JACKSON, Wyo. – An indoor vertical farm in Jackson that produces and sells roughly 100,000 pounds of fresh produce annually is powered by a workforce built on the concept of diversity.

Nearly two-thirds of Vertical Harvest's workers face disabilities, including autism, Down syndrome or vision, speech and learning impairments.

Caroline Croft Estay is a company co-founder and says inclusive, integrated workplaces are game changers for businesses because they bring in new energy – everybody is excited to clock in.

"They're ready to work, they're on time, they work hard,” she states. “And it really shifts the culture, and kind of raised the bar for all of us, creating this really beautiful, fluid workplace where everybody works together and works hard."

The three story hydroponic operation produces as much food as a traditional five acre soil farm, year round, and with a lot less water.

Vertical Harvest workers grow about 25 varieties of micro and specialty greens, lettuces and tomatoes.

But Croft Estay adds that workers also are trained to tackle administrative tasks, sales, marketing, customer service and technical maintenance.

Croft Estay says while the training process for workers with disabilities can require an upfront investment, the long-term outcome is substantial.

She also maintains there's a job out there for every individual who wants one, regardless of their specific ability level, and says everyone has a right to work.

"And yes, the training can take a little bit longer, but then the commitment and the dedication,” she states. “We have no turnover. Everybody that works at the greenhouse stays at the greenhouse, and wants to stay at the greenhouse."

Croft Estay hopes businesses of all types will come to see people with different abilities as an untapped and valuable workforce, eager to give back to their communities and earn real wages.

Nationally, 25% of people with disabilities currently live in poverty, and just one in three is employed.


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MISSOULA, Mont. -- A doctor's office can be an intimidating place for children. A new guide from Montana can help kids of any ability advocate for themselves in medical settings.

"Skills and Strategies for Health Care Decision-Making" can help parents set their children up to navigate the doctor's visit.

Jenn Banna, coordinator of the Montana Family to Family Health Information Center, wanted to develop the guide because she has five kids of her own, one of whom has a rare neurological disorder. She said it can be difficult for families and even medical providers to get children with disabilities involved in medical decisions.

"When individuals can make decisions and participate in their own care, they feel ownership over what's happening, and they feel like they're part of what's happening," Banna contended.

Banna noted when children can answer questions such as how old they are and what their name is, it translates into other parts of their lives. She added other family-led organizations have reached out to say they are excited to use this guide in their states as well.

Sara Graceffo, genetic counselor for Utah Regional Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, which developed the guide, said users of the resources are navigated by their children's developmental stage rather than age.

There are four stages listed, including choice-maker, question-answerer, decision-participant and decision-maker.

"We broke it down into the different stages," Graceffo explained. "Each stage has a page that has different sections for preparing for the appointment, at the appointment and after the appointment."

Graceffo pointed out the guide also has recommendations such as books and apps that can help with the process.

Banna emphasized part of the reason she wanted to develop this guide is she believes waiting until a child is in their teens to empower them to make decisions in a medical setting is too late.

"I felt like we could add some skills earlier on to prepare families earlier for that transition from being a child to being an adult," Banna concluded.

LANSING, Mich. - Youth advocates for comprehensive sexual education are urging school districts to adopt curricula that use inclusive and anatomically-correct language.

In Michigan, sex education is not required - although HIV/AIDS education is - and when it is taught, it's supposed to stress abstinence.

Gracia Perala is a member of the MY Access Youth Advisory Council, part of the Michigan Organization for Adolescent Sexual Health, or MOASH. She said it's important to have safe spaces to discuss topics such as consent, boundaries, birth control and more.

"Uninclusive sex education really leads to a lot of misinformation and uninformed youth," said Perala. "And so I think that right now, a lot of sex-ed programs are insufficient, and that there's an alarmingly low volume of specific resources tailored to specific identities."

Roughly 35% of Michigan high school students reported they had had sexual intercourse according to the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey data. And just over 45% of sexually active students reported using a condom.

Research shows students who receive comprehensive sex ed are less likely to participate in unprotected sex that can lead to unplanned pregnancies or sexually transmitted infections.

Devin Goldstein is disability access coordinator and MY Access Youth Advisory Council facilitator with MOASH. He said youths need to be given scientific and accurate information to understand the changes their bodies are going through.

"Regardless of disability, you will go through puberty," said Goldstein. "It might look different, but not being taught because someone doesn't know exactly how your body will respond is what leads to so many negative outcomes, especially for disabled youths."

Goldstein added that youths with disabilities often have been left out of conversations around sex education, even though research shows they are at greater risk for negative health impacts, sexual abuse or intimate partner violence.

MOASH is hosting a summit for youths with disabilities across the state later this fall, to create a safe space to talk about these issues and empower folks to advocate for inclusive resources.

NEW YORK - Tomorrow, advocates for New Yorkers with disabilities will ask the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to stop the shared-ride model for its Access-A-Ride service that resumed in July, because of ongoing public-health risks.

The COVID-19 delta variant is a big reason groups like the Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York, are against MTA reversing the single-ride passenger rule that's been in place throughout the pandemic.

Sharon McLennon-Wier, executive director of CIDNY, said more than one rider at a time poses a risk to others with health complications who can't be vaccinated.

"So I think at this point," said McLennon-Wier, "at least allow the single share-ride program to continue until we get a better grasp on infection rates and transmission rates as we go towards the fall with the delta variant."

Access-A-Ride drivers are contract workers, so they aren't required to follow the MTA's vaccination mandate.

McLennon-Wier noted a passenger might spend hours on paratransit getting to their destination because of multiple trips across the city. That can affect many aspects of life, from the ability to gain employment to attending appointments.

McLennon-Wier said folks also may not feel safe taking a bus or train, depending on their disability, and accessibility features like elevators are sparse and can lead to a longer trip.

"And it's problematic," said McLennon-Wier. "It could be a 20 minute ride that turns into two hours. This is why people use Access-A-Ride, because it is a door-to-door service and they have no alternative, because of cost."

McLennon-Wier, who is blind, acknowledged it can be difficult for people who consider themselves able-bodied to understand the importance of a more inclusive transportation system.

"I think if people start seeing themselves as 'this could happen to me' - or 'this could be me at any point,'" said McLennon-Wier, "perhaps we could start to get some more dignified responses to how we see accessibility and transportation in New York City."

Advocates will make their demands known tomorrow at 11 a.m. in front of MTA Administrative Headquarters in Manhattan.