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

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

AgrAbility began in 1991 as part of the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (“The Extension Service”) 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 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 In 1991, there were 8 AgrAbility projects; as of 2010, there were 23 projects covering 25 states + several affiliate projects 3

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. 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. 4

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Special Responsibilities of the NAP Provide support to the state and regional AgrAbility Projects 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 Provide direct services to customers in states without AgrAbility Projects 17

What Does the NAP Not Provide? Funding Funding Equipment (though some Tech Act partners provide certain AT) 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 18

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

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

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

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

NAP Resources BNG Resource List BNG Resource List  More than 60 resources related to disability in agriculture Related web sites Related web sites  (current NAP)  (former NAP)  (rural caregivers) 23

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

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

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

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

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

Communities of Interest and Standing Committees Communities of Interest 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 29