Gardening Tools for People With Physical Disabilities
Gardening is a rewarding hobby and can provide many health benefits. Gardening provides physical activity, exposure to sunshine, connection to the soil and healthful foods. Flowering plants are known to provide a mood lift to many. For people with disabilities, however, participation in gardening may present various challenges. There are a number of adaptive tools and construction ideas now available to help overcome these challenges. Does this Spark an idea?
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Different Disabilities Require Different Adaptations
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Gardening for people with disabilities varies depending on the particular needs of the individual. Container gardening on a solid surface can make wheelchair access easier. The containers must be tall enough for the person to reach their hands or tools into the soil. If the wheelchair-bound person has movement difficulties, extended hand tools may be helpful. There are also hand tools available for those who have difficulty squeezing clippers and trimmers. Some hand tools have circular extensions to add forearm leverage for people with weaker wrists or hands.
People With Difficulty Bending
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People with back and hip problems may be able to kneel in the garden, but have difficulty getting into and out of the kneeling position. There are knee pad stools that place a padded surface on the ground with handles extending up to about knee height. These handles can be grasped for assistance in getting up and down into and out of the kneeling position. This may be a more comfortable option, as the back may be kept straight while weight is supported on the knees and one hand -- the other hand can be used for planting, troweling, weeding and other activities.
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People With Difficulty Kneeling
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Some disabilities allow a person to bend at the waist or hips, but the person is unable to kneel. This can make it hard to reach garden soil level. A low stool can be helpful, but the stool legs may sink into the garden at different rates, may tip the person off the stool or make it difficult to pull up and move to another location. There are now stools with wide mud-type wheels available. These stools may be equipped with a towline or handle, allowing the individual to drag it to various locations in the garden. They also have a formed handle on top, allowing it to be picked up and moved. These stools may have storage under the seat for gloves, tools and other items.
Lifting and Hauling Difficulties
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Help may be needed to lift and carry large objects. A bag of soil can present a daunting barrier to the disabled gardener. Help is usually available at the point of purchase. Delivery may also be an option. If the disabled person has adequate mobility, heavy objects may be loaded into a vehicle floorboard or truck bed, then slid over to a wagon or four-wheeled cart at the garden location. Wheelbarrows, while handy for some, may present balance difficulties and lifting problems.
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