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Transcript of Agricultural Assistive Technology Training (AATT) Agricultural Assistive Technology Training (AATT)...
Agricultural Assistive Agricultural Assistive Technology Training Technology Training
(AATT)(AATT)
CSAVR Spring ConferenceApril 10-13, 2011Presented by:
Paul Leverenz, M.S., Vice President, Easter Seals WIManuel Lugo, M.A., Former Deputy Administrator, WI DVRCharlene Dwyer, Ed.D., Administrator, WI DVR
Supported by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, DOE/OSERS Project #H133G100195 - http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Purpose
To collaboratively share the expertise of five agencies to create a national training program designed to strengthen the professional competencies of vocational rehabilitation counselors in their work with a highly underserved farm worker population.
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Goal
Increase the capacity of VR counselors to provide knowledgeable and comprehensive rehabilitation and assistive technology services to achieve successful employment outcomes for rural and largely self-employed farmers and farm workerswith disabilities.
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
AATT Overview, cont.
Collaboration between five partners:
Department of Workforce Development, Wisconsin Division
of Vocational Rehabilitation Wisconsin
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
National AgrAbility Project
24 AgrAbility projects covering 25 states
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Wisconsin
AgrAbility Objectives
Direct ServiceProvide on-the-farm technical advice about AT and worksite modifications
Education & OutreachEducate professionals who provide service to farmers
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Easter Seals Easter Seals Wisconsin Wisconsin
Farm Assessment & Rehabilitation Methods
(FARM) Program
AgrAbility of WisconsinAgrAbility of Wisconsin
UW Cooperative UW Cooperative ExtensionExtension
Biological Systems Engineering
Grant writing, public education, program
promotion
Direct client services
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
AgrAbility of Wisconsin: Direct Services
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Previous NIDDR Grant: AgrAbility WI direct service outcomes
2008 StudySurveyed 204 AAW clients that closed 2001-06
Telephone survey
89% Response rate
96% of the farmers are still farming(consistent with 90% closure rate that WI DVR calculates each year for RSA)
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Our Partnership Has Been Recognized
Locally: Friend of UW-Extension Award, 1999 Top 10 Wisconsin Rural Initiative, 2000 Donors Forum of Wisconsin, 2004 Good Grant Award
Nationally: Mutual of America, 2006
Community Partnership Award
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
FARM - National Finalist, Mutual of America FARM - National Finalist, Mutual of America FoundationFoundation
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Serving Farmers is Good Economic Policy
Supports rural economic development
Provides positive VR and self-employment outcomes to share with legislature
Results in a high success rate for VR closures and increases overall closure rates
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Good Vocational Policy
Most farmers are: 50+ years old; retraining for
another occupation is difficult
Committed to their work
Financially invested in their work
through farm ownership
Service delivery time is 12 months or less
What other alternatives do you have
vocationally to return the individual to work?
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Meeting the Needs of the Agricultural Community
Farming is one of the most dangerous occupations in America
In addition to the same disabling illnesses and off-farm injuries as the non-farm community, farmers are faced with:
Hazards of accidents with both animals and machines
Working with missing limbs or fingers Impaired mobility due to overuse of joints
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Meeting the Vocational Needs of the U.S. Agricultural Community
Nationwide…
3.12 millionFarms and ranches
3.49 million Operator household members provide both
paid and unpaid labor to farm operations
1.2 million Agricultural workers employed either full time or seasonal
500,000 Farmers with disabilities (National AgrAbility Project)
500 Disability injuries per day (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Meeting the Vocational Needs of the U.S. Agricultural Community
2007 Rehabilitation Service Administration Data205,447 employment outcomes reported nationwideOnly 992 were agriculture-related
< 0.2% of the 500,000 identified farmers with disabilities received services that allowed them to continue farming
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Why is the participation rate so low?
Workforce Culture Farmers are self-reliant and independent Farmers have daily physical/time demands that
prevent them from seeking assistance
Vocational Rehabilitation Expertise Majority of VR professionals…
Are unfamiliar with modern farming and farm culture Do not have experience assessing agricultural work
activities and recommending accommodations Assume there are less physical, safer, more desirable
and more profitable vocations than farming or agricultural production
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Overview of the AATT Project
Objectives Create and deliver 1.5 day, in-person training
workshops in five states for a total of 150 DVR field staff; offer technical consulting to DVR administrators
Develop and implement an on-line distance learning course for 100 VR professionals
Project results will be measured and results will be shared with collaborative partners, NIDRR, National AgrAbility Project, and other USDA-funded health programs
On-line training created by the AATT project will continue to be available to VR professionals following the conclusion of the project
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
AATT : Five Areas of Study
Farm culture
Viability of farming as an occupation
Farm site application of rehabilitation technology
Effective use of appropriate resources, including assistive rehabilitation technology
Implementation recommendations
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Farm Culture
Farmers love of the land and the work that they do
How a farmer’s self worth is tied to the ability to work
Family involvement in the operation DVR’s regular case service process in relation
to farmers
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Viability of Farming as an Occupation
Address misconceptions of farming with regard to money Initial appearance of financial picture may
be deceiving
Economics of farming Comprehensive picture of costs Tax laws that apply
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Viability of Farming as an Occupation, cont.
Dispelling myths about farm work and
accommodations
Expanding awareness of VR counselors to
consider agricultural occupations as an option
for consumers
Understanding the importance of agriculture
within each state’s economy and its relative
size to other industries
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Farm Site Application of Rehabilitation Technology
Determining the ways a farmer’s disability is
impacting job responsibilities
Determining the type of rehabilitation
technology that is appropriate and how to
apply it
Hierarchy of decision-making techniques
related to assistive technology
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Effective use of Appropriate Resources
Options for assistive rehabilitation technology Equipment Demonstrations of
various technologies Options for use and
how to implement those options
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Implementation Recommendations
Most effective ways to implement methods for working with farmers with disabilities Consideration of costs Informed choice Building effective rehabilitation
relationships with farmers
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Wisconsin DVR Outcomes
Fiscal Year 2009 farm closures
77 successful rehabilitations Total rehabilitation cost $3,556,332 ($46,186 per case)
Estimated annual salaries $5,222,568 ($67,826 per person)
100% rehabilitation rate!
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Wisconsin DVR Outcomes
Fiscal Year 2010 farm closures
99 successful rehabilitations Total rehabilitation cost $3,874,439 ($39,136 per case)
Estimated annual salaries $6,784,284 ($68,528 per person)
100% rehabilitation rate!
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Training with WI DVR staff on a farm
Wisconsin DVR Outcomes
A 20 year history of working collaboratively with Easter Seals WI to meet the needs of farmers with disabilities
Short and long term outcomes demonstrate the value of the relationship and the value of the partnership
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Agriculture Assistive Technology Training Website: http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com For information on:
NIDRR grant purpose History Partners Training News and Resources Contact information Apply to host a Training
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com
Contact Information
Paul Leverenz
Easter Seals Wisconsin
101 Nob Hill Rd Suite 301
Madison, WI 53713
(608) 225-2394
Charlene Dwyer, AdministratorDivision of Vocational Rehabilitation Department of Workforce Development 201 E. Washington Avenue, Room A100Post Office Box 7852Madison, WI 53707-7852
(608) 261-2126
Manuel Lugo
2335 Cty Hwy AB
McFarland, WI 53558
(608) 838-8780
http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com