On May 8, a virtual professional development platform called OneOp will host a webinar on the benefits of gardening for people with disabilities. The event is being hosted by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and aims to explore how spending time in a garden or participating in gardening activities can positively impact the mental, physical, and social well-being of individuals with disabilities.
The webinar is free and open to all interested participants who can register at https://tx.ag/OneOpGardening. Upon registration, participants will receive an email with instructions on how to attend the webinar, which will take place from 10-11 a.m. The webinar will also be available for viewing on YouTube Live for those who cannot access the link. Technical support can be requested by contacting OneOp at contact@oneop.org.
According to Rachel Brauner, an AgriLife Extension program specialist from Bryan-College Station, the webinar will delve into how gardens can serve as therapeutic environments that provide benefits for physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being for individuals with disabilities. Participants will learn about the stress-reducing effects of gardening and gain insights into creating accessible, sensory-rich gardens tailored to different abilities.
The featured speaker for the webinar is Xuan “Jade” Wu, Ph.D., an AgriLife Extension specialist and assistant professor in the AgriLife Extension Family and Community Health unit. Topics to be covered include explaining the benefits of gardening for individuals with disabilities, strategies for selecting sensory elements, plants, and design features for specific disabilities