An Introduction to the National AgrAbility Project

1. An Introduction to the National AgrAbility Project National AgrAbility Project Breaking New Ground Resource Center Purdue University

2. Session Overview • Goals • Services • Resources • Overview of National AgrAbility Project (NAP) • History • Structure • Personnel

3. 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 In 1991, there were 8 AgrAbility projects;as of 2010, there were 23 projects covering 25 states + several affiliate projects

4. The NAP Structure All AgrAbility projects – state projects and the national project – are partnerships between the state’s land grant university and at least one rehabilitation-related program.

5. Current NAP Partners Breaking New Ground Resource Center, Purdue University (lead organization) Goodwill Industries International Arthritis Foundation, Indiana Chapter University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (evaluation specialists)

6. Unfunded Affiliate Programs NAP Structure Chart Northwestern University Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center APRIL (Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living) RESNA (Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Society of North America) RTC Rural at the University of Montana National FFA Organization 4-H

7. NAP Key Personnel • Bill Field, Project Director • Founder of Breaking New Ground • Overall project oversight • Liaison with USDA

8. NAP Key Personnel • Paul Jones, Project Manager • Management of daily activities • Resource development

9. NAP Key Personnel • Kylie Hendress, Engagement Coordinator • Organization of outreach activities • Spit appointment with Indiana AgrAbility

10. NAP Key Personnel • Steve Swain, Assistive Technology Specialist • Toolbox products • Liaison with RESNA

11. NAP Key Personnel • Cliff Racz, Information Technology Specialist • Development of NAP web site and assistive technology database

12. NAP Key Personnel • Rob Stuthridge, Project Ergonomist • Production of technical articles • Consultation on human factors and technology

13. NAP Key Personnel • Eric Olson, Goodwill Industries AgrAbility Coordinator • Networking and promotion of the Goodwill AgrAbility partnership

14. NAP Key Personnel • Amber Wolfe, Arthritis Foundation AgrAbility Coordinator • Coordinator of AgrAbility’s arthritis-related activities

15. NAP Key Personnel • University of Illinois Evaluation Team • Objective analysis of NAP activities • Bob Aherin • Chip Petrea

16. The Priority Areas for all AgrAbility Projects • Education • Workshops, conferences, publications • Networking • Partnering with other organizations to fulfill our mission • Assistance • Providing direct services to customers • Marketing • Spreading the word about AgrAbility

17. Special Responsibilities of the NAP • 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

18. What Does the NAP Not Provide? • Funding • 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

19. NAP Work Plan Highlights:Education • National Training Workshop • Web-based resources • www.agrability.org • The Toolbox online • Webinars • Publications • Assessment tool for homemade AT • AgrAbility Harvest newsletter

20. NAP Work Plan Highlights: Networking • RESNA • RTC: Rural • NURERC • 4-H • New networking opportunities through NAP partners • Goodwill: network of 161 Goodwill affiliates • Arthritis Foundation: national network of chapters • Collaboration with unfunded affiliates • FFA • APRIL

21. NAP Work Plan Highlights: Assistance Empowering Goodwill affiliates in states that have no AgrAbility Projects Arthritis workshops and outreach in various states Toll-free helpline: 800-825-4264 Online assistive technology database

22. NAP Work Plan Highlights: Marketing New upcoming video and brochure Public service announcements on arthritis and farming Social networking site Web and YouTube expansion

23. NAP Resources • BNG Resource List • More than 60 resources related to disability in agriculture • Related web sites • www.agrability.org (current NAP) • www.agrabilityproject.org (former NAP) • www.ruralcare.info (rural caregivers)

24. The Toolbox • Web, Print, and CD versions • More than 750 products to help farmers and ranchers with disabilities

25. Plowshares • 30 technical reports on specific topics, such as farming with a spinal cord injury • Currently being updated

26. Conducting Agricultural Worksite Assessments • Step-by-step guide for evaluating farms and ranches • Reproducible assessment form • Electronic database for recording data and printing reports

27. To Everything There is a Season: Rural Caregiver Support • Written resource • Video/DVD • www.ruralcare.info • Includes video clips • Downloadable resources • Links to many organizations

28. Newsletters • AgrAbility Harvest • Semiannual to national audience • AgrAbility e-Note • Monthly to AgrAbility staff members

29. Communities of Interest and Standing Committees • Communities of Interest • Arthritis and Agriculture • Assistive Technology • Ergonomics • Mental/Behavioral Health • Peer Support (ad hoc) • Vocational Rehabilitation • Standing Committees • Evaluation • Marketing • National Training Workshop • Networking