Promoting Success in Agriculture for People with Disabilities and their Families
AgrAbility Overview and
Peer Support Training Goals
Your State AgrAbility Peer Support Training
Date

AgrAbility’s
Mission
• Provide assistance and resources to farmers with disabilities, and/or their family members with disabilities, that allows them to begin or continue farming

AgrAbility Project
• First authorized in the 1990 Farm Bill
• Competitive grants are awarded to Cooperative
Extension Services at land-grant universities that partner with nonprofit disability organizations
• YOUR STATE project first authorized in YEAR , reauthorized in YEAR

State/Regional Projects
AgrAbility Affiliate

National AgrAbility Project Partners
• University of Wisconsin Extension,
Madison, WI
• National Easter Seals,
Washington, DC

Your State AgrAbility Partners
• Your State Research and Extension
• Land grant university – Your State University Department
Administering AgrAbility
• Extension Core Mission Themes
– Add the Functions/Objectives of Your State Extension
Service

Your State AgrAbility Project
Partners
• Your State Partner(s)
– Describe Activities and Services of Your
Partnering Organization Here

Your State
AgrAbility Clients
• Since XXXX , your state
AgrAbility has provided information and technical assistance to over XXX farmers, ranchers, farm workers, and their families.

Eligibility for AgrAbility
Services
• Must be involved in production agriculture or intend to be – as an owner/operator, employee, or family member of an owner/operator
• Must have a disability, limitation, or chronic health condition that affects ability to fully participate in farming

Types of Disabilities
Those eligible for AgrAbility services may have any type of disability – physical, cognitive, or illness-related. For example:
•amputations
•arthritis
•cancer
•cardiac problems
•cerebral palsy
•diabetes
•mental illness
•mental retardation
•multiple sclerosis

Types of Disabilities - continued
• Orthopedic injuries
• Parkinson’s disease
• Respiratory problems
• Sensory impairments (vision, hearing)
• Spinal cord injury
• Stroke
• Traumatic brain injuries

AgrAbility Services
• Education
• Networking
• Assistance

Education
Build service capacity by educating health, agriculture and government service providers

Networking
Expand program capacity by sharing resources with and securing services from individuals and organizations

Assistance
Provide on-farm consultative services and technical assistance to farmers to increase likelihood of remaining in production agriculture.

Peer Support

Purpose of Peer Support
• Connect people with similar disabilities, limitations, and/or experiences for support and encouragement
• Provide forums for information and idea exchange

AgrAbility Peer Support
Training Goals
1. To increase the number of farmers, ranchers, and farm workers who volunteer to provide peer support.
2. To reduce the negative feelings associated with a newly acquired disability and having to navigate unknown challenges alone.

Peer Support Training Goals
3. To increase the number of farmers, ranchers, and farm workers who use AgrAbility information and services
4. To increase the probability of a farmer/rancher returning back to work
5. To establish a National AgrAbility Peer Support
Network

Peer Support Training Objectives
1. To learn what effective peer support is and what it is not
2. To learn effective ways to successfully connect and establish rapport with other farmers/ranchers who have disabilities
3. To practice effective active listening skills

Training Objectives
4. To learn useful problem-solving skills
5. To learn how to spot signs of high stress, anger, depression, and suicidal thinking
6. To know when to notify AgrAbility staff or community professionals if you are concerned about a person’s welfare

Promoting Success in Agriculture for People with Disabilities and their Families