New World Survival · Inclusive Garden Field Manual
Senior & Accessible Community Garden Participation & Access Workbook
Test real participant access from transportation to task completion, then document work positions, tools, rest, heat, communication and maintenance adaptations that should survive staff turnover.
Program boundary: This workbook helps adapt a garden program. It is not a medical screening, fall-risk assessment, treatment plan or clinical clearance form.
1. Host setting / controlling framework
☐ Public senior/community/recreation center
☐ Independent/senior housing
☐ Adult day / assisted living / congregate care
☐ Nursing facility
☐ Nonprofit/private community garden
☐ Other
Accessibility / housing / care-program authority 2. Participant goals
| Participant / group | What they want to do | Preferred work position / schedule | Adaptation requested | Follow-up owner |
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3. Transportation / arrival chain
| Link | Usable? | Barrier / observation | Correction / contact |
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| Transit / shuttle / family drop-off | ☐ | | |
| Parking / accessible parking if applicable | ☐ | | |
| Drop-off to entrance | ☐ | | |
| Entrance / gate | ☐ | | |
| Route to work area | ☐ | | |
| Exit / return route | ☐ | | |
4. Path / movement hazard audit
| Area | Hoses/tools/clutter | Surface / transition | Lighting / contrast | Repair / owner |
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5. Work position / reach test
| Bed / station | Standing | Seated chair | Wheelchair / scooter | Reach / knee clearance issue | Change |
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6. Rest / shade / toilet / water
Who checks these before sessions? 7. Participation menu
| Role / task | Lower / moderate / higher demand | Seated option? | Tool/workspace adaptation | Lead / training |
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8. Adaptation ladder
Use in order when helpful: adapt task → adapt tool → adapt workspace → share task → reassign task.
| Task barrier | Task change | Tool change | Workspace change | Shared/reassigned? | Result |
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9. Tool comparison
| Task | Tool | Grip / release | Weight / control | Reach / leverage | User preference / result |
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10. Water-access adaptation
☐ Spigot/control reachable by intended users
☐ Hose is lightweight/managed off circulation route
☐ Quick connector / wand / valve works for users
☐ Drip/automatic watering reduces carrying where appropriate
☐ Shutoff/failure process is clear
Water barrier / correction 11. Communication / orientation audit
| Information | Print / visual | Spoken / demonstration | Other accessible format / process | Clear? |
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| Garden map / orientation | ☐ | ☐ | | ☐ |
| Task instructions | ☐ | ☐ | | ☐ |
| Tool / storage labels | ☐ | ☐ | | ☐ |
| Heat/weather / emergency | ☐ | ☐ | | ☐ |
| Schedule / transport information | ☐ | ☐ | | ☐ |
12. Heat / weather session plan
Use current local weather/heat/air-quality information and the host's plan. Make shade, breaks, hydration and stopping early normal options. Do not alter medications or create medical clearance rules.
Emergency contact / procedure Alternative indoor / lighter activity 13. Support person / caregiver role
| Situation | Guest / participant / volunteer? | Orientation / screening | Tasks / limits | Contact / notes |
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14. Care-setting activity controls if applicable
☐ Gardening reflects resident/participant interest and preference
☐ Activity is coordinated through facility/program staff
☐ Supervision / support follows facility process
☐ Any individual health/care limitations remain in authorized care records, not garden volunteer files
☐ Garden is not represented as clinical therapy without qualified program
Facility activity / care-program contact 15. Lower-maintenance design
| Maintenance burden | Current condition | Can demand be reduced? | Change / owner |
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| Water carrying / hose dragging | | | |
| Heavy soil / mulch handling | | | |
| Frequent staking / tying | | | |
| Large-area weeding | | | |
| High/reaching harvest | | | |
| Common infrastructure repair | | | |
16. Heavy/common work ownership
| Task | Routine participant? | Workday volunteers? | Staff/contractor? | Schedule / budget |
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| Bulk soil / compost | | | | |
| Bed construction / repair | | | | |
| Path repair | | | | |
| Major pruning / tree work | | | | |
| Irrigation / plumbing repair | | | | |
| Powered equipment | | | | |
17. Real-user audit log
| Date | User / work position | Barrier found | Priority correction | Owner / due | Retested? |
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18. Transportation / local support directory
| Service | Eligibility / area | Scheduling / contact | Garden implication |
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| Senior-center shuttle | | | |
| Paratransit | | | |
| Community / volunteer ride | | | |
| Eldercare Locator / aging service | | | |
| Disability access / DIAL resource | | | |
19. Program continuity packet
☐ Host accessibility/care framework
☐ Transportation / arrival map
☐ User-tested work positions / bed notes
☐ Adaptive / preferred tool inventory
☐ Seating / shade / toilet / water plan
☐ Communication / orientation formats
☐ Heat / weather plan
☐ Support-person rules
☐ Heavy-work ownership
☐ Open access/repair corrections
20. Annual proof and health review
☐ Participants helped test the actual garden
☐ Transportation and arrival remain usable
☐ No route is routinely blocked by hoses/tools/storage
☐ Work surfaces match actual users
☐ Task choices include meaningful lower-demand roles
☐ Adaptive tools are used because they solve real problems
☐ Shade/rest/water/toilet access are functional
☐ Heavy maintenance has an owner beyond participant goodwill
☐ Care-setting program controls remain current where applicable
☐ Successor coordinator can locate all adaptations and records
Three corrections before expanding the program