessibility, not disability, is the problem. With love, hope, and determination, we turn dreams into reality. Blindness need not hold you back.
Source: Steele-Louchart, Sanho. 2024. “Technology and Disability Rights: Accessibility, Not Disability, Is the Problem.” Human Rights 49 (4): 19–20. https://research-ebsco-com. proxy.library.cornell.edu/linkprocessor/ plink?id=5a63758d-6fac-3f4c-aa5bcc22bae6c641.
CELEBRATING SENIORS
Written
and submitted by
Nancy McGraw, Caregiver Resource Center Program Coordinator
National Senior Citizens Day is August 21, a day to honor and appreciate the achievements and contributions of seniors. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan issued a Proclamation to honor and show appreciation for older Americans, part of which states:
“For all they have achieved throughout life and for all they continue to accomplish, we owe older citizens our thanks and a heartfelt salute. We can best demonstrate our gratitude and esteem by making sure that our communities are good places in which to mature and grow older— places in which older people can participate to the fullest and can find the encouragement, acceptance, assistance, and services they need to continue to lead lives of independence and dignity.”
In 2021, there were 38 million family caregivers in the U.S. New York State had the 4th largest number of family
caregivers in the country, at 2.2 million (Statista.com, March 2023).
Celebrating seniors includes offering programs and services to maintain health and well-being. The Caregiver Resource Center (CRC) at CCE Sullivan recognizes that seniors are also likely to be caregivers for spouses, other family members, and friends. Caregiving can be stressful and take a toll on one’s health over time. Seniors are able to participate in a number of programs and services available through the CRC, such as in person and virtual support groups, workshops on caregiving topics, dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Tai Chi for Arthritis for Falls Prevention is also available to seniors and to date, and 32 individuals have taken Tai Chi classes at CCE Sullivan since January. Program surveys show that of 24 surveys completed, 96% felt more comfortable increasing their activity, 75% reported a decrease in muscle stiffness, 63% stated the quality of their sleep improved, and 75% experienced a reduced fear of falling and better
flexibility and balance. Most importantly, 96% reported that they planned to continue to exercise for their health and would recommend Tai Chi to other seniors.
As we celebrate seniors in August, please help spread the word that there are programs available to support our senior communities with information, assistance, programs and services available at no or low cost as a way to help recognize their valuable contributions.
The CRC is a collaboration between CCE Sullivan and the SC Office for the Aging, supported by grant funding from the NYS Department of Health and the Alzheimer’s Association.
Sources:
National Today (2023). History of National Senior Citizens Day. Retrieved from https://nationaltoday.com/ national-senior-citizens-day/.
Statista (March 2023). Total number of family caregivers in the United States in 2021, by state. Retrieved from Number of family caregivers by US state | Statista.
Tuesday,October15,2024
3:00pm-4:15pm
ExtensionEducation
Building
*ThisisaHybrid(in-personandon zoom)workshop.Whenyouregister, choosehowyouwillattend.
LyndaShrager,OTR,MSW, CAPS, ChiefExecutiveOfficer, AtHomeforLifewillexplain howtoassessthehome environmentandoffer recommendationsfor decluttering,potential modifications/adaptationsand organizingstrategiesto decreasepotentialforfalls.
WHY THE FAIR MEANS SO MUCH TO US
Written and submitted by Barbara Moran, 4-H Youth Development Program Manager
August is a crucial month of the year for Sullivan County’s 4-H youth participants. It’s fun in the sun, signals the approach of a new school year, and, most importantly in a 4-H Project Year, it is the time of year youth get to showcase their projects at the Sullivan County Youth Fair, in partnership with the Neversink Agricultural Society at the Grahamsville Little World’s Fair.
County fairs and the activities they’ve cultivated for attendees are derived from traditions over two centuries old. Beginning as local agricultural exhibitions to promote modern farming in the early 19th century, many to this day continue to include livestock judging, displays of farming tools and products, and contests originating from plowing demonstrations. Alongside evolving carnival rides and sweet and savory foods, Cooperative Extension brings education about agriculture, nutrition and food safety, community
development, and 4-H youth and family development to citizens, and has evolved to become a staple of the county fair experience all across America.
Today, the Sullivan County Youth Fair attracts a wide range of people from Sullivan County and beyond to support young people and CCE Sullivan’s mission to share research-based education, outreach, and opportunities in response to Sullivan County’s needs in the areas of Agriculture, Nutrition, Youth and Family, and Environment. Alongside fun rides, yummy food, and musical performances happening daily at the Grahamsville Little World’s fair, the more traditional livestock
shows, still exhibits, horse events and auctions taking place at the Sullivan County Youth Fair give something for everyone to come out for, no matter what they enjoy. In support of Sullivan County kids, we invite everyone to attend this year’s fair to see the various still and animal projects that young Sullivan County 4-H members have worked on all year. So come and have fun at the Sullivan County Youth Fair, located at the Grahamsville Little World’s Fair on August 16 through August 18, 2024!
Source: Lautanen-Raleigh, Marcia, and Charles Raleigh. “County Fairs.” County fairs, 2005. http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory. org/pages/345.html#:~:text=The%20 American%20county%20fair%20 developed,and%20techniques%2C%20 and%20plowing%20contests. Accessed 10 July 2024.
