Beekeeping has increasingly been applied as an inclusive practice to engage persons with disabilities in productive and socially relevant activities. Experiences in Africa, Europe and North America show that apiculture, when adapted with appropriate infrastructure, training and support systems, can provide both income opportunities and social rehabilitation.

In Uganda, a project targeted persons with visual impairments through a structured 12-month training programme covering hive management, honey harvesting, processing, and marketing. The initiative also included business skills and financial management modules, enabling participants to establish sustainable micro-enterprises. Beyond technical outcomes, the programme enhanced self-confidence and community participation.
🔗 Uganda project description

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, apiculture has been used to support the socio-economic reintegration of landmine survivors and persons with physical disabilities. With support from the International Trust Fund (ITF) and local NGOs, participants attended practical training in Slovenia, acquired equipment, and set up apiaries in Banja Luka. Honey and other bee products have since been marketed locally, while the new UDAS community beekeeping centre functions as a place for continued training and peer support. The project emphasized both income generation and psychosocial rehabilitation.
🔗 ITF Beekeeping project in Bosnia

In Slovenia, the first wheelchair-accessible apiary was established in 2018 by the national paraplegic association. Infrastructure modifications included lowered hives, wider access paths, and ergonomic tools allowing independent management of bee colonies by persons with mobility impairments. In parallel, a technical manual was developed, providing detailed guidance on construction, adapted equipment, and safety considerations. This manual has become a global reference for inclusive apiculture design.
🔗 Manual on Accessible Beekeeping (PDF)

In the United States, organizations such as AgrAbility and Accessible Beekeeping have advanced the concept of adaptive beekeeping through technologies and knowledge products. Solutions include rotating hives that can be inspected from a seated position, mechanical lifts for heavy supers, ergonomic protective gear, and digital tools for hive monitoring. Training materials and demonstration sites provide extension support, while Accessible Beekeeping, established as a non-profit, coordinates knowledge sharing and capacity building at institutional level. The initiative has also been featured in podcasts and online learning platforms, broadening outreach.
🔗 Adaptive Beekeeping – Bee Culture
🔗 Accessible Beekeeping official site
🔗 Beekeeping Today Podcast – Accessible Beekeeping

In addition to these cases, other resources have documented individual and community experiences. The blog Beekeeping with Disabilities, curated by apiculturist Frank Linton, collects testimonies from beekeepers with diverse conditions, including visual impairment, PTSD, and reduced mobility, while providing practical advice and references to adaptive equipment.
🔗 Beekeeping with Disabilities blog