Health, social benefits of gardening topic of May 8 OneOp webinar

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and OneOp will host a webinar on May 8 focused on the benefits of gardening for people with disabilities. OneOp is a virtual professional development platform for providers who serve military families.

The free webinar will be held from 10-11 a.m. Participants can register for the webinar by visiting https://tx.ag/OneOpGardening. Once registered, participants will receive an email with instructions and a link to attend.

The webinar also can be viewed on YouTube Live for those who are unable to access the link. Contact OneOp at [email protected] for technical support. Up to one continuing education unit will be provided for many professional programs. Visit the OneOp website for a complete list.

AgriLife Extension program specialist Rachel Brauner, Bryan-College Station, said the webinar will explore how being in a garden or gardening can enhance the well-being of those with disabilities.

The webinar will show participants how gardens can serve as therapeutic havens, providing physical, emotional, cognitive and social well-being to those with disabilities. Participants will learn about the benefits of gardening and how gardens can help reduce stress and the practical insights on creating accessible, sensory-rich gardens that cater to varying abilities.

Featured speaker and topics

Xuan "Jade" Wu, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension specialist and assistant professor in the AgriLife Extension Family and Community Health unit, will be the featured speaker.

The webinar will feature the following topics:

• Explaining the benefits of gardening for individuals with disabilities.
• Exploring strategies for selecting sensory elements, plants and design features that cater to specific disabilities.
• Identifying key principles and design elements that make gardens accessible and welcoming for individuals for varying abilities.
• Recognizing the significance of creating gardens that are safe and inviting for those with disabilities.

-30-

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.