Frequently Asked Questions
Introduction
Collaborative Partnership
Financial Concerns
Confidentiality
Populations Served
Service Delivery Area
Services Provided to Individuals
Services Provided to Communities
Assessment Options
Project Contact
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 on the farm or ranch.
Who has a disability?
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.
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 for people who live in farming communities includes any kind of device, modification, or service that will help a person with a disability work and live more independently in the rural setting.
An assistive technology device is any item or piece of equipment used to maintain or improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities, allowing them to function independently in any setting including: recreation, education, employment and daily living.
Assistive technology enables a person with a disability to complete tasks within an agricultural setting. Examples of assistive technology include• Tractor seat with added back support
• Walking canes
• Extended tractor steps
• Tractor lift
• Turney seat
• Universal steps
• Wheelchair lift
• Speech recognition software
Collaborative Partnership
Who are the funded partners?
The Oklahoma AgrAbility Project is housed in the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service in cooperation from the Langston University School of Physical Therapy 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 (NAP) is a USDA-funded program that provides vital education, assistance and support to farmers and ranchers with disabilities.
Through the combined dedication Cooperative Extension Service and nonprofit disability organizations, AgrAbility helps thousands of determined individuals overcome barriers to continuing their chosen professions in agriculture.
AgrAbility came into existence through the 1990 Farm Bill, and the first eight SRAPs were funded in 1991. At that time, the NAP was lead by Purdue University’s Breaking New Ground Resource Center in partnership with Easter Seals (national office). Funding continued to grow, and by 2000, 18 SRAPs were funded. Leadership for the NAP moved to the University of Wisconsin-Madison in continued partnership with Easter Seals.
Currently, there are 21 USDA-funded SRAPs providing services in 22 states, plus several un funded affiliates serving other states via other funding sources.
The NAP moved back to Purdue University in 2008, with partnering organizations being Goodwill Industries International, the Arthritis Foundation-Indiana Chapter, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Since the program began, competitive projects have 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 re authorized in the 1996 Farm Bill.
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.
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?
Referrals will be made to resources most capable of adapting technical equipment. The AgrAbility Project primarily provides professional training, information dissemination, technical assistance, on-farm assessment and referral to other service providers.
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.
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.
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.
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 DVD's 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. 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. A follow-up visit may also be appropriate.
How do I know what equipment will best fit my needs?
The AgrAbility Project is the network of information resources. This network includes 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 also available to share research, experience and insight.
May I try out some assistive devices?
The Oklahoma ABLE Tech has a library of adaptive equipment that you may try out. 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 requires vocational rehabilitation services to gain employment are eligible to receive services.
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.
AgrAbility Extension
211 Agricultural Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-2398
Fax: 405-744-6059
E-mail: ability@okstate.edu
AgrAbility & Oklahoma ABLE Tech
1514 West Hall of Fame
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-5182 or 888-885-5588 (voice/tty)
Meet the staff | Meet the Advisory Council
Click here to view the Oklahoma AgrAbility brochure