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Assistive Technology Recommended for and Obtained by Farmers with Disabilities

Assistive Technology Recommended for and Obtained by Farmers with Disabilities. R. T. Schuler, P. Leverenz and M. E. Novak 2009 National Training Workshop AgrAbility Grand Rapids, MI October 5-8, 2009. AgrAbility of Wisconsin. AgrAbility Program. Initiated USDA funding in 1991

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Assistive Technology Recommended for and Obtained by Farmers with Disabilities

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  1. Assistive Technology Recommended for and Obtained by Farmers with Disabilities R. T. Schuler, P. Leverenz and M. E. Novak 2009 National Training Workshop AgrAbility Grand Rapids, MI October 5-8, 2009 AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  2. AgrAbility Program Initiated USDA funding in 1991 Provides education and assistance to farmers and ranchers with disabilities. Provides assistance through worksite assessment on the farm or ranch Recommends assistive technology equipment for the farmers and ranchers AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  3. AT Reutilization Study Goals: • To understand the types and costs of AT used by WI farmers • To understand the farmers’ use of AT devices over time in WI • Develop a used farm AT equipment referral and exchange service AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  4. Methods Selected 204 clients: Served by AgrAbility of Wisconsin Served by WI Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Closed cases between 2001 and 2006 Developed and conducted a phone survey in collaboration with the UW Survey Laboratory AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  5. Survey Results • 204 farmers called • 178 (87.3%) responses • 26 farmers unable or refused to respond • Disconnected number • Unable to answer • Refused • Deceased • Average Age - 54.4 years • Gender - 87.1 percent males • Still farming - 96.6 percent AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  6. Role on the farm(n – 178 respondents) Role NumberPercent Owner/operator 169 94.9 Spouse/partner 2 1.1 Employee 7 4.0 AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  7. Work status(n – 178 respondents) Work statusNumberPercent Full time 165 92.7 Part time 9 5.1 Not working 4 2.2 AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  8. Primary farm enterprise(n – 178 respondents) EnterpriseNumberPercent Dairy 118 66.3 Livestock 35 19.7 Field crops 9 5.0 Fruit & Veg. 8 4.5 Other 8 4.5 AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  9. Primary disability(n – 178 respondents) DisabilityNumberPercent Back, joint 74 41.6 Amputation 24 13.5 Arthritis 22 12.4 COPD 6 3.4 Spinal cord 6 3.4 Diabetes 4 2.2 Cancer 4 2.2 Stroke 4 2.2 Other 34 19.1 AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  10. Origin of disability(n – 178 respondents) Origin NumberPercent Agricultural related injury Tractor/mach. 21 11.8 Falls 16 9.0 Livestock 4 2.2 Other 15 8.4 Non-agricultural related injury Motor vehicle 6 3.4 Recreation 1 0.6 Other 14 7.9 Chronic, non-incident 101 56.7 AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  11. Year of worksite assessment Year Number Percent (valid responses) • 1 0.6 • 6 3.5 • 18 10.4 • 38 21.9 • 54 31.2 • 24 13.9 • 32 18.5 No data 5 --- AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  12. More results For 204 farmers: 1467 pieces of AT were recommended For 178 farmers: 1287 pieces of AT were recommended For 178 farmers: 1094 pieces (85.0%) of AT were obtained 1017 pieces (93.0%) in use or plan to be used 77 pieces (7.0%) not being used 193 pieces (15.0%) of recommended AT were not received. AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  13. AT reutilization study – AT cost Initial* Surveyed* Obtained AT Clients 204 178 156 Cost $7,624,944 $6,888,756 $5,928,033 Cost/client $37,377 $38,701 $38,000 AT #’s 1467 1287 1094 Cost/AT $5198 $5315 $5379 * Recommended AT AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  14. Commonly recommended pieces of AT Steps for tractors-most common (154, 11.97%) AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  15. Common recommended pieces of AT Utility Vehicles-Second (113, 8.78%) AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  16. Commonly recommended pieces of AT Seat and suspension (84, 6.53%) Skid steer loader (57, 4.43%) AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  17. Commonly recommended pieces of AT Manual feed cart (50, 3.89%) Feed bin and auger (49, 3.81%) AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  18. Commonly recommended pieces of AT Milking systems (47, 3.65%) Animal handling (46, 3.57%) Powered feed cart (44, 3.42 %) AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  19. Most frequent pieces of AT equipment recommended and obtained AT equipment Recommended Obtained for 178 respondents (n = 1287) (n = 1094) Steps for tractors 154 (11.97%) 129 (11.79%) Utility vehicles 113 (8.78%) 101 (9.23%) Seat and suspensions 84 (6.53%) 78 (7.13%) Skid-steer 57 (4.43%) 52 (4.75%) Manual feed cart 50 (3.89%) 39 (3.56%) Feed bin and auger 49 (3.81%) 42 (3.84%) Milking equipment 47 (3.65%) 41 (3.75%) Animal handling eq. 46 (3.57%) 40 (3.66%) Powered feed carts 44 (3.42%) 39 (3.56%) AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  20. Number of AT pieces recommended for/obtained by each of the 178 Farmers Number of pieces Recommended Obtained (number of respondents) (number of respondents) 0 0 22(did not receive any pieces) 1 4 13 2 8 10 3 12 0 4 21 17 5 23 21 6 13 13 7 18 12 8 10 9 9 14 16 10 8 6 11 13 10 12 34 29 Total 178 178 AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  21. Condition of equipment in use or planned to be used – 1017. Current condition Number Percent (valid) Excellent 706 69.5 Good 294 28.9 Poor 9 0.9 Broken 7 0.7 No response 1 ---- AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  22. Impact of the assistive technology on ability to complete farm chores - 1017. Helps with chores Number Percent (valid) Helps a lot 751 74.1 Helps quite a bit 215 21.2 Helps a little 40 4.0 Does not help 7 0.7 No response 4 -- AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  23. Equipment not being used - 77 Still have – 58 Condition Excellent – 34 Good – 23 Broken – 1 Fixed or modified – 10 Have gotten rid of – 19 Sold or given to another farmer – 5 Trade – 10 Something else – 4 Willing to sell or give to another farmer with a disability – 30 Not willing to sell - 26 AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  24. List of equipment available for sale or to be given to another farmer with a disability(1) Equipment Cost Condition Animal handler or chute $11,060.00 Good Auger posthole $1,019.00 Excellent Automatic hitches $1,265.00 Good Automatic hitches $1,570.00 Excellent Automatic hitches $470.00 Excellent Calf cart Kozy Kalf $126.00 Excellent Calf cart $820.00 Excellent Calf cart $475.00 Excellent Camera closed-circuit TV $1,298.00 Good Computer equipment $189.00 Excellent AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  25. List of equipment available for sale or to be given to another farmer with a disability (2) Equipment Cost Condition Controls or switches $135.00 Good Controls or switches $365.00 Good Gate (s) crowd gate $7,500.00 Good Gate (s) drive-through gates (3) $500.00 Excellent Hand truck $871.00 Broken Handrail (s) $39.00 Good Heavy-duty radios, 2-way (2) $855.00 Good Milking system auto.take-offs(5) $12,754.00 Good Milking system $30,541.00 Excellent Mower 5' rotary cutter $850.00 Excellent AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  26. List of equipment available for sale or to be given to another farmer with a disability(3) Equipment Cost Condition Seat and suspension $1,479.00 Excellent Step (s) with handrail-IH560 $190.00 Good Step (s) with handrail $462.00 Good Step (s) with handrail $404.00 Excellent Tiller electric start roto-tiller $949.00 Excellent Tractor with loader (used) $10,300.00 Excellent Upper hand devices $91.00 Good Upper hand devices $91.00 Excellent Wagon (large) bale wagon $925.00 Excellent Water heater $470.00 Excellent AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  27. An equipment exchange • Facilitate direct seller to buyer contact • Develop a Craigs List-type system • Allow seller to lists his/her’s available equipment • Allow buyer to find equipment of interest on the web site • Buyer contacts seller directly. • Website: farm.eastersealswisconsin.com AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  28. Easter Seals Wisconsin web site wi.easterseals.com FARM Program

  29. Ag. Equipment Exchange

  30. Reutilization Web Site Activity as of September 18, 2009 Web site became available August, 2008 Number of AT items posted – 17 Number of AT items transferred – 7 Value of AT items transferred - $32,925 Number of AT items currently listed – 10 Value of AT items currently listed - $40,035 AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  31. Examples of AT transferred Agri-Speed Automatic Hitches: 3 - Chopper wagon hitches, 1 - Chopper hitch, 1 Additional wagon hitch and 1 tractor hitch may be available also In-barn Bale Wagon: WIC bale wagon with 4-wheel steering system. 1,500# capacity. 85"x30"x33". 4 - 16" pneumatic tires. Provides steering around corners. Excellent condition. Must be picked up. Easyline Milker Carrier: Easyline track system for 66 stall barn. Includes carrier trolleys for five (5) units Power Chair Lift: Life Essentials power chair lift for tractor. Previously on IH-656 tractor. Unit has been removed from the tractor. Lift must be picked up. AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  32. Examples of AT Available (September 18, 2009) Hand Clutch - JD 4020: Removable hand lever fits over foot clutch. Manufactured by Life Essentials. Never used. Needs to be picked up or pay shipping. Platform Lift: Life Essentials platform lift. New unit - used 3 days. Unit is off of the tractor. Previously on MF tractor. Will need mounting brackets. Will need to be picked up. Automatic Take-offs: 5 - Boumatic milker units with one-hand connection. Milkhouse receiver group also available. Step Kit : For late model JD 4020. Needs to be picked up. AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  33. Summary • AT equipment is being used • AT equipment is in good condition and helps with completing chores • Some of the unused AT equipment is available to other farmers with disabilities • A web site was established to facilitate the exchange of AT equipment AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  34. Further Analysis to Consider AT equipment versus enterprise AT equipment versus disability AT equipment versus disability origin AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  35. Questions and Discussion AgrAbility was supported by USDA-CSREES grant 2004-41590-01880 and The reutilization study was supported by RSA, OERS, USDOE grant H235V060026 AgrAbility of Wisconsin

  36. Questions and Discussion Suggested discussion topics: AgrAbility of Wisconsin

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