AgrAbility New Staff Training AgrAbility NTW April 8, 2013
Minneapolis, Minnesota National AgrAbility Project 1
Slide 2
Session Overview Overview of National AgrAbility Project (NAP)
Overview of National AgrAbility Project (NAP) History Structure
Personnel Goals Services Resources 2
Slide 3
AgrAbility began in 1991 as part of the USDA Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension Service (The Extension Service)
AgrAbility began in 1991 as part of the USDA Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension Service (The Extension Service)
Breaking New Ground started in 1979 and was a model for AgrAbility
Breaking New Ground started in 1979 and was a model for AgrAbility
In 1991, there were 8 AgrAbility projects; as of 2013, there are 23
projects covering 25 states plus several affiliate projects In
1991, there were 8 AgrAbility projects; as of 2013, there are 23
projects covering 25 states plus several affiliate projects 3
Slide 4
The NAP Structure All AgrAbility projects state projects and
the national project are partnerships between the states land grant
university and at least one rehabilitation-related program. All
AgrAbility projects state projects and the national project are
partnerships between the states land grant university and at least
one rehabilitation-related program. 4
Slide 5
Current NAP Partners Breaking New Ground Resource Center,
Purdue University (lead organization) Breaking New Ground Resource
Center, Purdue University (lead organization) Goodwill of the
Finger Lakes (NY) Goodwill of the Finger Lakes (NY) Arthritis
Foundation, Heartland Region Arthritis Foundation, Heartland Region
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign & Colorado State
University (evaluation specialists) University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign & Colorado State University (evaluation
specialists) 5
Slide 6
Unfunded Affiliate Programs Farmer Veteran Coalition Farmer
Veteran Coalition Northwestern University Rehabilitation
Engineering Research Center Northwestern University Rehabilitation
Engineering Research Center APRIL (Association of Programs for
Rural Independent Living) APRIL (Association of Programs for Rural
Independent Living) RESNA (Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology
Society of North America) RESNA (Rehabilitation and Assistive
Technology Society of North America) RTC Rural at the University of
Montana RTC Rural at the University of Montana National FFA
Organization National FFA Organization 4-H 4-H NAP Structure Chart
6
Slide 7
Previous NAP Partners 1991 2000 1991 2000 Breaking New Ground
Resource Center and Easter Seals 2000 2008 2000 2008 University of
Wisconsin Extension and Easter Seals 7
Slide 8
The Priority Areas for all AgrAbility Projects Education
Education Workshops, conferences, publications Networking
Networking Partnering with other organizations to fulfill our
mission Assistance Assistance Providing direct services to
customers Marketing Marketing Spreading the word about AgrAbility
8
Slide 9
Special Responsibilities of the NAP Provide support to the
state and regional AgrAbility Projects Provide support to the state
and regional AgrAbility Projects Training Resources Consultations
with NAP specialists Provide direct services to customers in states
without AgrAbility Projects Provide direct services to customers in
states without AgrAbility Projects 9
Slide 10
What Does AgrAbility Not Provide? Funding Funding Equipment
(though some Tech Act partners provide certain AT) Equipment
(though some Tech Act partners provide certain AT) Most funding for
assistive technology comes through state vocational rehabilitation
systems Other sources of grants and loans are available 10
Slide 11
NAP Key Personnel Bill Field, Project Director Bill Field,
Project Director Founder of Breaking New Ground Overall project
oversight Liaison with USDA 11
Slide 12
NAP Key Personnel Paul Jones, Project Manager Paul Jones,
Project Manager Management of daily activities Resource development
12
Slide 13
NAP Key Personnel Kylie Hendress, Engagement Coordinator Kylie
Hendress, Engagement Coordinator Public awareness/marketing Event
planning 13
Slide 14
NAP Key Personnel Steve Swain, Assistive Technology Specialist
Steve Swain, Assistive Technology Specialist Toolbox process
Liaison with RESNA 14
Slide 15
NAP Key Personnel Cliff Racz, Information Technology Specialist
Cliff Racz, Information Technology Specialist Development of NAP
web site and assistive technology database 15
Slide 16
NAP Key Personnel Rob Stuthridge, Ergonomics Consultant Rob
Stuthridge, Ergonomics Consultant Assistance with technical
articles Consultation on human factors and technology 16
Slide 17
NAP Key Personnel Kate Hamm, Information Training Coordinator
Kate Hamm, Information Training Coordinator Assistance with
technical articles and web-related resources Social media - Twitter
17
Slide 18
NAP Key Personnel Goodwill of the Finger Lakes Goodwill of the
Finger Lakes Promotion of the Goodwill/AgrAbility partnership
Regional workshops 24-hour call center 18
Slide 19
NAP Key Personnel Amber Wolfe, Arthritis Foundation AgrAbility
Coordinator Amber Wolfe, Arthritis Foundation AgrAbility
Coordinator Coordinator of AgrAbilitys arthritis- related
activities Workshop in SRAP & non-SRAP states 19
Slide 20
NAP Key Personnel Evaluation Team Evaluation Team Objective
analysis of NAP activities Annual staff needs assessment
Demographic data Quality of life evaluation 20
Slide 21
Your Questions 21
Slide 22
Your Questions How do Vocational Rehab and Assistive Technology
differ in rural areas among those engaged in agriculture and
related activities? How do Vocational Rehab and Assistive
Technology differ in rural areas among those engaged in agriculture
and related activities? 22
Slide 23
Your Questions What are the typical time frames states expect
or experience in meeting, reporting, assisting clients? What are
the typical time frames states expect or experience in meeting,
reporting, assisting clients? 23
Slide 24
Your Questions Pitfalls with state programs, as well as
successes? Pitfalls with state programs, as well as successes?
24
Slide 25
Your Questions What are the experiences of clients experiencing
TBI, learning disabilities, and other cognitive issues in rural
areas and agriculture? What are the experiences of clients
experiencing TBI, learning disabilities, and other cognitive issues
in rural areas and agriculture? 25
Slide 26
Your Questions How does AgrAbility serve ethnic and linguistic
minorities? How does AgrAbility serve ethnic and linguistic
minorities? 26
Slide 27
NAP Resources Related web sites Related web sites
www.agrability.org (current NAP) www.agrability.org Extranet
available for staff www.agrabilityproject.org (former NAP)
www.agrabilityproject.org www.ruralcare.info (rural caregivers)
www.ruralcare.info 27
Slide 28
The Toolbox Print, CD, and web versions Print, CD, and web
versions www.agrability.org/Toolbox Approximately 1000 products to
help farmers and ranchers with disabilities Approximately 1000
products to help farmers and ranchers with disabilities 28
Slide 29
Arthritis Resources www.arthritis-ag.org www.arthritis-ag.org
www.arthritis-ag.org Arthritis and Agriculture Arthritis and
Agriculture Plain Facts about Agriculture Plain Facts about
Agriculture Podr ser la Artritis lo que me causa Dolor? (Could
Arthritis be the cause of my Pain?) Podr ser la Artritis lo que me
causa Dolor? (Could Arthritis be the cause of my Pain?) Gaining
Ground on Arthritis Gaining Ground on Arthritis 29
Slide 30
Plowshares 30 technical reports on specific topics, such as
farming with a spinal cord injury 30 technical reports on specific
topics, such as farming with a spinal cord injury Currently being
updated Currently being updated 30
Slide 31
Conducting Agricultural Worksite Assessments Step-by-step guide
for evaluating farms and ranches Step-by-step guide for evaluating
farms and ranches Reproducible assessment form Reproducible
assessment form Electronic database for recording data and printing
reports Electronic database for recording data and printing reports
31
Slide 32
AT Secondary Injury Evaluation Step-by-step guide for
evaluating AT for secondary injury hazards Step-by-step guide for
evaluating AT for secondary injury hazards Reproducible assessment
forms Reproducible assessment forms 32
Slide 33
To Everything There is a Season: Rural Caregiver Support
Written resource Written resource Video/DVD Video/DVD
www.ruralcare.info www.ruralcare.info www.ruralcare.info Includes
video clips Downloadable resources Links to many organizations
33
Slide 34
Newsletters AgrAbility Harvest AgrAbility Harvest Semiannual to
national audience AgrAbility e-Note AgrAbility e-Note Monthly to
AgrAbility staff members 34
Slide 35
Communities of Interest and Standing Committees Communities of
Interest Communities of Interest Arthritis and Agriculture
Assistive Technology Standing Committees Evaluation Marketing
National Training Workshop Networking 35
Slide 36
NAP Work Plan Highlights: Education Core competency initiative
Core competency initiative Identification and training Web-based
resources Web-based resources www.agrability.org www.agrability.org
Webinars (at least 6 per year) Publications Publications Resource
on back impairment in agriculture 36
Slide 37
NAP Work Plan Highlights: Networking New networking
opportunities through NAP partners New networking opportunities
through NAP partners Goodwill: network of 161 Goodwill affiliates
Arthritis Foundation: national network of chapters Collaboration
with unfunded affiliates Collaboration with unfunded affiliates FFA
APRIL RESNA RTC: Rural NURERC 4-H 37
Slide 38
NAP Work Plan Highlights: Assistance Empowering Goodwill
affiliates in states that have no AgrAbility Projects Empowering
Goodwill affiliates in states that have no AgrAbility Projects
Arthritis workshops and outreach in various states Arthritis
workshops and outreach in various states Toll-free helpline:
800-825-4264 Toll-free helpline: 800-825-4264 Online assistive
technology database Online assistive technology database 38
Slide 39
NAP Work Plan Highlights: Marketing Exploring ways to promote
AgrAbility through the vast network of Goodwill outlet stores
Exploring ways to promote AgrAbility through the vast network of
Goodwill outlet stores New video and brochure New video and
brochure Public service announcements on arthritis and farming
Public service announcements on arthritis and farming 39