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The Colorado AgrAbility Project
Promotes success in agriculture for people with disabilities or other physical challenges and their families.
Colorado AgrAbility is part of a nationwide network of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs begun through the 1990 Farm Bill. The goal of the National AgrAbility Project is to inform, educate, and assist farmers, ranchers, farm workers, and their families with disabilities, so they can continue to have successful careers in agriculture.
Farming and ranching are physically demanding and hazardous professions. Colorado AgrAbility and modern technology can help men and women with disabilities continue to do what they love--farm and ranch. AgrAbility can help by:
-Assessing agricultural work sites and tasks
-Recommending farm equipment adaptation, home modifications, and adaptive equipment
-Referring families to local service providers
-Informational and educational winter workshops from CSU Cooperative Extension for farmers, ranchers and family members with disabilities and the professionals who work with them.
To
refer yourself, a family member, or a friend to AgrAbility,
call Bob Fetsch (970-491-5648) or e-mail him at fetsch@cahs.colostate.edu
We've
developed a Neighbor-to-Neighbor Support Training for farm/ranch
families who want to provide support to others with a newly
acquired disability or physical challenge. For more information,
e-mail Bob Fetsch at fetsch@cahs.colostate.edu
Colorado AgrAbility Project
Colorado
State University
Human Development & Family Studies Department
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1570
970-491-5648
fetsch@cahs.colostate.edu
Carla Wilhite, Project Coordinator
Easter Seals Colorado
303-233-1666 ext224
cwilhite@eastersealscolorado.org
Below is a list of further information about the Colorado AgrAbility Project. To refer yourself or some other farmer or rancher with a disability or physical challenge to Colorado AgrAbility, please e-mail Dr. Fetsch at fetsch@cahs.colostate.edu ."
A non-technical Summary of the AgrAbility Project:
Colorado agriculture is a big, dangerous business. The state has 28,268 farms and it had 78 agricultural fatalities 1997-2000. Colorado has 1,600 injury compensation claims for agricultural-related injuries that result in a loss of over $8 million each year. There are an estimated 6,965-10,882 farmers/ranchers with disabilities. The leading external causes of death on Colorado farms/ranches are suicide, animal incidents, and tractor turnovers. The Colorado AgrAbility Team used surveys and focus groups to ascertain farmers', ranchers', and professionals' priority needs from AgrAbility 2002-2005; the identified needs are: educational workshops addressing new topics, assistance in obtaining external funds to purchase assistive technology, and Peer Support Volunteer Training.
Colorado State University Cooperative Extension (Robert
J. Fetsch) and Easter Seals Colorado (Carla Wilhite) will
collaborate in the Colorado AgrAbility Project (CAP). Project
team members will address all four National AgrAbility Program
goals:
- PRIORITY EDUCATION--Increase knowledge about accommodating
disabilities and avoiding secondary injuries in persons
with disabilities by providing education to individuals
with disabilities and their families engaged in production
agricutlure and the health, farm, and government service
providers who may work with them FY2006-2009.
- PRIORITY NETWORKING--Build the capacity of the CAP to
deliver services through the development of networking
activities that encourages the sharing of information
among, and the provision of services, value, or funds
from individuals and organizations not employed by AgrAbility
for the benefit of CAP and its clients.
- PRIORITY ASSISTANCE--Provide farmers and ranchers with
disabilities individualized consultative information,
education, service, and technical assistance to increase
the likelihood that they and their farm operations will
experience successs and to increase the consumer satisfaction
levels with the CAP by providing: product selection advice;
accessibility and ergonomic recommendations; life activities
and farm operations planning advice; and advocacy to obtain
service and financial assistance.
- MARKETING--Increase CAP's awareness through press releases,
Public Service Announcements (PSAs), print advertisement,
Web pages with awareness content, newsletters, displays,
and/or electronic notices during FY2006-2009.
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