New AgrAbility Project Tackling Disability Issues

By: Donald Stotts

STILLWATER---Oklahoma State University’s AgrAbility project is available to assist farmers and ranchers who have experienced injuries that limit their ability to perform essential farm tasks.

“AgrAbility is a good entry point for those who don’t know where to go for assistance,” said Rachael Kircher, AgrAbility coordinator at OSU. “We had three referrals even before we were up and running.”

Kircher said all the key players on the OSU AgrAbility team are available with the recent addition of LaDonna Bornemann, on-farm assistive technology specialist.

“LaDonna will visit the farm or ranch, evaluate the situation and make a preliminary needs assessment, then come back to OSU and research opportunities so that the client becomes aware of all appropriate options,” Kircher said.

OSU is one of 21 land-grant universities receiving a four-year grant from USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service to fund AgrAbility projects.

At the heart of Oklahoma’s new program is a three-way partnership of OSU through the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Langston University’s Center for Outreach Programs and the nonprofit Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation.

“The partnership looks forward to increasing community awareness of AgrAbility services to include not only Oklahoma agriculture families but also to the healthcare service agencies and disability service providers across the state,” said Ray Huhnke, OSU Cooperative Extension agricultural engineer and project co-director.

Huhnke said Oklahoma agricultural families affected by disabilities need to be aware of new services and appropriate low-cost modifications that can be made to farm, home, equipment and work site operations.

Challenges associated with disabling injuries for rural agricultural workers and their families include relative isolation from rehabilitation technology, lack of readily-accessible information, excessive distances to travel to obtain adequate services and lack of financial resources.

“Nationwide, AgrAbility has become one of rural America’s most valuable and cost-effective resources, having provided on-farm assessments to more than 10,000 agricultural workers with disabilities,” Kircher said.

Anyone seeking assistance or additional information on the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project should contact Kircher at 405-744-2398.

Prepared by:

Rachael Kircher

AgriAbility Project Coordinator

Oklahoma State University

211 Ag Hall

Stillwater, OK 74078

405.744.2398

fax: 405-744-6059

Jan Park, Ph.D.

Gerontology Specialist

104 HES, Room 239

OCES, Oklahoma State University

Stillwater, OK 74078

405-744-6231

janpark@okstae.edu