Development of a Four Way Partnership Providing AT Services to Farmers with Disabilities AgrAbility of Wisconsin Partners UW-Extension: Cally Ehle, Ron Schuler Easter Seals FARM Program: Holly Allen, Melba Brown, T Ellenbecker, Judith Guttman, Jeff Kratochwill, Paul Leverenz, Bruce Whitmore WI Div. Voc. Rehab.: Manuel Lugo and DVR Supervisors and Counselors WI Farm Center: Paul Dettman, Roger James, and CAP staff Presented at National Training Workshop AgrAbility Program October 29 – November 1, 2007
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Development of a Four Way Partnership Providing AT Services to Farmers with Disabilities AgrAbility of Wisconsin Partners UW-Extension: Cally Ehle, Ron.
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Development of a Four Way Partnership Providing AT Services to Farmers with Disabilities
AgrAbility of Wisconsin Partners
UW-Extension: Cally Ehle, Ron Schuler
Easter Seals FARM Program: Holly Allen, Melba Brown, T Ellenbecker, Judith Guttman, Jeff Kratochwill, Paul Leverenz, Bruce Whitmore
WI Div. Voc. Rehab.: Manuel Lugo and DVR Supervisors and Counselors
WI Farm Center: Paul Dettman, Roger James, and CAP staff
Presented at National Training Workshop AgrAbility Program
• Share partnership experiences• Provide ideas which may be used to
strengthen your partnership• Learn details of one partnership that
focused on providing direct assistance to farmers
• Provide tools to gain (more) involvement of a state vocational rehabilitation agency in the AgrAbility partnership
What determines a successful partnership with respect to serving farmers/ranchers with disabilities
• Establishing challenging goals jointly– Providing information and referral to 100 farmers and
ranchers– Providing farm assessment to 50 new clients– Providing VR services to 25 clients
• Meeting those goals together• Knowing your partners-capabilities and limitations• Sharing successes• Sharing failures• Appearing to be a single organization to the farmers
and ranchers served (They may compliment or criticize the incorrect organization.)
• Establishing good communication
Communication
The greatest problem in communication is the illusion that it has been accomplished.
George Bernard Shaw
Outline
• Chronology of events since 1990
• Relationship building
• DVR training and its evaluation
• Client surveys
• Awards and recognition
Chronology• 1990
– Initiate services to farmers with disabilities (Easter Seals and UW-Extension)– Establish an advisory committee (meet annually face to face)
• 1991 – Awarded USDA-CSREES Education and Assistance to Farmers with Disabilities
project– Placed on the DVR Approved Provider List for serving people with disabilities-
– Received four referrals from DVR– Received Kraft Dairy Grant
• 1993– Received $62,723 in AT support for AgrAbility clients– Established semiannual meetings with state DVR staff
• 1994– Awarded USDA-CSREES Education and Assistance to Farmers with Disabilities
project• 1995
– Established $1500/client fee for service– Developed farm assessment report
• 1996– Conducted three question DVR Survey (learn more about DVR)
Survey of DVR staff in 1996
AgrAbility(Easter Seals) provides:• Farm site assessments-job accommodations, task
analysis, job restructuring• Farm site assessment report, described earlier
Three questions• Surveyed Workforce Development Area (WDA) office• How many clients do you work with in a year who have
been, are, or would like to be employed in agricultural production?
• Of these clients, how many per year do you believe would benefit from the services offered by the Easter Seal Resource Center for Farmers with Disabilities?
1996 DVR Survey Results
• Responses received from 26 offices• 198 clients would like to work in agriculture• 119 clients would benefit from AgrAbility• 4000 DVR clients of all areas served per year • Result: DVR and AgrAbility staff became aware
of the number of DVR clients who were farmers
Chronology Continued
• 1998
– Awarded USDA-CSREES Education and Assistance to Farmers with Disabilities project
– Contact 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors
– Initiated the AgrAbility client satisfaction surveys for closed cases
AgrAbility Client Satisfaction SurveyDescription
• Purpose: – Obtain outcome of AgrAbility services provided– Obtain information for improving services
• Annually surveyed clients whose cases were closed during the AgrAbility budget year (1998 - Present)
• The Dillman mail process was used in administering the survey
AgrAbility Client Satisfaction Survey
• 815 surveys mailed from 1998-2007• 340 clients responded to survey• 227 (66.8%) clients can do farm work better or more
easily than before working with AAW• 185 (54.4%) clients continue farming operation in part or
whole – without that help I would not have been able to do so.
• 10 (2.9%) clients continue to live on farm but are successfully employed in another occupation
• Many positive and appreciative comments were also provided about all three partners
• Some not so positive responses were provided about all three partners which provided opportunities to improve
• Many clients volunteered to be members of the Farmers Network
Chronology Continued
• 1998
– Awarded USDA-CSREES Education and Assistance to Farmers with Disabilities project
– Contact 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors
– Initiated the AgrAbility client satisfaction surveys for closed cases
Chronology Continued
• 1998– Awarded USDA-CSREES Education and Assistance to Farmers with
Disabilities project– Initiated the AgrAbility client satisfaction surveys for closed cases– Contact 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors
• 1999– Contact another 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors– Holly Allen impact study of AgrAbility clients
Holly Allen Impact Study
• Goals:– Evaluate programs that serve farmers with
disabilities– Determine issues that farmers with disabilities
commonly face
• Survey population – 413 former AgrAbility clients
• Dillman mail system was used to conduct the survey
Results of Holly Allen’s Study
• Respondents – 67.1 %
• Respondents received services from AgrAbility – 83.7 %
• Respondents received services from DVR – 57.8 %
• Respondents received services from UW-Extension – 15.0 %
Results of Holly Allen’s Study
Assistance provided:
• Equipment – 70.0 %
• Funding – 60.0 %
• Building/equipment modification – 42.1 %
• Information and referral – 30.7 %
• Counseling and emotional support – 25.0 %
Chronology Continued
• 1998– Awarded USDA-CSREES Education and Assistance to Farmers with
Disabilities project– Initiated the AgrAbility client satisfaction surveys for closed cases– Contact 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors
• 1999– Contact another 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors– Holly Allen impact study of AgrAbility clients
Chronology Continued
• 1998
– Awarded USDA-CSREES Education and Assistance to Farmers with Disabilities project
– Initiated the AgrAbility client satisfaction surveys for closed cases
– Contact 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors
• 1999
– Contact another 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors
– Holly Allen impact study of AgrAbility clients
• 2000
– Contact another 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors
Chronology Continued
• 1998– Awarded USDA-CSREES Education and Assistance to Farmers with
Disabilities project– Initiated the AgrAbility client satisfaction surveys for closed cases– Contact 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors
• 1999– Contact another 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors– Holly Allen impact study of AgrAbility clients
• 2000– Contact another 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors
• 2001– Contact final 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors
Chronology Continued
• 1998– Awarded USDA-CSREES Education and Assistance to Farmers with
Disabilities project– Initiated the AgrAbility client satisfaction surveys for closed cases– Contact 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors
• 1999– Contact another 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors– Holly Allen impact study of AgrAbility clients
• 2000– Contact another 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors
• 2001– Contact final 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors
• 2002– Awarded USDA-CSREES AgrAbility project– Received training and evaluation grant from WI DVR (Easter Seals)
DVR Staff Training 2002 Agreement with DVR
Expected outcomes• Expand the availability of vocational rehabilitation
services to Wisconsin farmers– Conduct outreach activities for DVR counselors and other staff– Improve and expand services customized for WI farmers
• Train a minimum of 200 DVR staff in:– Viability of farming as a occupation– Most effective use of customized vocational rehabilitation
services
Four trainings were conducted• Introduction to FARM program and rehabilitation service
for farmers• Applications of alternative agriculture to operations of
farmers with disabilities and process for managing clients• Two on-farm trainings dealing with on-farm assessments
and DVR relationship building with FARM program
Chronology Continued
• 1998– Awarded USDA-CSREES Education and Assistance to Farmers with
Disabilities project– Initiated the AgrAbility client satisfaction surveys for closed cases– Contact 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors
• 1999– Contact another 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors– Holly Allen impact study of AgrAbility clients
• 2000– Contact another 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors
• 2001– Contact final 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors
• 2002– Awarded USDA-CSREES AgrAbility project– Received training and evaluation grant from WI DVR (Easter Seals)
Chronology Continued
• 1998– Awarded USDA-CSREES Education and Assistance to Farmers with
Disabilities project– Initiated the AgrAbility client satisfaction surveys for closed cases– Contact 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors
• 1999– Contact another 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors– Holly Allen impact study of AgrAbility clients
• 2000– Contact another 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors
• 2001– Contact final 25 % of the WI DVR Counselors
• 2002– Awarded USDA-CSREES AgrAbility project– Received training and evaluation grant from WI DVR (Easter Seals)– Established new fee for service with DVR ($2500/client) – Initiated first set of trainings for DVR counselors
Initial DVR training 2002
• Training objectives– Provide information about AT for farmers with
disabilities – Create an awareness of vocational rehabilitation
service opportunities for farmers– Create an awareness of the importance of farming in
the local and state economy
• Training was conducted in nine Workforce Development Areas (WDA’s)
• DVR staff provided responses - 94
Initial Training Results 2002
What is your impression of farming with a disability?
Prior After
Sounds dangerous 0 % 0 %
Physical demands too great 10 % 0 %
Might be possible, will not last 20 % 5 %
Very possible 70 % 95 %
Initial Training Results 2002
• What is the role of the farm economy in WI?Prior After
Does not have role in my community 19 % 2 %
Does not have major role in WI 4 % 0 %
Is important but mostly dairy 41 % 5 %Aware of the range of farm products 36 % 93 %
Initial Training Results 2002Prior to the training:• Did you know about the Easter Seals/DVR partnership?
– Not aware of Farm program – 11 %– Had heard about the program – 40 %– Knew about the partnership – 49 %
• Did you know about AgrAbility Easter Seals program?– Never heard of it – 5 %– Heard about it but no contact – 34 %– Familiar about program, no contact – 17 %– Familiar about program, worked with them – 43 %
• Did you understand purpose of partnership?– Unfamiliar – 23 %– Somewhat familiar – 37 %– Quite familiar – 20 %– Very familiar – 20 %
• Survey was designed to provide more information about the DVR counselor support and relationship with AgrAbility-Easter Seals Staff
• Clients received survey instruments 60 to 90 days after a farm assessment was completed by AgrAbility-Easter Seals staff
• Monthly the surveys were mailed to the clients• Surveys returned - 114
DVR Satisfaction survey results
• ‘Strongly agree’ or ‘agree’ that:– AgrAbility-Easter Seals program staff understood
disability issues as they relate to farming – 97 %– AgrAbility-Easter Seals program staff listened to my
needs and desires – 94 %– I was satisfied with my involvement in the process –
87 %– DVR counselor and AgrAbility-Easter Seals staff
worked as a team – 88 %• DVR counselor allowed some or complete
control to change or add information to the plan – 78 %
DVR Satisfaction survey results, continued
• DVR Counselor permitted flexibility to make purchasing decision – 78 %
• How do you think your DVR plan is working?– A good match – 57 %– Some things work right – 25 %– Isn’t working – 5 %– Not enough time to tell – 13 %
• Is the equipment working as you hoped?– Working well – 61 %– Working okay – 15 %– Does not work well – 1 %– Have not been able to use – 19 %– No opinion – 4 %
DVR Satisfaction survey results, continued
It is easier to complete chores and tasks around the farm:
• 2003– Initiated DVR client satisfaction survey (4 questions)– Conducted on alternative agr./FARM process training for DVR
• 2004– Conducted on-farm training for DVR staff
• 2005– Revised DVR client satisfaction survey(7 questions)– Conducted second on-farm training for DVR staff
Second on-farm training for DVR staff
• Purpose:– create a better understanding farm culture,
farm tasks and farming as a business– create an awareness of rehabilitation
opportunities with farmers.
• Training was conducted in 11 WDA’s
• Responses - 178
Second on-farm training for DVR staff
Results• ‘Satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with training – 71.8%• Had a ‘large’ or ‘some increase’ in knowledge
with regard to ‘Impact that this farmer’s disability had on his/her being able to perform necessary tasks’ – 88.4 %
• Had a ‘large’ or ‘some increase’ in knowledge with regard to ‘How the accommodations chosen for this farm addressed the specific needs of the farmer’ – 86.2 %
• Had a ‘large’ or ‘some increase’ in their level of confidence for ‘Working with farmers’ – 72.7 %
Chronology Continued
• 2003– Initiated DVR client satisfaction survey (4 questions)– Conducted on alternative agr./FARM process training for DVR
• 2004– Conducted on-farm training for DVR staff
• 2005– Revised DVR client satisfaction survey(7 questions)– Conducted second on-farm training for DVR staff
• 2006– Awarded USDA-CSREES Education and Assistance to Farmers with
Disabilities project
Chronology Continued
• 2003– Initiated DVR client satisfaction survey (4 questions)– Conducted on alternative agr./FARM process training for DVR
• 2004– Conducted on-farm training for DVR staff
• 2005– Revised DVR client satisfaction survey(7 questions)– Conducted second on-farm training for DVR staff
• 2006– Awarded USDA-CSREES Education and Assistance to Farmers with
Disabilities project– Received NIDRR Grant for equipment utilization
Chronology Continued
• 2003– Initiated DVR client satisfaction survey (4 questions)– Conducted on alternative agr./FARM process training for DVR
• 2004– Conducted on-farm training for DVR staff
• 2005– Revised DVR client satisfaction survey(7 questions)– Conducted second on-farm training for DVR staff
• 2006– Awarded USDA-CSREES Education and Assistance to Farmers with
Disabilities project– Received NIDRR Grant for equipment utilization
Goals:• To understand the types and costs of AT used by WI farmers• To understand the farmers’ use of AT devices over time in WI• Develop used farm AT equipment referral service
Methodology (year 1)• Conduct an analysis of Easter Seal’s data base• Conduct a survey of farmers to determine the use and status of AT devices (telephone)
Equipment Survey Results
Successful Surveys - 178/204Pieces of Equipment Recommended – 1296• Pieces of equipment not obtained – 164• Pieces of equipment obtained – 1102• Equipment in use or plan to use – 1024• Equipment not being used – 78
•Still have – 58•Have gotten rid of – 19
–Sold or given to another farmer – 5–Trade-10–Something else - 4
• “Last year in Wisconsin, the assistive technology provided by WDVR cost $26,000 per farmer.” Manuel Lugo, May 1, 2007 AgrAbility Assessment Training in Madison, WI
• “Last year in Wisconsin, 126 farmers with disabilities received services from the Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation” Manuel Lugo May 1, 2007, AgrAbility Assessment Training in Madison, WI
Closing Remarks
• Ideas to strengthen your partnership
• Tools to gain information for partners and the partnership
• Potential involvement of vocational rehabilitation as a partner
Treat your partner the same way you would like them to treat you.