Frequently Asked Questions
Services Provided to Individuals
Services Provided to Communities
Introduction
What is the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project?
The AgrAbility Project assists people employed in agriculture who have diseases, disabilities or disorders that interfere with their ability to perform daily tasks. This effort involves linking the Cooperative Extension Service with nonprofit disability organizations to provide appropriate education and assistance designed to promote independence in production agriculture and rural living. The AgrAbility Project provides professional training, on-farm assessment, technical assistance, information dissemination and referral to other service providers. The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service is the lead agency and directs daily operations, information dissemination and educational outreach activities. On-farm technical assistance is coordinated by Oklahoma ABLE Tech.
Who has a disability?
For the AgrAbility Project, a person with a disability is defined as an individual with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Disability examples include difficulty with mobility, sight or speech and activity examples such as work, daily living and education. The definition of disability includes, but is not limited to amputation, arthritis, back injury, blindness, chronic pain, deafness, health conditions, hearing impairments, heart conditions, respiratory diseases, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury and visual impairments.
What about safety?
To perform an activity in an unsafe manner involves risk. The degree of risk is affected by personal factors, environmental factors and equipment factors. The AgrAbility Project helps consumers be aware of appropriate activities considering personal limitations and relevant circumstances.
What is assistive technology?
Assistive technology consists of practices, devices, tools, modifications, processes and a special knowledge of science and engineering that enable a person to perform a desired task. For the AgrAbility Project, assistive technology enables a person with a disability to complete desired tasks within an agricultural setting.
Collaborative Partnership
Who are the funded partners?
The Oklahoma AgrAbility Project is housed in the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service with joint cooperation from county extension centers, Langston University Center for Outreach Programs and the Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation, a nonprofit disability organization with services provided by Oklahoma ABLE Tech. Representatives from each of the entities form the management team.
What is the National AgrAbility Project?
The National AgrAbility Project is an example of a consumer-driven, USDA-funded program that provides vital education, assistance and support to farmers and ranchers with disabilities. Through the combined dedication and expertise of the Cooperative Extension Service and nonprofit disability organizations, AgrAbility helps thousands of determined individuals overcome barriers to continuing their chosen professions in agriculture.
AgrAbility was authorized in the 1990 Farm Bill and funded by Congress in 1991. Since the program began, competitive projects have been awarded to selected Cooperative Extension Services that have joined with nonprofit disability organizations to educate and assist agricultural workers with disabilities and their families. The National AgrAbility Project was reauthorized in the 1996 Farm Bill.
In addition to state-level grants, one national grant funds the National AgrAbility Project, which is directed by University of Wisconsin-Madison and National Easter Seals Society staff. The National AgrAbility Project provides training, technical assistance and information about available resources to state AgrAbility projects.
How do rehabilitation therapists work with AgrAbility?
Health care professionals trained in occupational, physical, respiratory or speech therapy can evaluate an individual's skills. The skill levels are matched to task demands, and recommendations are made for task adaptation or for the application of appropriate adaptive technology. These services are paid for by individuals, insurance companies or through state and federal programs. AgrAbility provides resources about working in agriculture with disabilities to health care professionals.
Project Contact
How can I contact the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project?
You may contact the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project by calling (888) 885-5588 (voice/tty), e-mail or through your local county extension office.
Financial Concerns
Is there a fee for services?
No fee is required for professional training, information dissemination, technical assistance, on-farm assessment or educational resource materials. Professionals from the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project are available for farmers, ranchers, agricultural workers and their family members.
Will you help me obtain funding?
Sources and amounts of funding available depend on circumstances. The Assistive Technology Specialist, in conjunction with the management team, can make referrals to funding sources appropriate to your specific needs.
Will the Project make the necessary modifications?
The AgrAbility Project primarily provides professional training, information dissemination, technical assistance, on-farm assessment and referral to other service providers. In addition, referrals can be made to others more capable of adapting technical equipment.
How much information do I have to share regarding personal finances?
You decide what information you are willing to share. People working with the program are professionals and will not gather unnecessary information, nor will they share information without your permission or violate your right to privacy.
Do you accept donations?
The AgrAbility Project will accept donations to support Project activities. Donations are applied to support professional training activities, assistive technologies, display supplies, educational materials, travel expenses or modest meal allowances.
Confidentiality
Will other people find out I have a disability?
The AgrAbility Project provides information to agricultural producers with disabilities and their families that will enable them to improve or restore agricultural productivity. Your neighbors may notice that you are able to perform tasks that you formerly were prevented from pursuing. If they ask how the recovery happened, we hope you will share your experience with them, but you are not required to do so. You may decide to mentor farmers with a disability in your community and, if so, you will become a valuable resource to others.
How many farmers receive services?
Federal funds received by the USDA require reports for public record so anyone may access the reported information. However the consumer identity, nature of disability, details of the on-farm assessment and financial information will remain confidential.
Populations Served
Who does AgrAbility serve?
Any Oklahoman with a disease, disability or disorder and who is engaged in farming, ranching or in other agriculture-related occupations is eligible to receive services.
I don't receive funds from SSD or SSI. Can I still receive services from AgrAbility?
Services provided are not linked to Social Security Disability (SSD) or Social Security Income (SSI) benefits. Any Oklahoman with a disease, disability or disorder and who is engaged in farming, ranching or in other agriculture-related occupations is eligible to receive services.
Service Delivery Area
Do I have to live on the farm to receive services?
No. Any Oklahoman with a disease, disability or disorder and who is engaged in farming, ranching or in other agriculture-related occupations is eligible to receive services.
Are services available statewide?
The entire state is part of the program. Awareness-level presentations and on-farm assessments can be provided anywhere in Oklahoma. The management team is a resource for issues not detailed during training sessions.
How can I receive AgrAbility services if I live in a state that does not have an AgrAbility Project?
The National AgrAbility Project will provide information and resources for people in states without an AgrAbility Project.
Will training be held in an accessible location?
The AgrAbility Project is committed to make every effort to ensure materials and services offered are accessible to all people with disabilities. Upon request, materials can be produced in an accessible format. Training sessions and outreach programs will be held in accessible facilities.
Services Provided to Individuals
What types of services are provided?
Services offered by the program include professional training, information dissemination, technical assistance, on-farm assessment and referral to other service providers.
How long will services be available?
As long as Oklahoma State University receives funding, services will be provided.
Services Provided to Communities
Is someone available to make presentations and provide training?
The management team and members of the AgrAbility advisory committee are available to make presentations or provide training.
Who can participate in the training sessions?
The goal of training sessions is to enhance the professional competencies of rural agricultural professionals, rehabilitation therapists, health care providers, vocational case managers and other service providers to individuals with disabilities and their families. Extension specialists, rehabilitation therapists, people working in disability-related agencies, social service agencies, health care agencies, and others interested in the program are invited to attend. Those who participate in these training sessions will be asked to become part of the information and referral provider network of the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project.
Is there a fee for training sessions?
A fee will not be charged for professional training, although some cost recovery may be necessary for resources such as video tapes, slide sets and additional training manuals.
Assessment Options
What is an on-farm assessment?
The assessment is an on-site evaluation to match the individual's goals with ways to achieve them. During the assessment process, an individual may decide to redefine long-term goals and prioritize short-term goals. The on-farm assessment is typically completed in one visit, although information and referral follow-up via telephone and correspondence are appropriate. Because the assessment is a process, a follow-up visit may also be appropriate.
How do I know what equipment will best fit my needs?
One of the strengths of the AgrAbility Project is the network of information resources. In addition to the community-based experts such as extension specialists, rehabilitation therapists, independent living specialists, and others who have attended training sessions, the AgrAbility management team members, advisory committee members, National AgrAbility technical consults and peer mentors are available to share research, experience and insight.
May I try out some assistive devices?
The Oklahoma Assistive Technology Project, Oklahoma ABLE Tech, has a library of adaptive equipment that you may try out. Demonstration of assistive technology is available through regional independent living centers. Services provided include information and referral regarding assistive technology products, services, policy/funding issues, training on assistive technology for consumers and service providers, advocacy for accessing funding and policy change for assistive technology. Populations served are people with all disabilities of all ages, employers, businesses, service providers and governmental units.
How do I encourage my community to become more accessible?
Advocate for personal rights, form disability coalitions, contact a nearby center for independent living and involve others interested in disability rights.
What vocational training is available after a disease, disability or disorder?
Vocational rehabilitation may be an option to assist people following an injury. The types of services provided include vocational evaluation, counseling and guidance, vocational skills training, job placement assistance and tuition assistance. A representative of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services can be located within your area. Vocational assistance is determined case-by-case based on meeting eligibility criteria. Individuals who have physical or mental disability that results in an impediment to employment and who require vocational rehabilitation services to gain employment are eligible to receive services. There is no cost to the consumer for services. Some financial services are based on financial need. An AgrAbility assessment can assist in the process for receiving funds.
