Nurturing Healing: Discovering the Benefits of Gardening for Individuals with Disabilities through Virtual Webinar
Gardening can be a therapeutic and fulfilling activity for people with disabilities, and a new webinar from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and OneOp aims to showcase the benefits of this hobby. On May 8, from 10-11 a.m., the virtual professional development platform will host a free webinar that explores how being in a garden or gardening can improve the mental, physical, and social well-being of those with disabilities.
Interested participants can register at
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. 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, 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 cater to different abilities.
