AgrAbility of Wisconsin Background Since 1991, AgrAbility of - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

AgrAbility of Wisconsin

Background • Since 1991, AgrAbility of Wisconsin has been promoting success in agriculture for farmers and their families living with a farm injury, disability, or limitation. • AgrAbility of Wisconsin is a partnership between the University of Wisconsin Extension and Easter Seals Wisconsin. • AgrAbility of Wisconsin has created a significant impact on Wisconsin agriculture by providing assistance to 2,900 farmers and farm families who have been able to continue farming or return to the farm worksite through AAW intervention.

UW Extension Easter Seals Wisconsin Biological Systems Farm Assessment and Engineering Rehabilitation Methods (FARM) Program Grant writing, public Direct client services education, outreach

AgrAbility Staff Brian Luck, Richard Straub, Amanda Harguth, Co-Director, UWEX Co-Director; UW-Madison Outreach Specialist; UW-Madison

FARM Program Staff Ami Cooper T Ellenbecker Paul Untiet Jeff Kratochwill Melba Brown Cally Ehle Paul Leverenz Christine Fessler

2018-2019 Grant Outcomes • 361 Total Active Clients • 772% of goal • 54 New Clients • 72% of goal • 45 Closed Cases • 138 Farm Site Visits • 110% of goal Location

Intake and Assessment • Potential clients hear about AgrAbility through, newspapers, social media, events, neighbors or family members, etc. • We cannot reach out to anyone directly, they have to get in touch with us through phone or email • Very simple intake process: • Call our office or go to our website and enroll • Share your basic information (name, phone, address, birthday, veteran) • Provide farm information (what type, how many cows or acres, etc.) • Share disability or mobility issues • No need to provide medical records • After enrolled, a FARM (Farm Assessment and Rehabilitation Methods) Rural Rehab Specialist from Easter Seals gets in contact for a phone call and sets up a farm visit

On Farm Visit: FARM Rural Rehab Specialist • What we do on a visit • Be prepared for conditions • Understand culture • Can be intensely private • Pressure/stress • Honesty • Take time to ask questions, but also listen and establish rapport • Gather information on farm background, financials, others involved, clarify disability information • Tour the farm • Talk about work tasks, including those that are difficult and possible solutions

What is Assistive Technology? • Adaptive changes for people with disabilities • Typically includes: devices or equipment that address the limitations, may include adjusting methods to accomplish a task • Can be low tech or high tech; expensive or inexpensive • With the use of assistive technology, a person with a disability can maintain their independence and productive lifestyle on a farm

Assistive Technology Assessment • Identify the general problem area • Is their rehab intervention that could improve the function? • Can the task be reassigned? • Once the specific problem is identified and AT is required then • Consider if there is a commercially available item (off the shelf) designed for that specific purpose that would accommodate the problem • Is there a commercially available item designed to complete something else that would also accommodate the area • Modify a product. Cost? Liability? • Fabricate a new product

Assistive Technology Examples • Extra steps • Hand Controls

Assistive Technology Examples • Agri-speed Automatic Hitch • Allows hitching and unhitching without leaving the tractor seat • PTO Compatible • Compatible with choppers • Increases efficiency

Assistive Technology Examples • Back Saver type grip, extra handle

Assistive Technology Examples • High-backed seat • Extended Mirrors with air suspension

Assistive Technology Examples • Freedom Chair • Track Chair

Contact us! • AgrAbility of Wisconsin 460 Henry Mall Madison, WI 53706 • 608.262.9336 • agrability@wisc.edu • https://agrability.bse.wisc.edu/

Next up: • Tom Brandt is the Chief of Farm Loan Programs for the Farm Service Agency in Wisconsin. FSA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administers various farm programs authorized by the Farm Bill and provides family farmers access to credit through direct and guaranteed farm ownership and operating loans. • Tom was raised on a dairy farm in Sauk County and has been with FSA for over 30 years. As Wisconsin’s Farm Loan Chief, he has oversight of one of the largest FSA loan portfolios in the nation, consisting of over 5,600 direct and guaranteed loan customers for over Two billion dollars.