Oklahoma AgrAbility has a record of success!
Thad specializes in backgrounding several thousand cattle for other ranchers. His time working horseback and other injuries resulted in severe osteoarthritis in both hips. Thad needed total hip replacements but did not have health insurance. AgrAbility assisted Thad with applying for vocational rehabilitation services, and his counselor acted swiftly to help him obtain medical and rehabilitation services. Thad returned to work as a livestock sales contractor without the debilitating pain he had before the total hip replacements.
Gene owns a large wheat, soybean and cattle operation. In 1999, he had a severe stroke that resulted in permanent impairment of his right arm and leg. With assistance from AgrAbility, Gene worked with the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services to obtain additional therapy, visual services and a tractor lift.
Willie Mae cares for a garden, poultry and fruit trees. Severe osteoarthritis in both knees limited her independent living. Oklahoma AgrAbility, through the Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation, helped her replace steep stairs at the front entrance of her home with new concrete steps and a handrail. She also obtained easy-grip kitchen utensils, an electric jar opener and a bathtub rail.
John received an incomplete T-12 spinal cord injury in a farming accident two years ago. With assistance from Oklahoma AgrAbility, he applied for and received $20,000 from vocational rehabilitation services to retrofit two Case-IH tractors with seated lifts. Vocational rehabilitation also funded repairs on the doors of a large farm shop so John could open them without assistance. AgrAbility also assisted John with writing a business plan and a Plan for Achieving Self Sufficiency to participate in the Social Security Work Incentives Program, through which he raised an additional $20,000 toward making work accommodations on his farm.