NATIONAL AGRABILITY PROJECT
NATIONAL AGRABILITY PROJECT (NAP)
AgrAbility History, NAP, Project Objectives
NAP Team Members, Partnerships
Ronald T. Schuler
New Staff Orientation
National AgrAbility Workshop
November 8, 2005
A Brief History of AgrAbility
• Arose from a grass roots effort championed
by Easter Seals
• Easter Seals shopped the concept to several
federal departments before selecting USDA
• Modeled after pioneering efforts in Iowa
(Easter Seals) and Vermont (University)
• Grown from 8 awards in 1991 to 25 awards
totaling about $4.4 M in 2005
National AgrAbility Project
A
Partnership
Between
Easter Seals and University of Wisconsin-Extension
National Project Objectives
1.
Education-to build capacity by providing education to health, farm and
government service providers on accommodating disabilities and
preventing secondary injuries in person with disabilities engaged in
production agriculture.
2. Networking-to expand capacity through the development of networking
activities that encourages the sharing of information and resources among
and the securing of the services and/or funds from individuals or
organizations not employed by AgrAbility
3. Assistance-to provide farmers with disabilities in AgrAbility and non-AgrAbility
states consultative services and technical assistance to increase the
liklihood that they and their farm operation experience success.
4. Operations and Management-to increase the efficiency and the effectiveness
of state and national project efforts through project management systems.
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Karen Hunter, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Kristina Martin(ES)
Market & Com. Spec.
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Kathryn Pereira(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
* CSREES-Cooperative States Research, Education and Extension Service
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Karen Hunter, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Kathryn Pereira(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Kristina Martin(ES)
Market & Com. Spec.
USDA-CSREES Responsibilities:
Administer the Program
Specific responsibilities
Direct the request for proposals
Oversee review process
Insure funded projects follow rules
* CSREES-Cooperative States Research, Education and Extension Service
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Karen Hunter, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Karthryn Pereira(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Kristina Martin(ES)
Market & Com. Spec.
Project Leader Responsibilities:
Provides overall management
and reporting activities of the project
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Karen Hunter, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Kathryn Pereira(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Kristina Martin(ES)
Market & Com. Spec.
Project Manager Responsibilities:
Coordinates National Training Workshop,
area training and new staff orientation
Supervises technical assistance and
information dissemination
Directs the preparation of the annual
and final reports
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Karen Hunter, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Kathryn Pereira(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Kristina Martin(ES)
Market & Com. Spec.
Assistive Tech. Specialist Responsibilities:
Provide technical support on assistive
technology with a special focus
on secondary injuries
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Karen Hunter, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Kathryn Pereira(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Kristina Martin(ES)
Market & Com. Spec.
ES Project Director Responsibilities:
Provide leadership for ES partner
Coordinate education for frontline
rehabilitation and healthcare
professionals and networking
for volunteer program
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Karen Hunter, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Kristina Martin(ES)
Market & Com. Spec.
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Kathryn Pereira(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
Agr. Technologist Responsibilities:
Provide training and technical
assistance on agricultural
machinery, equipment, and
buildings with assistive technology
Manage web site
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Karen Hunter, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Kathryn Pereira(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Kristina Martin(ES)
Market & Com. Spec.
Rehabilitation Spec. Responsibilities:
Provides training and technical
assistance with respect to:
assistive technology
government programs
other rehabilitation issues
cultural diversity
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Karen Hunter, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Kristina Martin(ES)
Market & Com. Spec.
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Kathryn Pereira(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
Evaluation Specialist Responsibility:
Directs the evaluation activities
of the program-demographics,
impact study etc.
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Karen Hunter, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Krisina Martin(ES)
Market & Com. Spec.
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Kathryn Pereira(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
Program Assistant Responsibilities:
Provide clerical support, word processing.
Answer toll free phone-serve as receptionist
Complete data entry and desktop publishing
Manage mailings
Maintain Cooperative Extension files
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Karen Hunter, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Kristina Martin(ES)
Market. & Com. Spec.
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Kathryn Pereira(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
Marketing and Communication Specialist
Responsibilities:
Responds to information requests
Disseminates project-related info. to staff
Coordinates the marketing plan
Produces Monthly Newsletter & Quarterly
Principles of Partnership
•Help state project staff excel
•Provide high quality, outcome oriented training, tech.
assist. and information dissemination
•Leverage opportunities and promote innovation
•Lead and promote AgrAbility goals
•Provide full access to all information and resources
•Build capacity of state project staff
Final Point-Partner
Treat your partner the
way you would like
them to treat you
THE END