Oklahoma AgrAbility Newsletter
Winter 2007 • Volume 6 • Issue 1
Increasing Oklahomans' Indepedence
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NOTE: Mention or display of a trademark, proprietary product or firm in text or figures does not constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Oklahoma State University, Langston University or the National AgrAbility Project and does not imply approval to the exclusion of other suitable products or firms.
In This Issue
Increasing Oklahomans' Independence
Applying for Vocational Rehabilitation
Social Security Programs for You
Building Success with AgrAbility and DRS
Overcoming Barriers and Continuing Careers
Peer Advocate Committed to Helping Others
Increasing Oklahomans' Independence
Helping Oklahomans lead more independent, productive lives is one of the primary goals of the Department of Rehabilitation Services of Oklahoma.
As the main agency for disability services in Oklahoma, DRS serves more than 180,000 Oklahomans each year through vocational rehabilitation, education, independent living services and Social Security disability benefits.
DRS programs are administered by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Division of Visual Services and the Disability Determination Division.
Vocational rehabilitation services help people with disabilities obtain jobs primarily through counseling and job placement, as well as medical and psychological assessments, training and self-employment programs. Services are offered to eligible clients at no charge or on a cost-share basis.
Education services include residential and day education, satellite preschool, and outreach programs through the Oklahoma School for the Blind and Oklahoma School for the Deaf. The schools provide comprehensive curricula, specialized instruction, vocational and campus life activities. In addition, the Transition School-to-Work program prepares students with disabilities for employment and life after high school.
Independent living services, including medical equipment, assistive technology, specialized skills training and home modifications, assist individuals with severe disabilities in functioning within their families and communities.
DRS also works with the Social Security Administration to determine the eligibility of disability benefits applicants under Social Security law.
DRS' services are available to eligible people with disabilities who work in a range of occupations, including agriculture.
Applying for Vocational Rehabilitation
Obtaining vocational rehabilitation services from the Department of Rehabilitation Services of Oklahoma often is a practical option for AgrAbility clients.
The AgrAbility Program Specialist, Carla Wilhite, works with AgrAbility clients to determine whether environmental modifications, adaptive technologies or other accommodations will improve participation in work or living tasks.
Wilhite also provides assistance as clients navigate the steps to receiving services, including helping AgrAbility clients understand the vocational rehabilitation process and sharing information with vocational rehabilitation counselors.
Initially, AgrAbility clients meet with a vocational rehabilitation counselor to complete an application, which requires medical, psychological, educational and other disability-related information. The counselor then evaluates the information provided to determine eligibility.
Evaluations of applications may take up to 60 days and could be extended with an applicant's permission. Regardless of eligibility status, DRS provides information and referral assistance to assist applicants in exploring services from other sources.
If eligibility for services is approved, an individualized employment plan is developed. The plan outlines the vocational rehabilitation services that will be received, as well as employment goals, service providers and methods for receiving services.
Counseling and guidance with job placement are the primary services provided through vocational rehabilitation. Post-employment services also may be offered to assist clients in overcoming disability-related barriers to employment and ensure clients keep current jobs, return to jobs and advance in their chosen professions.
In addition to the assistance provided by Wilhite as clients work with DRS, Clark Williams, the Oklahoma AgrAbility Farm Financial Specialist, is available to assist with any financial documentation required throughout the application process.
If you are interested in learning more about working with AgrAbility and DRS, please call (888) 885-5588 (voice/tty).
Social Security Programs for You
Oklahoma AgrAbility clients may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits through Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income, which are the two largest federal assistance programs for people with disabilities.
More than 600,000 Oklahomans received $523 million in Social Security benefits in 2004, the latest year for which data is available from the Social Security Administration. About 14 percent of Social Security beneficiaries in Oklahoma were workers with disabilities and their families, and they received $80 million in assistance in 2004.
Social Security disability benefits are based on total disability, and benefits are not payable for partial or short-term disabilities that are not expected to result in death or last more than one year. Essentially, disability under Social Security is based on the inability to work, and applicants are considered disabled if work cannot be performed as it was prior to the disability and medical reasons prevent adjustments to other work.
Social Security Disability Insurance pays benefits to eligible applicants and certain family members if employment and Social Security tax requirements are met. The insurance program is funded by a portion of the FICA taxes a worker and employer pay on the worker's earnings.
Supplemental Security Income, however, is funded by general tax revenues rather than Social Security taxes. Supplemental income assists beneficiaries with meeting food, clothing and shelter needs.
In 2004, about 91 percent of workers ages 21 to 64 in covered employment and their families had protection in the event of long-term disability.
Beneficiaries currently receiving disability insurance and supplemental income benefits who would like to work or increase their current earnings may be eligible for the Ticket to Work program. The voluntary program first was offered in 2002 to provide choices in obtaining support and services to achieve employment goals.
More than 140,000 Oklahomans between ages 18 and 64 have received tickets to purchase employment assistance, vocational rehabilitation and other support services through employment networks of service providers. In Oklahoma, the Department of Rehabilitation Services of Oklahoma Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Division of Visual Services form a primary employment network.
The assistance provided through the Ticket to Work program enables individuals with disabilities to become employed, which reduces their needs for disability benefits and assistance.
Building Success with AgrAbility and DRS
In 2002, the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project and the Department of Rehabilitation Services of Oklahoma began a dynamic relationship to assist Oklahoma agricultural producers and their families with overcoming disability-related barriers to participation in agricultural activities.
Oklahoma AgrAbility and DRS successfully have connected AgrAbility clients with about $125,000 in medical, rehabilitation and assistive technology services during the past four years.
Agricultural producers and their families who have been impacted by disability often are referred to DRS by Carla Wilhite, the Oklahoma AgrAbility Program Specialist, if eligibility requirements are met.
"About 75 percent of AgrAbility clients are referred to DRS, with about 50 percent of those referred actually applying for services," Wilhite said.
In addition to helping AgrAbility clients determine if they are eligible for services through DRS, Wilhite has assisted clients with applications for services and worked with DRS staff to ensure clients' needs have been met.
AgrAbility clients who obtained services through DRS overcame barriers to continue working in the career of their choice - agriculture - and Oklahoma AgrAbility and DRS look forward to continuing services for Oklahomans with disabilities who are involved in agriculture.
Overcoming Barriers and Continuing Careers
Gene Mikles
Gene raises wheat, soybeans and cattle in southwestern Oklahoma. A stroke caused permanent impairment of Gene's right arm and leg, which limited his ability to access his tractor and move around his farm. Through DRS, Gene obtained a lift that enables him to access his tractor cab and complete tasks around his farm independently, despite his limited mobility.
Don Zahorsky
Don raises registered Angus cattle and wheat, and owns a custom combining business in northwestern Oklahoma. Don's right arm was amputated above the elbow after an injury on his farm, which created a barrier to operating his combine. With assistance from DRS, Don obtained foot controls for the combine header, which allowed him to return to work at his farm and in his combining business.
Larry Borth
Larry raises cattle, sheep, wheat and hay in northwestern Oklahoma. Larry used the same prosthetic arm for more than 40 years, and it literally was held together with duct tape. DRS provided services and partial funding for a new prosthesis, with Larry's cost-share for services paid partially with a grant from the Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation.
Thad Cox
Thad backgrounds several thousand cattle, and his time working horseback and performing physically demanding tasks resulted in severe osteoarthritis in both hips. Thad needed total hip replacements but did not have health insurance. Thad obtained medical and rehabilitation services through DRS and returned to work without the debilitating pain he had before the total hip replacements.
Farm Finances
One of the frustrating components of applying for government programs and assistance is not knowing what financial information is needed. This can be complicated further because different programs and agencies have different requirements. However, a few basic financial documents will provide the information needed for most applications.
When applying for assistance with Social Security or vocational rehabilitation, the primary financial information requested is for income verification. Income level typically is verified using form 1040 of your federal tax return. Other documentation that may be requested to prove current income levels includes pay stubs or, in the case of someone who is self-employed, sales receipts.
When applying for a loan through a private lender or the Farm Service Agency, the two primary financial statements you will need to provide are a balance sheet and an income statement. The balance sheet lists what you own and owe, while the income statement shows your revenue and expenses for the year. Additional information about these statements may be found in the Summer 2006 AgrAbility Newsletter (www.agrability.okstate.edu/newsletters/summer2006newsletter.html)
As the Farm Financial Specialist for the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project, I am available to assist individuals with the financial documentation needed for their applications. Feel free to call me at (405) 466-6101 for more information.
Clark Williams, AgrAbility Farm Financial Specialist
Peer Advocate Committed to Helping Others
Getting involved in one or two community projects is a stretch for some people. For James Kuhn, a lifelong commitment to Payne County and the state of Oklahoma began with a move to Glencoe in 1948.
Kuhn graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1956, volunteered for the Navy and entered officer candidate school. His naval assignment was in engineering, although his bachelor's degree was in agricultural education.
"I guess they figured farm boys ought to know something about engineering and machinery," Kuhn said.
Kuhn served in the Navy until 1960. After his return to Glencoe, Kuhn actively farmed until 1996 and remained active in the Naval Reserve until 2005. He retired from the reserve as a commander.
Kuhn's farm enterprises included raising cattle, custom-baling hay, and growing wheat, barley and alfalfa. In addition to farming, Kuhn became active in community and state activities, including the Glencoe Community Center, Glencoe United Methodist Church, Payne County Soil and Water Conservation District, Payne County Tax Advisory Council and Oklahoma Farmers Union.
Kuhn's involvement in Oklahoma Farmers Union led him to serving the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project as a peer advocate and advisory council member.
"Since I had been a longtime member of the Farmers Union, they called and said they were looking to have a representative on the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project board," Kuhn said. "It sounded to me like a program where I could be useful in reaching and advising people."
Kuhn considers himself useful to people with disabilities because he can relate to their experiences - his hand was amputated in 1987 while working on a combine.
"I knew better," Kuhn said. "I have learned to be more patient. I have also learned consideration from having to face humility myself."
As a peer advocate, Kuhn said he hopes he can offer assistance to those who need it by helping them learn how to continue working in agriculture and by being a person who understands disability-related obstacles from personal experience.
"Sometimes people with disabilities are more prone to listen to someone who has a disability themselves, rather than someone who has never dealt with such events," Kuhn said.
Thanks to Jackie Haines for contributing this story.
Looking for More Information?
Department of Rehabilitation Services (state office)
3535 N.W. 58th St., Suite 500
Oklahoma City, OK 73112-4815
(405) 951-3400
(800) 845-8476 (toll free)
www.okrehab.org
Social Security Administration
Twenty-two offices located throughout Oklahoma
www.ssa.gov
Carla Wilhite
AgrAbility Program Specialist
Seretean Wellness Center
1514 W. Hall of Fame
Stillwater, OK 74078-2026
(405) 744-5182
(888) 885-5588 (toll free)
Clark Williams
AgrAbility Farm Financial Specialist
Langston University
P.O. Box 1258
Langston, OK 73050
(405) 466-6101
Oklahoma AgrAbility Project
(405) 744-2398
www.agrability.okstate.edu
This newsletter was supported in part by USDA-CSREES grant award number 2006-41590-03434.