2013 AgrAbility
National Training
Workshop

New Staff Training

This session gives an overview of the AgrAbility Program for new staff members or those wanting a refresher. Some topics covered include a perspective from the USDA, the role of the National Project, resources available, evaluation procedures, and sources of help inside and outside AgrAbility. Participants will also have opportunities to network with one another, NAP staff members, and USDA contacts.

Assessing Assistive Technology for Safety and Usability

Farmers often fabricate devices and processes to help them overcome their limitations but end up making modifications that may be more hazardous. It is important for AgrAbility professionals to assess the possibility of secondary injury on assistive technology (AT), to prevent or minimize further injuries. This session will include a hands-on segment where all participants will be involved in evaluating the secondary injury potential of selected assistive technologies used in agricultural work-sites.

Opening Session

Welcomes from:

• Dr. Bill Field, National AgrAbility Project
• Al Rasmussen, Minnesota AgrAbility
• Michael Schmitt, Senior Associate Dean of Extension
• Dave Frederickson, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Updates from the National AgrAbility Project

Featured speaker: Brad Rein, USDA/NIFA

Conference Instructions

Data Collection Made Easy

Gathering data between AgrAbility partners can be at times challenging (to say the least). This is not because partners do not want to provide documentation on what they are doing, rather it becomes a problem of logistics. Each partner already has their own data collection system in place, and then AgrAbility needs to collect this information and transfer it into a central system to be used for reporting. With decreased funding and staffing, the transfer of data from several partners becomes time consuming, and at times is left until time for reporting.

This database shows how WV has gone digital and provides its partners with an easy, user friendly way to report data, and the ability to use an iPad, Android tablet or laptop for data entry – on the road or in the office. This database also provides a mechanism for sharing client information immediately without copying, mailing, or emailing information on a secure network that is password-protected. This gives the appropriate partners the ability to share progress of AgrAbility clients.

Built in consumer satisfaction surveys provide AgrAbility staff the opportunity to use the computer to query and tally results from presentations and client satisfaction questionnaires, showing the impact AgrAbility is providing through its outreach and education efforts as well as client satisfaction all in one location.

How Effective are 4+ States at Increasing their Clients' Quality of Life and Independent Living and Operating Levels?

The National AgrAbility Project’s Evaluation Committee will present the latest results of this five-year program evaluation study with matched pre- and post-survey data results from 4+ states on increased quality of life levels and independent living and operating levels. The committee will then discuss where it will go by 2016 to respond to Government Accounting Office questions with a new experimental-control group, four-year impact study. Finally, they will share how each SRAP can join in assessing how effective they are at increasing their clients’ quality of life levels and independent living and operating levels.

eXtension and AgrAbility Create a Virtual Assistive Technology Farm

Imagine an assistive technology farm that anyone in the world could visit at any time.  What if we told you that farm exists today?

For the past few years, the Georgia AgrAbility program has been working on the design and model development of a virtual assistive technology farm.  The farm is based on the physical AT farm in Tifton, Georgia. Georgia AgrAbility has recently partnered with eXtension to finish the development and to host the farm in Second Life.   Soon participants will be able to go on their computer, choose an avatar and explore the AgrAbility farm.  The farm will:  1)  have demonstrations, information and ideas on ways to adapt farming to accommodate for a disability; 2) teach  about farm culture and why returning /staying in this vocation is important ;  and 3) basic information on what farming entails (i.e. basic equipment overview, types of farming). Join Georgia AgrAbility to find out about this exciting project and how you can get involved.

Glen Rains,
Georgia AgrAbility

Andy Carter,
Georgia AgrAbility

Rebecca Brightwell,
Georgia AgrAbility

Ergonomics for Women in Agriculture

According to the US census for Agriculture, more women are getting into agriculture. These farms tend to be smaller, more diversified and less mechanized. There is no “one size fits all,” but most tools are made that way, designed using a male model. Learn about the anatomical differences that make ergonomics for women in agriculture a challenge. Also learn about the few hand tools designed for women, and some adaptations for the “one size fits all” tools to make them more useful for all.

Why Partner with Goodwill and the Arthritis Foundation?

Join National AgrAbility Partners, Goodwill of the Finger Lakes and Arthritis Foundation-Heartland Region, to discover the benefits of partnering with these organizations.

JoBeth Rath,
Goodwill of the Finger Lakes

Amber Wolfe,
Arthritis Foundation-Heartland Region

Ashley Driste,
Arthritis Foundation

Cultivate a Partnership: Occupational Therapy and AgrAbility

Occupational therapy students hold the most current knowledge pertaining to how individuals can most successfully interact with their environments. They can offer suggestions ranging from helpful assistive equipment (perhaps typically seen in the house, but could also be effective on the farm) to programming ideas such as a daily stretching routine to prevent chronic injuries. Linking occupational therapy programs with state AgrAbility projects would be very beneficial; it has the potential to involve endless learning, creative brainstorming, and achieving the ultimate goal of allowing farmers to continue farming longer.

Marketing My Way

This session will take a look at Ed Bell's strawberry farm and explore many marketing ideas for a Midwest farm. Ed will also show and discuss some of the modifications he has made to his farming operation in order to accommodate his spinal cord injury. This session will focus more on the business modifications and also, to a lesser degree, his assistive technology.

The Seeds for Success - Farm Service Agency
Farm Loan Program

A presentation on the different types of loans that is available from the Farm Service Agency. It will discuss their uses, terms, interest rates, and general eligibility requirements.

PI Session

USDA program leaders will meet with SRAP principal investigators for questions, answers, and discussion.

Considerations in Tractor Seating for Operators with Skin, Sensory, or Motor Impairments

Farmers and ranchers with skin, sensory, or motor impairments often return to operating agricultural machinery with the assistance of assistive technologies such as powered lifts and hand controls. The objective of seating is to achieve the human need for comfort, stability, and safety, prevent injury to the integument barrier and musculoskeletal system, and yet provide considerable allowance and degrees of freedom for human operation and monitoring of the machine as it is engaged in agricultural production tasks (e.g., tillage, planting, harvesting, and chemical application). Seating in agricultural machinery is situated contextually and uniquely in ways that subject the dynamic system of human, seat interface, and environment to extreme physical forces (e.g., rotational, vibration, and translational), environmental elements (e.g., time, season, weather, temperature, humidity, lighting), and human factors (e.g., physical, cognitive, and psychological actions) not generally found in typical wheelchair seating situations. However, current research is limited in addressing the many factors and variables associated with enabling farmers/ranchers with disabilities and health impairments to operate agricultural equipment safely and prevent secondary injury or illness. The session will focus on describing the seating and operation environment of the tractor operator, seating variables for people with health impairments, current seating interventions being used in practice, and discuss the current and future needs for advancing SRAP knowledge in this area.

Using Social Media to Increase Program Awareness and Client Base

How can you make social media work for your AgrAbility project? Come and discuss which social media outlets are for you, or ways to expand and improve your current campaigns. Beginning with a short overview of the concepts of social media, staff from NAP, Wisconsin, and GWFL will share the different aspects from their experience so you can use your time and voice most efficiently and effectively. In particular, you will learn what and when to post to make your accounts look professional, current, and appealing.

Business Planning Basics

The cornerstone of the American economy is small business. One of the growing trends for people with disabilities is to start their own business. Their disability limits their ability to meet some of the demands of structured employment. Self employment provides the flexibility that is sometimes needed by a person with a disability to earn an income and remain employed. When exploring self employment, a business plan is very highly recommended and sometimes required by a lending institution or Vocational Rehabilitation Services. This workshop will present the basics of a business plan; provide some resources for information required in a business plan; templates to start writing a business plan: and show an example of a VR authorized and funded business plan.

Brain Injury's Three Legged Stool: the Farmer, the Caregiver, and the AgrAbility Project

Brain injury for a farmer has many implications for continuing their chosen profession. Personal recovery and continuation of business/employment are impacted by the individual, caregiver, and assistance from partners involved in the recovery and ongoing restoration to competitive functionality for the farm operation. Perspectives from the farmer recovering from brain aneurysm/stroke; the caregiver/partner/regional Extension AgrAbility specialist; and the state AgrAbility Project Director will be presented on the processes involved to successfully return to full-time farm production.

Assistive Technology Show-and-Tell

This session will be a show-and-tell with various suppliers of assistive technologies applicable to farmers and ranchers with disabilities. AT Suppliers currently scheduled for this session include:

• The Standing Company manufactures manual and power wheelchairs that allow someone who is normally restricted to a seated position in a wheelchair to stand up.
• Life Essentials manufactures personal mobility products, custom-made people lifts, and hand controls for tractors, combines, trucks, off road equipment, vans, RVs, homes, - the list goes on and on.
• TommyJohn Industries manufactures a 3-point hitching device which automatically connects an implement and the PTO without the farmer leaving his tractor seat.

The Work of the Farmer Veteran Coalition

Michael O’Gorman, executive director of the Farmer Veteran Coalition, will share the organization’s guiding principles and an overview of their projects and what we can offer veteran farmers and aspiring farmers. He will also address how FVC can help disabled veterans to farm and the organization’s special relationship with AgrAbility. Michael will discuss the expanding of FVC’s work in 2013.

State Legislative Advocacy Support Programs

This session will describe the process of gaining state legislative support for services to support farm family members with disabilities. Information on developing and implementing techniques for direct conversation between key legislators and program clients will be shared to support your specific state needs.

FReSH: Online Courses and eXtension Opportunities

Bring your mobile device to this session and learn how to utilize eXtension. This hands-on session will provide an overview of the Farm & Ranch eXtension in Safety and Health (FReSH) site. AgrAbility conference participants will learn how to locate information on the site, submit questions to ‘Ask an Expert,’ benefit from participating in the FReSH Community of Practice (CoP), and design an online free or fee-based course. eXtension provides objective research-based and credible information through a collaboration of experts from the nation’s largest and oldest network of universities.

Linda Fetzer,
Pennsylvania State University

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education - SARE

SARE is a USDA program that offers grants to farmers, ranchers, and ag professionals for research, education, and professional and community development in every state of the United States. SARE’s work begins with those grants for practical, innovative ideas that benefit American agriculture. The follow-through includes robust regional and national outreach to share useful findings with farmers, ranchers, researchers, and ag professionals. With coordinators in every state and island protectorate, a database of 23 years of research and education results, a rich, interactive web presence, and a learning center filled with free videos, books, fact sheets, and online learning opportunities, SARE is a resource that should be in every AgrAbility professional’s toolbox. Join us for a session that will help connect the dots between two vital programs that focus on helping farmers: AgrAbility and SARE.

Kerri Ebert,
Kansas AgrAbility

Kate Seager,
Minnesota SARE Coordinator

Betsy Wieland,
Minnesota SARE Coordinator

Estate Planning Basics

This class covers powers of attorney, healthcare directives, will, trusts and the significance of each document.  It will also cover probate avoidance and tax planning issues for 2013 and beyond.

Leah R Gilbert, Esq.
Pluto Legal, PLLC

Unconferencing Session

The Unconference Principle says that at a typical conference, the sum of the expertise of the people in the audience is greater than the sum of expertise of the people on stage.

Unconferencing is a way to tap everyone’s expertise so that each person receives the maximum benefit. Sometimes the best information exchange at conferences occurs in the hallway or during meal conversations. Think of the Unconference as a way to bring those conversations into the meeting room.

Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are: Tips for Finding AgrAbility Clients

Are there more people in your state who could benefit from AgrAbility services? Of course. Is it an easy task to connect with them? Of course not! Join other staff members in exploring some of the barriers to finding clients, pick up some tips to enhance your caseload, and help develop new strategies for this challenging task.

Steve Swain,
National AgrAbility

Cutting the Mustard: Core Competencies for AgrAbility Staff

AgrAbility staff members come from a wide range of backgrounds with a variety of strengths. Some specialize in agriculture, some in rehabilitation, and still others in things like marketing or case management. So what are the basic skills that AgrAbility staff members need? This session will allow participants to give valuable input into the content and the dissemination strategies for the NAP’s Core Competency Initiative.

Connect for Success: Developing Mutually Beneficial Relationships with other Organizations

AgrAbility shares points of mutual mission with a wide variety of organizations- Farm Bureau, Vocational Rehabilitation, FFA, veterans’ organizations, Extension, rehabilitation facilities, and many, many more. How can you effectively connect with such groups to produce a win-win? How can these kinds of groups help you promote your program, find clients, and raise external funding? Also find out how the NAP Networking Committee can help you in your efforts to build these important relationships.

Yours, Mine, and Ours: Collaboration, Competition, and Reinventing the Wheel

In a time of scarce resources, especially at the federal level, there is little room for unnecessary effort or wasted funding. How can the NAP and SRAPs work together to leverage their limited funds, staffs, and time to produce the best results for everyone? What are some of the barriers that prevent collaboration between projects and what kinds of opportunities, strategies, and benefits are available to those who work together?

AgrAbility on the Road: Mobile Communications and Their Applicability to AgrAbility

You know that AgrAbility has gone mobile when Bill Field starts carrying a cell phone. The revolution is here! Share your favorite technologies and techniques- from apps to mobile devices to social media- and find out what others are doing to make their work easier on the go. Also learn about the NAP’s new initiative to make The Toolbox friendlier to mobile devices and give input into the development of this resource.

Clifford Racz,
National AgrAbility

Publish, Publish, Publish (and Never Perish): The Importance of Contributing to the Body of Knowledge and "Fair Use" in the Internet Age

The published word is how we learn from the past and what allows us to advance. In this session, we will discuss the long-term benefits of producing white papers, presentations or curricula, and peer reviewed articles. Come and share how to pick a topic for such projects without duplicating others' work, and how to navigate the process to finish with a professional project. Because of the easy availability of existing material over the internet, we will also address intellectual property issues and how to avoid plagiarism and self-plagiarism.

Kate Hamm,
National AgrAbility

4-Legged Farm hand - P.H.A.R.M. Dog Update (Program brochure)

This session will give an overview of how the PHARM Dog project started and will discuss how it has grown since this topic was last presented in 2010. Participants that attend this session will hear from a PHARM Dog recipient and hear his story and how his PHARM Dog, Odie, has helped him on the farm. A short demonstration will be done to show how Odie retrieves tools for this farmer. Discussion on the emotional benefits of having a dog as a companion on the farm will take place as well with a question and answer session at the end.

Jackie Allenbrand,
Missouri AgrAbility

Bruce Trammell,
P.H.A.R.M. Dog Recipient

Alda Owen,
P.H.A.R.M. Dog Recipient

Alternative Production Systems for Farmers with Disabilities: Local Food and Beyond

Locally produced food is a hot topic. Small scale farming operations are in demand. Small scale production can be an excellent opportunity for a farmer who experiences limitations. AgrAbility professionals can help connect customers with production alternatives. Small scale and alternative production opportunities (such as high tunnels and market gardens) for farmers with disabilities will be discussed. Participants will see examples of how these ventures have been successful in Kansas and will discuss how SRAPs can work on similar projects and where one might find assistance for technical advice and funding.

Enhancing Access to Greenhouse Facilities Using ADA Compliance Guidelines

The American Disabilities Act (ADA) was updated in September 2010. Ohio AgrAbility has used this information to help greenhouse employers and community based agricultural programs create accessible and usable spaces within greenhouses, hoop houses and high tunnel structures. These guidelines are instrumental in the planning of new greenhouse structures or can be a series of changes or modifications that can be used in an existing greenhouse facility. Merging the ADA standards with specific application techniques will help greenhouse facilities provide an accessible facility without reducing the functionality of a greenhouse. This session will focus on the interpretation of the standards outlined by the act, describe how to implement these standards into greenhouse structures and showcase how to provide a comfortable, safe atmosphere for the users, regardless of ability or disability.

Kent McGuire,
Ohio AgrAbility

Vocational Rehabilitation and AgrAbility -
It's a Win/Win Partnership

Interested in learning how to work more effectively with your State’s VR program? This informative panel session will give an insightful overview including: short term and long term benefits of working together; client perspectives; effective training strategies for staff; fee-for-service models; and much more.

Paul Leverenz,
Wisconsin AgrAbility

Karen Funkenbusch,
Missouri AgrAbility

Chris Allen,
Rancher and AgrAbility Client

Rebecca Brightwell,
Georgia AgrAbility

Paige Tidwell,
VR State Level Vocational Preparation Services

Steve Swain,
Indiana AgrAbility Project

Ellen Gibson,
Maine AgrAbility

Low Back Injury Prevention

Low back disorders (LBD) can limit the normal use of the back. Several work-related factors can increase a person's risk for developing LBD. These include heavy physical work, lifting and forceful movements, bending and twisting, whole-body vibrations, and static work postures. All of these are common within the agricultural field. There are also several personal factors that can increase a person's risk for developing a LBD. These factors include, but are not limited to, daily living practices such as sleeping, standing, sitting, and physiological factors such as waist circumference, range of motion, and muscular endurance. However, many LBDs are preventable and evidence has shown the risk for developing LBD can be decreased through stabilizing approaches such as modified daily living practices and exercises that are specific to the trunk and the core. This session covers and demonstrates these approaches. Session attendees will participate in these practices to ensure a full understanding of the modifications.

Toby Woodson,
Arkansas AgrAbility

Nathan Winter,
Arkansas AgrAbility

LaVona Traywick,
Arkansas AgrAbility

Amber Wolfe,
Arthritis Foundation-Heartland Region

Liability and Legal Issues

• How “safe” can a product be? Who decides?
• What is the liability exposure of persons who build and/or provide assistive equipment?
• What are strategies and checklists for designing a “reasonably safe” product?
• What kinds of damages can a successful plaintiff reasonably expect to recover?
• What is the role of rehabilitation experts in the product liability world?

This session will answer these questions (and more) in an interactive discussion of product liability law and its implications to AgrAbility staff and rural professionals.

Respiratory Issues

Mike Nelson represents Airware America, a small family-owned business which provides health and safety products primariliy to the agricultural and woodworking markets. This session will focus on equipment that provides respiratory protection in agricultural workplaces.

Mike Nelson,
Airware America

Assistive Technology Show-and-Tell

This session will be a show-and-tell with various suppliers of assistive technologies applicable to farmers and ranchers with disabilities. AT Suppliers currently scheduled for this session include:

• Amramp designs and manufactures wheelchair ramps.
• Cybermation distributes the web-based home caregiving and socialization system: GrandCare Systems which offers a consolidated system of telehealth, smart home, activity monitoring, socialization and communication on a user-friendly cloud-based platform.
• BlueSky Designs designs and manufactures assistive technology products such as the Mount’n Mover, the Freedom Tent, and the Garden Rocker.
• Northern Tool and Equipment offers a wide selection of tools and consumer goods.
• LaurusTech Industries will exhibit the StopSensor, a sensor and special reflectors that detect when trailers are properly aligned for loading or unloading grain.
• Gillette Mobile Outreach uses specially equipped van to bring assistive technology services to the rural community.
• IMED Mobility sells and services wheelchair accessible vans.
• Cummings Mobility distributes the Mobility SVM accessible pick-up which allows for the driver to remain in his/her wheelchair while driving the truck.
• Action Manufacturing has developed the Action TrackChair which enables people who use wheelchairs to enjoy activities such as hunting, fishing, going to the beach, and other similar activities.

Moderated by
Steve Swain,
National AgrAbility

Agricultural Assistive Technology Training (NIDRR Grant)

A grant from the US department of Education’s National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) provided funding for the Agricultural Assistive Technology Training project. The goal of this project is to increase the vocational rehabilitation (VR) specialist’s competency and preparedness to assist farmers with disabilities and to continue to farm after a disabling accident or illness. This three-year effort is to train state vocational rehabilitation agencies across the country to improve employment outcomes for farmers and agriculture workers with disabilities. The purpose of this session is to inform state AgrAbility programs about progress of the project as we reach the end of the grant and review results of training outcomes.

Agricultural Opportunities for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

Because of an increasing population of adults with developmental disabilities, communities are looking towards agricultural settings as a viable work environment. Ohio AgrAbility is working with several agricultural work programs in Ohio, who serve individuals with a wide range of functional capacity. The knowledge and background AgrAbility has with assisting farmers with disabilities can be a vital resource to agricultural programs wanting to provide a safe and productive work environment for individuals with developmental disabilities. This session will focus on current agricultural program models for developmental disabilities, AgrAbility recommendations based on specific challenges being faced, utilization of training models, and creating a peer network for these agricultural programs to share information.

Kent McGuire,
Ohio AgrAbility

John Zeller,
Ohio AgrAbility

Pharm to Farm

This session will inform the audience about opportunities to partner with schools of pharmacy to provide AgrAbility clients with tools to enhance their medication management. Examples of such partnerships, venues employed, and processes will be described to equip the audience with mechanisms to connect farmers and ranchers to health care resources.

Cancer Survivorship and AgrAbility

More and more people are living long and fruitful lives post cancer diagnosis. As the farmer population continues to age, more and more farm families are at risk for a cancer diagnosis. Research and clinical outcomes have shown that cancer survivors may have higher risks of certain secondary conditions due to either their cancer or their treatment. All of these factors combine to provide opportunities for AgrAbility to provide useful support and education to cancer survivors. In this session, the audience will learn about the most up-to-date research findings related to long term outcomes for cancer survivors. Concrete examples, through case studies, of a variety of ways AgrAbility services benefit these survivors and their families will also be given. It is important for AgrAbility providers to understand some of the issues specific to cancer survivors as they will most likely see more survivor clients in the future.

Beth Hunter,
Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital

John Hancock,
Kentucky AgrAbility

Robin Stroud,
Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital

Cattle Ranch Operations and the Challenges of Ranching with a Disability

This session will provide education about the cattle ranching lifestyle and how ranchers and cowboys with disabilities cope with everyday struggles to care for their livestock. The presentation will focus on ranching in the western United States (Idaho, Utah, and Nevada) and how traditional ranchers and cowboys handle livestock. It will also focus on how ranchers with disabilities continue the traditions of the western heritage of “ranching.”

Using Surveys to Initiate Conversations at Farmer Events

The Maine AgrAbility program has been using short surveys at field days and other farmer events as a way to engage farmers to talk about AgrAbility, as well as farmer health and safety. These surveys are theme-oriented and designed to initiate a conversation with farmers. The results of the survey become meaningful data for articles, rack cards, and other efforts. Learn how this technique could be used in your program.

Assessing AgrAbility Clients for AT - SRAP Panel Discussion

The vision of AgrAbility is to enable a high quality lifestyle for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities. The keystone to this assistance is the one-on-one interaction and assessment of a farmer’s operation with recommendations for assistive technology. The Assistive Technology Community of Interest is made up of individuals who have an interest in assistive technology and have had hands-on experience on the farm visiting with farmers with disabilities. Each one has their own style within the basic framework of conducting an assessment. This session will consist of a panel of professionals who will share their experiences and techniques to improve the quality of life for the farmers and their families that we serve.

Steve Swain,
National AgrAbility

Inetta Fluharty,
West Virginia AgrAbility

Dan Stores,
Minnesota AgrAbility

Sandra Stevenson,
Oklahoma AgrAbility

Emergency Preparedness Train the Trainer

The style of this session is interactive and includes creating a personal plan in case of emergency. Each person has the opportunity to create a “personal” Kit to use in situations where the emergency requires evacuation and another for an event when a person needs to remain in a single location.

Upon completing the session the individual will have the skills to Train others and have a personal kit designed to meet their unique needs. For individuals with disabilities and emergency responders who need to know the needs of the person they are assisting having a Kit will avoid future accidents and injury. Mistakes happen every day because of the lack of information, the wrong medication can kill! Everyone needs their own kit because we never know when a real emergency will occur and what the outcome will be. Being prepared is preventative stopping another emergency from happening in the midst of chaos.

Training materials will be available to individuals who complete the course. Each participant will receive a certificate of completion stating they have met the requirements set forth in the training materials to teach others.

Farm Illumination and Visibility: Matching Visual Performance with Task Demands

This session describes the ways in which lighting and visibility might be optimized in agricultural settings to allow safe task performance by people with decrements in visual performance caused by aging, illness, or injury.

Selecting and Evaluating Farm Enterprises for Individuals with Limitations

Farmers, ranchers, and agricultural service providers will take into account the considerations for choosing and assessing appropriate farm/ranch enterprises for individuals with physical, psychological, or cognitive limitations in this interactive presentation.

Dinner and Auction

The State Showcase Auction featuring products from several different states will follow the dinner. Silent Auction winners will be announced prior to the start of the live auction. All funds raised from the auction will support farmer scholarships for 2014.