Development of a Four Way Partnership Providing AT Services to Farmers with Disabilities

1
Development of a Four Way Partnership Providing
AT Services to Farmers with Disabilities
Presented at National Training Workshop
AgrAbility Program October 29 November 1, 2007

• 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

2
Goals of this session

• 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

3
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

4
Communication

• The greatest problem in communication is the
  illusion that it has been accomplished.
• George Bernard Shaw

5
Outline

• Chronology of events since 1990
• Relationship building
• DVR training and its evaluation
• Client surveys
• Awards and recognition

6
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-Easter Seals (
  60/hr, 2 hr min, 30/hr office work, mileage
  over 25 miles)
• 1992
• 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 (DVR and
  Easter Seals Wisconsin)
• Developed farm assessment report (primary product
  of farm assessment)

7
Farm Assessment Report

• Report
• identifies specific problems areas,
• offers recommended solutions,
• identifies appropriate vendors,
• provides estimated costs
• Average 40 hrs/client
• Twenty hours for each hour on the farm
• Five to ten hours development/research
  information for report (getting cost information
  and bids for items over 1500- WI requirement)
• Five hours to prepare report, 20 to 60 pages in
  length

8
Chronology

• 1990
• Initiate services to farmers with disabilities
  (Easter Seals and UW-Extension)
• Establish an advisory committee
• 1991
• Awarded USDA-CSREES Education and Assistance to
  Farmers with Disabilities project
• Placed on the DVR Approved Provider List for
  serving people with disabilities-Easter Seals (
  60/hr, 2 hr min, 30/hr office work, mileage
  over 25 miles)
• 1992
• 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

9
Chronology

• 1990
• Initiate services to farmers with disabilities
  (Easter Seals and UW-Extension)
• Establish an advisory committee
• 1991
• Awarded USDA-CSREES Education and Assistance to
  Farmers with Disabilities project
• Placed on the DVR Approved Provider List for
  serving people with disabilities-Easter Seals (
  60/hr, 2 hr min, 30/hr office work, mileage
  over 25 miles)
• 1992
• 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)

10
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?

11
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

12
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

13
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

14
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

15
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

16
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

17
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

18
Results of Holly Allens 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

19
Results of Holly Allens 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

20
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

21
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

22
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

23
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)

24
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

25
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)

26
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

27
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 (WDAs)
• DVR staff provided responses - 94

28
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

29
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

30
Initial Training Results 2002

• Prior 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

31
Chronology Continued

• 2003
• Initiated DVR client satisfaction survey (4
  questions)

32
DVR Satisfaction Survey Description

• Clients received survey instruments 60 to 90 days
  after a farm assessment was completed by
  AgrAbility-Easter Seals staff
• Monthly the surveys were mailed
• Surveys returned - 55

33
DVR Satisfaction Survey Results

• Clients rate the services as good or very good
  95
• Clients strongly agree or agree the staff was
  knowledgeable about accommodating a disability in
  agriculture 88
• Clients strongly agree or agree staff helped
  them better understand the impact of the
  disability 93
• Clients strongly agree or agree the staff
  provided needed information 94
• Nearly all comments were positive or respondents
  greatly appreciated the program
• DVR concern The survey focused on the Easter
  Seals staff and little information was gained on
  the DVR staff

34
Chronology Continued

• 2003
• Initiated DVR client satisfaction survey (4
  questions)

35
Chronology Continued

• 2003
• Initiated DVR client satisfaction survey (4
  questions)
• Conducted on alternative agr./FARM process
  training for DVR

36
Description of Alternative Agr training

• Purposes of training
• Provide an understanding of the client management
  process between DVR and FARM program
• Provide understanding why and when alternative
  agriculture practices maybe useful for farmers
• Become familiar with alternative agricultural
  resources
• Training was conducted in 10 WDAs
• Surveys returned - 131

37
Client Process

• DVR Counselor sends Purchase Order to
  AgrAbility-Easter Seals Staff
• AgrAbility-Easter Seals conducts on-farm
  assessment
• A statement of findings is sent to counselor from
  AgrAbility-Easter Seals
• A Report is sent to the DVR Counselor from
  AgrAbility-Easter Seals
• The Counselor sets an appointment to review
  Report on the farm with the farmer and
  AgrAbility-Easter Seals
• Roles are assigned to achieve the goals

38
Results of Alternative Agriculture training

• Understand the correct order of the client
  processing step 74
• Understand the potential of alternative
  agriculture for farmers with disabilities 94
• Strongly agree or agree they know where to
  find information on alternative agriculture 99
  
• Strongly agree or agree they know where to go
  for assistance in determining financial viability
  of farms 95

39
Chronology Continued

• 2003
• Initiated DVR client satisfaction survey (4
  questions)
• Conducted on alternative agr./FARM process
  training for DVR

40
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

41
Description of on-farm training

• Purpose
• Gain a better understanding of successful
  vocational rehabilitation practices for farmers
• Become aware of the tasks completed by farmers on
  a routine basis
• Become familiar with AgrAbility- Easter Seals
  farm assessment report
• Surveys returned 133
• Training was conducted in all 11 WDAs

42
Results of DVR On-farm Survey -2003-04

• Feel they have a better understanding of farmers
  view of accessing DVR services 95
• Have a better sense of how farmers access the DVR
  resources 93
• Have a better understanding of farming as a
  series of tasks, rather than a single job 96
• Respondents feel that the Easter Seals program
  reports are
• just right in length 94
• just right in terms of detail 92
• Understand how the Easter Seals program creates
  the plans/reports 98
• Expressed the importance to followup with farm
  clients to ensure the equipment meets the
  farmers need 96

43
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

44
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)

45
Description of revised DVR satisfaction survey

• 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

46
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

47
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
• Isnt 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

48
DVR Satisfaction survey results, continued

• It is easier to complete chores and tasks around
  the farm
• Strongly agree 64
• Agree 18
• Neither agree or disagree 4
• Strongly disagree 7
• No opinion 7

49
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)

50
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

51
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 WDAs
• Responses - 178

52
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 farmers
  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

53
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

54
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

55
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
• 2007
• Conducted equipment utilization survey

56
Assistive technology equipment reutilization
(NIDRR)

• 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 Seals data base
• Conduct a survey of farmers to determine the
  use
• and status of AT devices (telephone)

57
Equipment Survey Results

• Successful Surveys - 178/204
• Pieces 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

58
Equipment Survey Results, continued

• Equipment in use or plan to use 1024
• Condition
• Excellent 709
• Good 298
• Poor 9
• Broken 7
• Help with chores
• A lot 757
• Quite a bit 215
• A little 40
• Not at all 7
• Fixed or modified to meet your needs 187

59
Awards and Recognition

• Easter Seals Recognition of Cooperative Extension
  (Dean received award) (1998)
• Extension Recognition of Easter Seals-Friend of
  Extension Award (CEO received award) (2001)
• Mutual of America Award-Partnership Award(2006)
• Easter Seals Wisconsin (CEO received award)
• University of Wisconsin-Extension (Dean)
• WI Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR
  director)
• WI Farm Center, WI Dept. of Agriculture, Trade
  and Consumer Protection (Dept. Secretary)

60
Fourth PartnerFarm CenterDept of WI Agr. Trade
and Consumer Protection

• Provide financial analysis
• Provides home to CAP (Client Assistance Program)

61
Assets of AgrAbility of WI related to DVR

• Closure times
• 10 months for farmers
• 23 months for other clients
• Placement success
• Over 90 percent for farmer
• About 43 percent for other clients
• Knowledge of farming and associated AT
• Cost of agricultural plans are 1500 less than
  other clients cases

62
Where is this partnership today?
63
Partnership Staff

• Easter Seals Wisconsin FARM staff
• Holly Allen, Rural Rehabilitation Specialist
  (farm assessments)
• Melba Brown, Technical Assistant
• T Ellenbecker, Rural Rehabilitation Specialist
  (case management)
• Judith Guttman, DVR report preparation and
  research
• Jeff Kratochwill, Rural Rehabilitation Specialist
  (farm assessments)
• Paul Leverenz, Rural Rehabilitation Specialist
  and FARM Program Director
• Bruce Whitmore, Rural Rehabilitation Specialist
  (farm assessments)
• University of Wisconsin-Extension
• Cally Ehle, Outreach Specialist
• Ron Schuler, Program Leader
• WI Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
• Manuel Lugo, Division Deputy Director
• District Directors
• Counselors
• WI Farm Center
• Paul Dettman, Director
• Roger James, Counselor
• CAP staff, client assistant program

64

• 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

65

• 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

66
Closing Remarks

• Ideas to strengthen your partnership
• Tools to gain information for partners and the
  partnership
• Potential involvement of vocational
  rehabilitation as a partner

67

• Treat your partner the same way you would like
  them to treat you.

68
Questions