Tending to the Needs of Disabled Gardeners: A Webinar on Accessible and Inclusive Horticultural Therapy

A virtual webinar, hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and OneOp, a professional development platform for providers serving military families, will explore the benefits of gardening for people with disabilities. The free webinar, which takes place on May 8 from 10-11 a.m., can be accessed by registering at https://tx.ag/OneOpGardening. Participants will receive an email with instructions on how to attend the webinar and it will also be available for viewing on YouTube Live. Technical support can be requested by contacting OneOp at contact@oneop.org.

Rachel Brauner, an AgriLife Extension program specialist from Bryan-College Station, shared that the webinar will delve into how gardens can serve as therapeutic environments, offering benefits for physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being for individuals with disabilities. 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, and key principles and design elements for creating accessible and welcoming gardens for individuals with varying abilities. The webinar will also address the importance of creating safe and inviting gardens for individuals with disabilities.

Overall, this webinar aims to educate participants on the positive impacts of gardening on individuals with disabilities and provide practical insights into creating inclusive garden spaces that promote mental, physical