Keeley Cotter was active in the Mena FFA Chapter during high school. She served on the officer team, showed livestock, attended conferences and knew she wanted to remain connected to her agricultural roots after graduation.
In 2022, as part of a doctoral program in occupational therapy at the University of Central Arkansas, Cotter completed a capstone project that created agricultural opportunities for students of all abilities.
“When we look at ag and the [special education] sector, there’s a big gap,” Cotter says. “I wanted to find a way to empower students who have different abilities to actively participate.”
Equipping Others
As part of the project, Cotter led an in-service training for FFA advisors. Within her lessons, she shared strategies for adjusting the curriculum for students who need accommodations for physical or cognitive disabilities or sensory issues.
Keeley Cotter’s occupational therapy capstone project included leading comprehensive agricultural lessons for agriculture students in Arkansas.
Cotter also held comprehensive lessons in agriculture for special education students in the Norfork FFA and Mena FFA chapters in Arkansas. The activities included a field trip to a farm to work in the garden and feed chickens as well as a mini lamb camp with Bryan Maye, her former ag ed teacher and FFA advisor.
“It really gave them the opportunity to be hands-on, independent and have their own learning process,” she says.
The students enjoyed the activities, and the advisors learned a lot too.
“Working with those students and being part of that activity helped me to be more comfortable in that setting,” Maye says. “To see the joy it brought to those kids was just phenomenal.”
Norfork FFA advisor (and Cotter’s father-in-law) Lyn Cotter had a similar experience.
“Safety is an issue and [Keeley] brought a different perspective of things we could do to safely accomplish the goal,” he says.
Learning to Adapt
As part of her capstone project, Cotter also worked one-on-one with 13-year-old Norfork FFA member Jamey Martin to help him prepare to show sheep at the county fair. Martin has Down syndrome and needed accommodations to excel in the livestock show.
“Jamey has a little shorter trunk, and we have to adapt things a little bit,” Cotter says.
Martin’s lamb, Austin, won grand champion.
“Keeley helped me with the halter, feeding, walking and washing,” Martin says. “It was fun.”
Next Steps
After completing her doctoral program, Cotter accepted a position as an occupational therapist and plans to incorporate her love of livestock and passion for inclusion into her career. Overall, she hopes her capstone project will encourage FFA advisors to pursue opportunities to involve students of all abilities in agriculture.
“Inclusion is working alongside individuals — not just providing opportunities and then separating ourselves, but truly working as a team,” Cotter says. “When we know the true meaning of inclusion, we’re better able to put that into practice.”
