National AgrAbility
Project
Education & Networking
Services
by
Douglas B. Carmon
National AgrAbility Project Manager
Objectives
• Education
– Health Care Professionals
– Agricultural Professionals
• Networking
– General Volunteerism
– Peer Support
– ADDCC
• Assistance
– Rural Transportation
– Health Care Organizations
– Communications & Marketing
Contact Information
Douglas B. Carmon
National AgrAbility Project Manager
Easter Seals, Inc.
Office of Public Affairs
Suite 200
700 Thirteenth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-347-3066
dcarmon@easterseals.com
National AgrAbility Project Manager
• Background
– “Missouri Bottoms”
– Military
• Medical
• Education & Training
– ES
• Sept 20, 2004
– My Focus
• Education
• Training
• Resource Development
EDUCATION
• Training for Rural Professionals
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Community & health care professionals
Extension educators
Agricultural related groups
Vocational rehabilitation counselors
EDUCATION
• OT/PT Training Curriculum
– Bridge gap between rehab and healthcare
professionals not routinely exposed to farmers with
disabilities
– OT/PTs first, then other rehab/healthcare
professionals, and finally pre-service university level
students
– Partnership (National, State, Healthcare
Organizations)
– Classroom face-to-face learning, online continuing
education modules
EDUCATION
• Agricultural Professionals
– Equipment Dealers and Manufacturers
• Educational program through national and area dealer
associations (e.g. North America Equipment Dealers
Association [NAEDA])
– Safety professionals
• American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE),
Safety & Health Division, Society of Automotive
Engineers (SAE)
• Increase knowledge in wheel-chair related seating,
mobility systems, and prosthetics/orthotics use on the
farm
EDUCATION
• Agricultural Professionals
– Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers
(RERCs) and Durable Medical Equipment
Manufacturers
• Disseminate resources identifying product
limitations and recommendations
• Develop educational program
EDUCATION
• Agricultural Professionals
– Workforce development government service
providers
• VR, WIB, SSA, and Senior Employment Programs
• Develop informational materials and presentations
to build and strengthen relationships
NETWORKING
• General Volunteer Services
– Compilation of volunteer
management guidelines
• Research, recruiting, liability,
training, management, recognition,
and reporting
– Resource access
• National AgrAbility Project web site
• Print
• Electronically
NETWORKING
• General Volunteer Services
– Collection of resources
• AgrAbility Unlimited
• Easter Seals Kindcare Southeastern
Wisconsin
• Easter Seals Miami-Dade
• Energize, Inc.
• National Information Center for
Volunteerism
• Minnesota Department of Human Services
• Independent Sector
• Corporation for National and Community
Service
• American Association of Retired Persons
• AmeriCorps
• Web based resource manuals
NETWORKING
• Peer Support
– Connect people with similar disabilities
– Provide forums for information & idea
exchange
– Connect caregivers
NETWORKING
• Peer Support
– Goals
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Better selection process
More effective support skills
Increased number of volunteers
Increased farmer’s usage of AgrAbility
services
• Decrease liability of volunteer & Project
NETWORKING
• Peer Support
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Regional programs
National peer support network
Barn Builders
AgrAbility Neighbor-to-Neighbor Peer
Support Training (AANNPST)
NETWORKING
• AgrAbility Disability, Disease and
Chronic Condition (ADDCC)
workgroup
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Information sharing
Conferences
Collaborations
Internships
Assistance
• Rural Transportation
– Web site resources
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Handbook for Rural Flexroute Implementation
Community Inclusion Driver Strategy
Model for Solving Rural Transportation Issues
A Solutions Package for Volunteer
Transportation Programs
• Resource Sheets
• Resource Organizations
Assistance
• Health Care
– Web site resources
– National health care organizations
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Updates
Research
History
Treatments
Supportive activities
Peer support groups
Assistance
• Communications & Marketing
– Project web site
www.AgrAbilityProject.org
– Fact sheets
– Technical resources
– AgNEWS
– AgQuarterly
– DVDs/Videos
– PSAs
– Displays
Assistance
• Videos
– 15 min. version on VHS (1996)
• English audio and captions
• Spanish audio version
– 6 min version on VHS and DVD (2002)
• English audio and captions
– 26 min Partners Video (2005)
• 10 min version
• 6 min version
Assistance
• Radio PSAs
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New versions in mid-2006
Two 60 second spots (2002)
Two 30 second spots (2002)
Announcer scripts customized with
local information
– Available on CD and online
– Print PSAs with contact information
Information Sharing
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Teamwork is the key
Networking
Input
We’re here to assist you!
Contact Information
Douglas B. Carmon
National AgrAbility Project Manager
Easter Seals, Inc.
Office of Public Affairs
Suite 200
700 Thirteenth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-347-3066
dcarmon@easterseals.com
Enjoy Your Workshop!