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How
Manitoba
Farmers With Disabilities began
 At
the end of October, 1995, after harvesting was completed, Neil and a co-worker
were working at getting the combine cleaned and ready for storage. “We were
putting the combine away for the winter. My partner was sweeping out the hopper
and I was down at the bottom taking the cleanings out of the auger. I didn’t
hear him when he past behind me saying he was going to start the auger up. The
motor was running and I was concentrating on the job. I just didn’t hear him.
He started the auger up and my arm got caught. I gave my arm a good tug and got
it out, but unfortunately it was too late to save it. The hand was cut to the
bone and my fingers were torn off. I was rushed to the hospital where the
doctors amputated my right hand and a good part of my lower arm.”
Neil
was in hospital for a short time, and did very well in physiotherapy and
occupational therapy through that winter. He adjusted to using the prosthetic
arm and began to do chores around the farm. “That’s when I discovered just
how much I needed to modify my tools. I worked best as a right-handed person and
was determined to come up with ways to make attachments to my prosthesis to
continue doing work with my right arm.” During
one of his visits with the doctor, he asked about support groups for amputees.
The doctor said there wasn’t one and encouraged him to start one.
By
November of 1997, there were 5 couples that met together once a month to
encourage and learn from each other as well as share ideas on how to function
with a disability. Before winter was over the group had grown to over 40 people
from all parts of
Manitoba
. There was a need out there to bring disabled farmers together.
Over
the next couple of years, the group began receiving requests to speak at public
engagements and local schools on farm safety. They told the stories on how their
accidents happened. There was a strong emphasis on taking safety more seriously
in order to prevent similar accidents in the future.
In
November 1998, a eight-member Board of Directors was elected to cover six
regions in
Manitoba
: Central Plains, Eastman, Interlake, Parkland,
Pembina
Valley
, and Westman. The organization became a registered charity as Manitoba Farmers
with Disabilities.
Our
organization was invited by Winnipeg Health Science Centre Physiotherapy
Department to visit new amputees. They felt that when patients met with other
amputees it can sometimes lead to a kind of healing that happens within. Sharing
one another’s pain can guide the way to hope, can lead to courage, and to a
new purpose.
Manitoba
Farmers with Disabilities developed support that would reach the whole family.
It isn’t just the injured person who is hurting – but the whole family!
Safety
programs have been developed to demonstrate to children, youth and adults, how
quickly an accident can happen. Through the use of a showcase using 1/16th scale
farm machinery, we can demonstrate the hazards of a tractor roll over without
rollover protection equipment. We also show the dangers around a Power Take-off
shaft, teach combine safety, as well as safe animal handling. We encourage farm
families to use safety at all times.
Our
goal is to educate the public about farm safety in the hope that the
agricultural industry will become a safer occupation for our future farmers.
Through our prevention initiatives we offer safety training in schools,
agricultural presentations, exhibitions and children’s safety days.
All
that we do and all that we have done, has been through the dedication of our
volunteers. Each year we ask them to attend more events and give more of their
time to farm safety. I am filled with gratitude, as each and every year our
volunteer have been more than ready to give more of their time to this work.
MFWD
Programs and Services
A
variety of support and information groups are available. Members visit people in hospital
who have had accidents involving the loss of limbs, and they offer the victim and the family support.
They also
visit schools, Ag shows, 4-H clubs, Church groups and Universities; to
inform the public about how to prevent and deal with farm and other
accidents. The organization also visits many different businesses;
informing workers about safety in the workplace, and has participated in
public speaking engagements.
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