Disability Beekeeping.

[Poly Hive]

I was asked a question today to which I do not have an answer and that question was this.

Do associations have a "disabled section" or in general do they encourage people with disabilities to come to meetings and to take an active/hands on role if possible?

Might the Admins leave this in the general section for a day or three please before moving it to allow as many as possible to comment. Thanks in advance.

PH

 

[MartinL]

Do associations have a "disabled section" or in general do they encourage people with disabilities to come to meetings and to take an active/hands on role if possible?

Why not?

However would probably need to be top bar hive?

Height could be sorted for wheel-chair access, no lifting e.t.c.

PPE may be a bit of an issue too, need for more specialised suits I would have thought.
Whatever the issues they shouldn't be unsurmountable with a little ingenuity?

 

[Poly Hive]

I am hoping to hear from Assocs who are doing it and how it is achieved.

PH

 

[Millet]

Why not?

However would probably need to be top bar hive?

Height could be sorted for wheel-chair access, no lifting e.t.c.

PPE may be a bit of an issue too, need for more specialised suits I would have thought.
Whatever the issues they shouldn't be unsurmountable with a little ingenuity?

Something like a Dalek type bee suit springs to mind.. a bit like a big upside down shuttlecock

 

[For want of a better word]

Not all disabled people are stuck in a wheelchair!
{ I am classed as disabled myself }

Took a partially sighted chap around some colonies in the Summer.... actually designated as blind, amasingly he could see eggs and even found a queen that I missed......

He hopes to get a colony next season and is taking a course in Hampshire over winter.

I would say enabled... with a bit of help and forethought.

Yeghes da

 

[Bakerbee]

Hi all. My hubby is disabled. Sometimes able to get round with sticks. Some days in his wheelchair. Depending on his pain levels. I help him with our hive though its 'his'. My advice would be to all in associations and groups. Ask what people are capable of and what help they might need. Tell them the types of duties that are involved with beekeeping. Then between you all im sure youll be able to formulate a plan. Having a partner whose disabled is no problem at all for us with our bees. I do the heavy stuff but everything else we do together. Just dont be afraid of asking questions and being open. Too much these days the politically correct brigade of modern britain actually make disabled people feel more "special" and not in a good way, if you know what i mean.

 

[drex]

Not that easy I am afraid PH. I worked for years in a medical capacity with folks with " impaired ability" . There is no one size fits all solution, as there will be a spectrum of impairment and the individuals capacity to adapt to that impairment. For example hearing or sight impaired, problems with limb and spinal function etc. Each would need an individual adjustment to the way they could be helped to keep bees, and that adjustment may be of no use to the next person. Careful assessment of the individuals capabilities - what they can do, rather than what they can't or is problematic, would be a good place to start.

 

[Goran]

One beek I know has only one hand and he has leaf type hives which is logical choice for him. You can modify your own hive standards to leaf type which is easier for disabled persons, with which they can work sitting in a chair.

 

[Millet]

Not all disabled people are stuck in a wheelchair!
{ I am classed as disabled myself }

Took a partially sighted chap around some colonies in the Summer.... actually designated as blind, amasingly he could see eggs and even found a queen that I missed......

He hopes to get a colony next season and is taking a course in Hampshire over winter.

I would say enabled... with a bit of help and forethought.

Yeghes da

You have got to be having a laugh here surely , my eye balls are as good as they get , you may need better eye magnification if a half blind man is doing better.. lol

 

[For want of a better word]

You have got to be having a laugh here surely , my eye balls are as good as they get , you may need better eye magnification if a half blind man is doing better.. lol

The point was that the chap was more "focused" not that there is anything amiss with my ocular abilities!!

I like the idea of the leaf type hive Goran.... food for thought

Yeghes da

 

[Beefriendly]

Huber got there first...and he really was blind.

 

[SDM]

Have a chat with John Geden(Sinah Common honey) he's an ex army Captain who does a lot of work with "help the heroes" they cater to a huge range of disabilities both physical and mental.
I doubt there's anyone more clued up on the issues affecting disabled Beekeepers.
Sherrif have been working with help the heroes on designs for suits for amputees , wheelchair users etc so contacting them may help too.

 

[alldigging]

A lot is said of the beehaus thing for people with limited mobility.

I'm not convinced. To lift the frames evenly you need to stand at the entrance which then causes the issue of bees being quite happy to sit on the beekeeper because they can't get anywhere.

The deeper frames also cause an issue as they are heavier and bigger.

We have one member who uses a wooden national framed top bar style hive that can take supers. It's probably no different to having a national hive a bit higher up - but with an advantage of the brood frames - which are the bigger ones of course - all at the height they wanted.

We have an identical hive (they were both built by my husband) for use in our apiary but we opted not to put bees in it this year - issues for me with the lid handling that need sorting.

For those with issues with using two hands - for whatever reason - we've seen people using those grippers - but they are not forceps style grips so need pressure keeping in place.

I have seen someone on a video using a slopey frame holder to view the frames but suspect that does make the inspection much longer.

Having an assistant is probably the best accessory for people who struggle. Beekeeping is good with company.

 

[abm]

I'm disabled.....

But don't class this as a disability, more of a challenge to do certain tasks.

I've only my Left arm, and have 1 TBH & 12 National hives with no issues i cannot get around.

But i agree, Beekeeping should be promoted.

 

[Goran]

Huber got there first...and he really was blind.

On a net:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAtL6rMAqWc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUNX2VykdMc

 

[Goran]

Pic on a net with leaf hives:

https://akos.ba/kako-uzgajati-pcele-iz-invalidskih-kolica-med-sa-vlastitog-krova-i-balkona/

 

[Teemore]

Not that easy I am afraid PH. I worked for years in a medical capacity with folks with " impaired ability" . There is no one size fits all solution, as there will be a spectrum of impairment and the individuals capacity to adapt to that impairment. For example hearing or sight impaired, problems with limb and spinal function etc. Each would need an individual adjustment to the way they could be helped to keep bees, and that adjustment may be of no use to the next person. Careful assessment of the individuals capabilities - what they can do, rather than what they can't or is problematic, would be a good place to start.

There is no universal "disability".

It is generally better to take the approach that there are some things that some disabled people cannot do and that there are fewer things that they "cannot" do if some sort of reasonable adjustment is put in place to help them.
Accessibility is an issue that is important for a large section of society whether they consider themselves disabled or not. Accessibility of meeting places and apiaries is a good place to start for associations. If you meet in a public place, it should already have good access for people with reduced mobility and that starts you off. Many disabilities do not have physical manifestations and if you were to analyse the members of an existing beekeeping association, it might be surprising just how many meet the legislative definition of disability..... It is worth noting that an increasing number of disabilities are age related.
For most people with a disability, inclusivity is important for them and on that basis, I would not encourage development of a separate element within an exising association.

 

[For want of a better word]

There is no universal "disability".

It is generally better to take the approach that there are some things that some disabled people cannot do and that there are fewer things that they "cannot" do if some sort of reasonable adjustment is put in place to help them.
Accessibility is an issue that is important for a large section of society whether they consider themselves disabled or not. Accessibility of meeting places and apiaries is a good place to start for associations. If you meet in a public place, it should already have good access for people with reduced mobility and that starts you off. Many disabilities do not have physical manifestations and if you were to analyse the members of an existing beekeeping association, it might be surprising just how many meet the legislative definition of disability..... It is worth noting that an increasing number of disabilities are age related.
For most people with a disability, inclusivity is important for them and on that basis, I would not encourage development of a separate element within an exising association.

Sage words indeed.
Due to mobility problems I sometime find some of the beekeeping activities a tad difficult... I just have to abandon the day... could not get to some of my sites without the Defender.
( Had a Motability car once, when I was confined to a wheelchair... and that was a door slammed shut on many mobility impaired people with this governments cuts for most some time ago)

Nos da

 

[Eyeman]

Not all disabled people are stuck in a wheelchair!
{ I am classed as disabled myself }

Took a partially sighted chap around some colonies in the Summer.... actually designated as blind, amasingly he could see eggs and even found a queen that I missed......

He hopes to get a colony next season and is taking a course in Hampshire over winter.

I would say enabled... with a bit of help and forethought.

Yeghes da

I work with the visually disabled.
Some are disabled because of restricted field of vision- such as following a stroke or a genetic disorder such as retinitis pigmentosa.
Central vision which is responsible for seeing fine details is often unaffected. Their problems tend to be related to navigation and scanning.

 

[Millet]

I work with the visually disabled.
Some are disabled because of restricted field of vision- such as following a stroke or a genetic disorder such as retinitis pigmentosa.
Central vision which is responsible for seeing fine details is often unaffected. Their problems tend to be related to navigation and scanning.

I wonder where your user name came from..