Angie Fletcher, MSEd
Human Development
Specialist, University
of Missouri Extension
Putting Things Back
Together…Effects of Disability on
Farm & Ranch Families
By the end of our time today…
Define family and disability
 Clarify what roles exist within a family
and how disability can change and
redefine roles
 Identify characteristics of a strong
family
 Explore the implications of disability on
farm and ranch families

By the end of our time today…
Review the grieving process and its
effect/affect on individuals
 Explore ways AgrAbility professionals
can identify and support families
adjustment to disability

What Is A Family?
A family is defined as two or more
persons who share resources, share
responsibility for decisions, share values
and goals, and have a commitment to
one another over time.
American Association of
Family and Consumer Sciences
Who does what?
Housekeeper
 Provider
 Child Care
 Kinships
 Help-giver
 Recreational

What makes a family strong?
Caring & appreciation
 Time together
 Encouragement
 Commitment
 Communication
 Spirituality
 Community & family ties
 Clear roles

What makes a family strong?

Coping with change—all families
develop habits, routines and rules.
These contribute to continuity and
stability. In strong families, this pattern
remains flexible or adaptable enough to
cope with crises or change. May require
changes in habits, rules, power
structure, roles and division of labor.
What Is Disability?
An individual with a disability is defined
as a person who:
 has a physical or mental impairment
that substantially limits one or more
major life activities
 a record of such an impairment
 or is regarded as having such an
impairment
Source: Disability Information & Statistics
http://www.joniandfriends.org/disability_ stats.php
Impact of Disability
on Rural Families

Rural Location
 Long
drives to medical facilities, physical
therapy, etc.
 Fewer services offered vs. those located in
town or urban locations
Impact of Disability
on Rural Families

Financial
 Decrease
in income
 Medical bills and costs associated with
care/rehabilitation
 Costs of adaptations

http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/h
esguide/famecon/gh3830.htm
Impact of Disability
on Rural Families

Responsibility
 Reassignment
of chores/responsibilities
 Who is there or who is able to take over
those responsibilities
 If no one in the family is available—added
stress of finding/paying someone to do
chores
Impact of Disability
on Rural Families

Challenges
 Feelings
of the disabled family member of
being a burden
 Feelings of other family members being
overwhelmed by new/added responsibilities
 Stress
 Hopelessness
 Fear
Impact of Disability
on Rural Families
Challenges (continued)
 May
see disability as a threat rather than
an opportunity
Encouragement
 Renewed
commitment
 Satisfaction
 Opportunity
Disabled
Individual
“To us what matters is an
individual…We ourselves feel
that what we are doing is a
drop in the ocean. But if that
drop was not in the ocean, I
think the ocean would be less
because of that missing drop.”
Mother Teresa
Family
AgriAbility
The Grieving Process
 Grief
is necessary
 Provide a “safe” place for interaction
 Validate feelings
 Grief Expectations
 Grief time frame
 Identifying resources and support
The Grieving Process
Stage
 Stage
 Stage
 Stage
 Stage

I—Shock
II—Recovery Expectations
III—Mourning
IV—Defense
V--Adjustment
The Grieving Process
Stage I—Shock
Numbness
Disbelief
Denial that anything
serious has occurred
The Grieving Process
Stage II—Recovery
Expectations
Hope that this is only
temporary
Things will get back to
normal with a little time
The Grieving Process
Stage III—Mourning
Grieving the loss
The Grieving Process
Stage IV—Defense
Anger
Aggression
The Grieving Process
Stage V—Adjustment
Acceptance
Interested in making
adaptations
Goal setting
Communication
Communicating—Common
Pitfalls
Judging
Labeling
Moralizing
Advising
Communicating—Listening
Most people…
 Talk
at about 125 words per minute
 Listen at a rate of about 400 words per
minute
This Means…
We think ahead of the person who is
speaking
Communicating--Listening
Putting aside your own thought and
opinions
 Openness and respect for what the
other person is sharing
 Sensitivity, listening for feelings and
meaning

Balancing Responsibility
How to Have a Really Bad Day…
 Over
schedule yourself
 Be inflexible
 Expect perfection
 Worry about everything
 Try to do it all
 Take everything personally
 Procrastinate
 Leave your sense of humor at home
Factors That Cause Imbalance
Job
 Family
 Taking on too much

Stress!
Getting a Grip on Stress
Communicate
 Delegate
 Say no
 Simplify
 Laugh
 Exercise
 Plan ahead

Getting a Grip on Stress
Identify specific stressors
 Stress Management--You can change…

 how
you think
 some of the ways your body reacts
 situation

Referral
Disabled
Individual
“To us what matters is an
individual…We ourselves feel
that what we are doing is a
drop in the ocean. But if that
drop was not in the ocean, I
think the ocean would be less
because of that missing drop.”
Mother Teresa
Family
AgriAbility