Commitment to Inclusion

We sat down to talk with disability advocate, civil rights lawyer and entrepreneur, Gina Kline. Here is what we learned!

🔍What is Social Security Income?
"The Social security system was conceived during a time with great economic inequality in this country. It is part of the very important fabric of the Public Safety Net in the United States and many of the folks that are qualified for Social Security are among the most economically vulnerable Americans and have the most sort of obvious or material unmet needs in terms of healthcare as well."

🗝What are the eligibility requirements of benefits?
"The Social Security eligibility is really a means tested program. Which means that folks that folks are eligible or below a certain income threshold and also have medical needs. There`s a medical documentation part of it and a income documentation part of but on balance what it means is that you have not access to a certain level of income and you have disability needs."

💡What are the current issues that individuals face when receiving SSI benefits?
"For a while there is a low current threshold on the amount of savings that people Americans with Disabilities can have at any given time. I believe it hasn`t been updated since the 19 early 1980s so that`s how it`s not it`s not chained to the current cost of living with a disability. So, what we have is a community that is searching for viable upward mobility, meaningful work in a world in which so often people are given a Hobson`s choice between being able to save and save for a rainy day and being able to access health care and needed benefits and support from these programs."

Watch the full video on youtube linked in our bio!

[Video Description: Female with hair to the side talking to the camera with caption in the forefront that reads "What is Social Security Income?" "Read the caption!"]

#DisabilityAdvocacy #Disability #DisabilityMatters #HumanRights #CivilRights #Leaders #Farming #VerticalFarming

April is Autism Awareness month! Dr. Temple Grandin is well known for her trailblazing work as a spokesperson for people with autism and her lifelong work with animal behavior. In her book, The Autistic Brain, she presents research findings that show all different kinds of specialized thinkers. “The skills that people with autism bring to the table should be nurtured for their benefit in society” -Grandin

[Video Description: First video of green tomato plants growing inside the Vertical Harvest greenhouse with white text, and a green background "“We need the people who can build our trains and planes and internet..." Second video of a group of individuals and Temple Grandin next to the tomato plants with white text that reads "and the people who can make them run." Third video of VH employee prepping for seeding and Temple watching and quote in white above the video that reads "Studies have shown that diverse teams will outperform homogeneous teams." Fourth video of individuals tasting VH products on small plates and talking. The quote in front of the video reads "If you’ve ever attended a meeting where nothing gets solved, it may be because..." "there are too many people who think alike.” Final photo of three females taking a selfie outside and smiling.]

#AutismAwarenessMonth #Autism #TempleGrandin #VisualThinkers #Disability #DisabilityMatters #VerticalFarming #Inclusion #SpecializedThinkers #Farming

April is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. It`s a time to recognize the talents, creativity and contributions people with autism share every day and celebrate acceptance.
VH Farm Associate, Johnny Fifles identifies with autism. When he`s not working at the farm, you can catch him hosting Jackson`s local radio show at 12pm on Thursdays, creating art, or competing in the Special Olympics. Johnny has worked at Vertical harvest since the beginning and is a farm ambassador. He has been interviewed by national media outlets and has traveled across the country to share our mission with new audiences.

[Video Description: Male with dark hair, in front of a red Vertical Harvest van with a helmet on, wearing a red T-shirt. Videos include Johnny talking about autism in front of a red Vertical Harvest van. Final video of Johnny riding away on his bike waving back to the camera]

#AustismAwarenessMonth #Autism #Inclusivity #Diversity #Farming #JacksonHole #Disability #DisabilityAwareness

March marked the four year anniversary of Jackson’s Biggest Rockstar, Tim Mclaurin, dancing on town square every weekend no matter the weather! As a Vertical Harvest Facility Associate, Tim brings his rockstar energy to work everyday. Honk if you like his dance moves driving through Jackson’s town square!
[Video Description: First image of Tim holding a sign with headphones on. Sign that reads “Honk if my dance moves make your day, God bless the USA!!” Two videos of Tim dancing under the arches in Jackson town square. Fourth video of Tim dancing in the greenhouse with hair net and green VH T-shirt. Fifth photo of Tim with a purple sign that reads “Honk if you like my dance moves.”]

#JacksonsBiggestRockstar #Farming #Dancing #JacksonWY #Groovy

We are farmers.. of course we are multitalented!
Here are some clips of our employees showing off their musical skills. And don`t miss out on a chance to see one of our employees, with a former employee, play live at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort this Saturday March, 30th at 3pm under the Tram. Follow their band @outtashorts to discover their genre-bending tunes and all the info on where to catch their shows in Teton Valley.

[Video Description: clip one of a band from above with red and purple lighting, playing a cover of What`s Up by the Four Non Blondes, second clip of a guitarist, wearing a hat and t-shirt playing to the tune of Little Wing, Jimi Hendrix, third clip of a female standing and playing the bass guitar, fourth clip of individuals sitting on a couch and one on the ground with guitars, banjos and ukulele`s.]

#Musical #Farmers #Singing #Guitar #FarmersPlayingMusic #Rock #Folk #JacksonHole #JHDreaming

Every Wednesday morning, the Greenhouse starts the day with a gentle yoga practice led by one of our local Yogi`s @livsears. We tune into our breath and bodies, warming up our limbs for the labor and love we put into our work. "Be Well," as a Human-centered approach in our Grow Well model, reminds us to take care of ourselves in and outside of work. Mental, physical and spiritual wellness are a part of this specialized approach to how we live and work in harmony.

[Video Description: Door opening to the break room of the Jackson Hole Greenhouse. Employees sit in chairs spread apart, stretching, facing a yoga instructor in the front of the room. Standing postures with hands above head. Final photo of the yoga instructor and employees smiling as a group with a green background and caption that reads "thank you Liv for mindful movements in our days."]

#Yoga #RestorativeYoga #ChairYoga #Farming #FarmerYoga #Mindfulness #Meditation #Breath #Stretching #Health #HealthandWellness #MorningRitual #YogaAndCoffee

Many disabled individuals rely on monthly SSI (Supplemental Security Income) benefits to meet basic needs. However, the current system penalizes them for marriage and employment, perpetuating poverty, loneliness, and inequity. The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act aims to raise benefit maximums, increasing the savings limit for individuals from $2,000 to $10,000 and for married couples from $3,000 to $20,000, enabling greater independence without fear of losing vital support.
This bill is in the House and Senate RIGHT NOW and we need YOUR help. Write to your state legislators or click the link in our bio Linktree to send an email.

[Video Description: Vertical Harvest Farms employees writing letters to their legislators, placing them in envelopes and stamping them.]

#SSISavingsPenaltyEliminationAct #DisabilityAdvocacy #DisabilityMatters #LettersToLegislators #ProtectYourRights #HumanRights #Inclusion #Advocate

Thibaud is a disability literacy expert. Watch the full video on youtube [link in bio] to learn more about disability, forms of ableism and ways to improve your language to avoid using ableist language.

[Video Description: A Vertical Harvest employee, wearing glasses with brown, short hair, sitting in front of a green, moss wall]

#CombatAbleism #DisabilityLiteracy #Disability #DisabilityMatters #VerticalFarming #GrowWell