ADAPTIVE TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, AND TECHNIQUES. There are many types of tools, equipment, techniques and practices that can be used in a program of horticulture.

ADAPTIVE TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, AND TECHNIQUES


• There are many types of tools, equipment, techniques and practices that can be used in a program of horticulture for special populations.

• There are many ways to adapt these techniques to meet the needs of a special population


Adaptations needed will depend on the limitations &needs of the each special population. Examples ofdisabilities for which adaptations would be available include• Visual impairments• Arthritis• Paralysis• use of a wheelchair• lack of strength in one or another part of the body• poor fine motor coordination• inability to understand and remember complex practices


Enabling Tools: Any tool, product, or piece of equipment can be enabling. Most tools have already been well designed to perform a task quickly and with ease. In horticultural therapy the goal is to redesign or adapt the tools and equipment to meet the needs of a special population.

ADAPTIVE TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, AND

TECHNIQUES: Enabling Tools • Light weight tools made of plastic, fiberglass or

aluminum- aluminum or plastic watering cans and wands- aluminum or plastic or fiberglass handles for shovels, hoes, etc.- plastic trays, pots, and other containers- vinyl hose

• Tools that are shorter or longer than usual- short handles, light weight children’s hoes, rakes, shovels for use by a person who uses a wheel chair- tools with adjustable, telescoping handles to vary the length for persons of different height, especially those who have limited ability to bend

ADAPTIVE TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, AND TECHNIQUES: Enabling Tools

• Tools with larger, thicker handles for those who can not grasp well

• Garden tools with extra handles to increase the ability to grasp them

• Garden tools that require less effort to perform a task- swivel hoes- shuffle hoes- shears with extra leverage joints to allow pruning with limited strength in hands and arms- cut and hold pruning shears


• Reachers that extend one’s ability to reach plants and other objects

- reachers of varied lengths- reachers with various heads to do

different tasks- reachers with different handles

• Devices that allow raising and lowering of hanging baskets

• Tools with bright colored handles for easy recognition


• Adaptations for existing tools

- foam rubber handle padding

- added handles for extra grip

- mold handle grip to shape tool handle to persons hand

- universal cuff


• Adaptations for existing tools

- foam rubber handle padding

- added handles for extra grip

- mold handle grip to shape tool handle to persons hand

- universal cuff

ADAPTIVE TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, AND TECHNIQUES: Facilities

• Garden and greenhouse designs to allow access to persons who use wheel chairs, walkers and other aids

- height of raised beds

- height of benches

- width of walkways

- spacing between benches

- size of door way

- surfacing material, grade changes, etc

ADAPTIVE TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, AND TECHNIQUES: Facilities / ADA

Americans with Disabilities Act• The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)

establishes the legal framework for the current accessibility and enabling guidelines as a component of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

• ADA has had far-reaching implications to employers, businesses, educational institutions and the approximately 43 million persons with disabilities in all aspects of life.

• One purpose of ADA is protection for persons with disabilities against discrimination in economic, educational and vocational opportunities.


ADA establishes a three-part definition of disability:

• 1. A person with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities

• 2. A person with record of such impairment

• 3. A person who is regarded as having such impairment


1. A person with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities

• caring for oneself • performing manual tasks, • walking • seeing • hearing• breathing • speaking • learning • working


2. A person with record of such impairment

• includes persons with a medical diagnosis in remission

• person recovering from substance abuse or mental illness)


3. A person who is regarded as having such impairment

• persons who may be discriminated against, solely on the perceptions of others

-ex. someone who is HIV positive but without symptoms

- ex. a person with a facial disfigurement that does not affect job performance in any way


• ADA requires that places of public accommodation be physically accessible.

• Standards may vary for new, existing and altered facilities.

• All new construction since 1993 must be accessible and usable by persons with disabilities.

• Existing facilities must remove structural barriers if easily accomplished and with little expense.

• Alterations and construction must conform to the specifications of ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG)


• A standard wheelchair height is • 20 inches to the seat, • 29 inches to the armrest, • 36 inches to the handlebar pushers. • Width averages 25 to 30 inches and • Length of 30 to 42 inches is typical.• Minimum ground space to accommodate a

single wheelchair and occupant is 30 inches X 48 inches.

ADAPTIVE TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, AND TECHNIQUES: Wheel Chair Adaptations

• Vertical change no greater than ¼ inch• Width of passage ways, paths, etc.• 36 inch minimal width of passageway or path• 48 inch width to allow person using wheelchair

and person standing to pass• 60 inch to allow two wheel chairs to pass• 60 inch to allow a wheel chair user to turn around • In aisles less than sixty inches wide a passing space

60 inches X 60 inches must be designated no less than every 200 feet


Slope• 2% slope for an incline (1% slope = drop of 1 inch per

100 inches or 1 ft. per 100 feet)• 5% slope for a ramp• Maximum 8% slope for ramp (1 inch per foot)• ramp should not exceed specified lengths for the

slope, • the greater the slope, the shorter the ramp• a 1:12 to 1:16 slope should not rise more than 30

inches or have a length more than 30 feet• to have a greater change in height than 30 inches, the

ramp must be broken up by landings of specified minimal dimension

• 2% cross slope on any surface


Reach • ranges vary • maximum high forward reach is 48 inches • minimum low forward reach is 15 inches• A person reaching over a table with his or her legs

extended beneath has an average reach of 20 inches• Maximum high side reach is 54 inches • Low side reach is 9 inches.• A person reaching over a table approaching from the

side has a maximum 24 inch side reach if an object is the height of the armrest

• no greater should be greater than 34 inches.



Ground and floor surfaces • Accessible routes and in accessible rooms must be

- stable- firm- slip resistant

• If gratings are in walking routes, the spaces must be no greater than one-half inch in any one direction

• If there is a rise in any walking route with a slope greater than 1:20, a ramp must be installed

• The least possible slope should be designed into any ramp, but not to exceed a slope of 1:12 with a maximum length of 30 inches per rise


Paving requirements• paths and paved areas must be smooth,

level and firm• surface must provide good traction at all

times• hand rails may be necessary as a barrier

on sloped paths and other areas or when additional support is needed for safety by the gardener with compromised balance


Paths • Provide direct routes through the garden• Paths should have a sharp textural contrast at

the edge, raised edging may be necessary• Use textural change across the path as a

signal to people with visual impairments of grade changes, approaching entrances and exits, etc.

• The strip should be about 12 to 18 inches wide and made of any contrasting paving materials

• Reduce glare and heat absorption


Surfaces• Surface should have ability to cushion falls• Soft surface options: turf, packed soil, crushed

limestone, gravel, decomposed granite, screenings of number 9 crushed stone

• hard surface paving options: concrete (plain, brushed, exposed aggregate), pavers, decorative asphalt, brick, wood

ADAPTIVE TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, AND TECHNIQUES. There are many types of tools, equipment, techniques and practices that can be used in a program of horticulture.

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baskets tools

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