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

Agricultural Assistive Technology Training (AATT) CSAVR Spring Conference April 10-13, 2011. Presented by: Paul Leverenz, M.S., Vice President, Easter Seals WI Manuel Lugo, M.A., Former Deputy Administrator, WI DVR Charlene Dwyer, Ed.D., Administrator, WI DVR.

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

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  1. Agricultural Assistive Technology Training(AATT) CSAVR Spring ConferenceApril 10-13, 2011 Presented by: Paul Leverenz, M.S., Vice President, Easter Seals WI Manuel Lugo, M.A., Former Deputy Administrator, WI DVR Charlene Dwyer, Ed.D., Administrator, WI DVR Supported by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, DOE/OSERS Project #H133G100195 - http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com

  2. 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

  3. 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 workers • with disabilities. http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com

  4. AATT Overview, cont. Collaboration between five partners: Department of Workforce Development, Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Wisconsin http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com

  5. National AgrAbility Project • 24 AgrAbility projects covering 25 states Wisconsin http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com

  6. AgrAbilityObjectives Direct Service • Provide on-the-farm technical advice about AT and worksite modifications Education & Outreach • Educate professionals who provide service to farmers http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com

  7. AgrAbility of Wisconsin UW Cooperative Extension Biological Systems Engineering Easter Seals Wisconsin Farm Assessment & Rehabilitation Methods (FARM) Program Grant writing, public education, program promotion Direct client services http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com

  8. AgrAbility of Wisconsin: Direct Services http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com

  9. Previous NIDDR Grant: AgrAbility WI direct service outcomes 2008 Study • Surveyed 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

  10. 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

  11. FARM - National Finalist, Mutual of America Foundation http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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 Needs of the Agricultural Community http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com

  15. Meeting the Vocational Needs of the U.S. Agricultural Community Nationwide… 3.12 million Farms 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

  16. Meeting the Vocational Needs of the U.S. Agricultural Community 2007 Rehabilitation Service Administration Data • 205,447 employment outcomes reported nationwide • Only 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

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. 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

  21. 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

  22. 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

  23. 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

  24. 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

  25. 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

  26. 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

  27. 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

  28. Training with WI DVR staff on a farm

  29. 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

  30. 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

  31. Contact Information Paul Leverenz Easter Seals Wisconsin 101 Nob Hill Rd Suite 301 Madison, WI 53713 (608) 225-2394 pleverenz@eastersealswisconsin.com 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 Charlene.Dwyer@DWD.Wisconsin.Gov Manuel Lugo 2335 Cty Hwy AB McFarland, WI 53558 (608) 838-8780 lugoma@msn.com http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com

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