Agricultural Assistive Technology Training (AATT) Agricultural Assistive Technology Training (AATT) CSAVR Spring Conference April 10-13, 2011 Presented

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.


AATT Overview, cont.

Collaboration between five partners:

Department of Workforce Development, Wisconsin Division

of Vocational Rehabilitation Wisconsin


National AgrAbility Project

24 AgrAbility projects covering 25 states


Wisconsin

AgrAbility Objectives

Direct ServiceProvide on-the-farm technical advice about AT and worksite modifications

Education & OutreachEducate professionals who provide service to farmers


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


AgrAbility of Wisconsin: Direct Services


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)


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


FARM - National Finalist, Mutual of America FARM - National Finalist, Mutual of America FoundationFoundation


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


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?


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


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)


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


Effective use of Appropriate Resources

Options for assistive rehabilitation technology Equipment Demonstrations of

various technologies Options for use and

how to implement those options


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


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!



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!


Training with WI DVR staff on a farm


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


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


Contact Information

Paul Leverenz

Easter Seals Wisconsin

101 Nob Hill Rd Suite 301

Madison, WI 53713

(608) 225-2394

[email protected]

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

[email protected]

Manuel Lugo

2335 Cty Hwy AB

McFarland, WI 53558

(608) 838-8780

[email protected]


Documents

Agricultural Assistive Technology Training (AATT) Agricultural Assistive Technology Training (AATT) CSAVR Spring Conference April 10-13, 2011 Presented