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June 1999

AGRABILITY FOR PENNSYLVANIANS UPDATE
AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians started its fifth year as a U.S. Department of Agriculture funded project in April 1999. During the first four years of the project, AgrAbility has worked with over 120 farmers and farm families throughout the state and has participated in numerous public and professional education events.

AgrAbility offices for both partners, Penn State Cooperative Extension and Easter Seals Central Pennsylvania, are located in Centre County. The shaded counties in the Pennsylvania map below indicate the location of AgrAbility clients throughout the state. In many of the shaded counties, there is more than one client. AgrAbility client services include information on assistive technology for farm operations, site visit of farm operation, peer support, caregiver support, and referral information.

AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians works closely with the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR). OVR has provided funds for modification for many individuals who qualify for their services.

AG PROGRESS DAYS
AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians will be one of many Cooperative Extension programs highlighted in the Family Room Building at Ag Progress Days. The Family Room stresses the importance of Pennsylvania families and features the following educational topics: Preparing for the Future, Health, Diversity, Food and Nutrition, and Safety. Besides AgrAbility information about equipment modifications for farm machinery, the AgrAbility exhibit will also provide farm safety activities. Farm safety activities will include the Wheel of Misfortune game provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, AgrAbility's model farm, and an exhibit concerning age appropriate tasks for youth on farms.

If you are interested in volunteering to help with activities at the AgrAbility exhibit during Ag Progress Days, please contact Linda Fetzer at (814) 238-4434 {Voice/TTY}. The dates for Ag Progress Days are Tuesday - Thursday, August 17 - 19, 1999 at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center located nine miles southwest from State College, PA on Route 45. Hours are 9AM - 5PM Tuesday and Thursday, and extended hours of 9AM - 8PM on Wednesday. Admission and parking are free.

PROBLEM SOLVED
Problem: Walking up and down the steps into the milking parlor for a person with severe

arthritis in his/her knees.

Solution: Even a small number of steps into the milking parlor can be difficult for a person

with arthritis. Bob has mobility limitations, even after rotator cuff surgery in both shoulders and knee replacement surgery in both knees. A special platform lift for the parlor was developed by Life Essentials to provide Bob access into the parlor without placing stress on his upper and lower extremities.

Assistive Technology Spotlight
It is sometimes difficult for a farmer with a mobility impairment to access the cab of a tractor. Mobility impairments may be the result of arthritis, paraplegia, lower extremity amputation, or various other conditions. A typical farmer may get on and off of the tractor several times throughout the day. If getting on and off of a tractor is a difficult task for a farmer, they may have to rely on someone else being at the farm to hitch or unhitch equipment. Some farmers have reduced the number of times they have to get on and off of the tractor to hitch equipment through the use of a quick-attach hitch.

There are various hitching systems available on the market. A hitching system allows a farmer to hitch and unhitch equipment from the cab. The quick attach hitch may not work with every implement, but seems to work well with wagons, choppers, and corn pickers. For more information about quick-attach hitches or other types of equipment modifications, please contact George Dills, AgrAbility Project Coordinator, at (814) 863-7490 or ged104@psu.edu.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• PA Office of Rural Health Conference, Penn Stater Conference Center - University Park, PA - June 15 - 17, 1999
• Jefferson County Farm Safety Day Camp, Jefferson County Fair Ground - Friday, June 25, 1999
• York County Farm Safety Day Camp, York County Fair Grounds - Friday, July 9, 1999
• Joint Employment Training and Technology Conference (JETTCON), Washington, DC - July 14 - 16, 1999
• Ag Progress Days, Rock Springs Agricultural Center - August 17 - 19, 1999
• National AgrAbility Training, Madison, Wisconsin - October 5 - 8, 1999

TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON...
To Everything There is a Season ... is a workbook for caregivers of farmers and ranchers with a disability. This workbook was developed by Breaking New Ground Resource Center at Purdue University. Many farm family members do not realize that they have now assumed the role of a caregiver. As a farm family, your role as a caregiver may be very different than that of an urban family. On the farm, the caregiver may be required increase responsibilities in the farm operation. The role of a caregiver can sometimes be difficult, but remember that there are others that have gone through a similar situation.

There are caregivers in Pennsylvania willing to talk with others to share their experience and ideas. AgrAbility plans to increases the caregiver network and to provide caregiver support to farm family members by linking them with a caregiver, providing the To Everything There is a Season workbook, and to explore ways for caregivers meet on an informal basis. For more information about caregivers in farm families or to receive the caregiver workbook, please contact Linda Fetzer, AgrAbility Case Manager, at (814) 238-4434 {Voice/TTY}.

FROM THE DIRECTOR'S DESK...
The North Central Temporary (NCT) committee met in March 1999 to look at research and information dissemination needs in this part of the country. Fourteen (14) agricultural safety specialists and researchers attended the NCT meeting. In addition to me, there were two attendees that we all recognized--Bill Fields and Brad Rein.

The committee identified 8 categories and 42 research and safety questions where work is needed: ergonomic approaches to improve agricultural health and safety; minimizing human exposure to air contaminants; methodology that effectively change agricultural occupational safety behavior; enhancing the safety of agricultural machinery, vehicles, and equipment; biomedical and occupational health approach to improve agricultural health and safety; investigate, develop, and apply new technology to improve agricultural health and safety; assessment of economic impacts and public policy on agricultural health and safety; and agricultural impacts on community health and safety. Upon review of these safety and health issues, the committee voted unanimously to evolve into a North Central Research Committee. The next meeting will be held in the fall of 1999.

By Connie D. Baggett

For more information about AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians or to share any ideas about articles for future editions, please contact either Linda or David.

 

The Pennsylvania State University Dept. of Agricultural and Extension Education 433 Agricultural Administration Building University Park, PA 16802 Connie D. Baggett – AgrAbility Project Director – (814) 863-7415 Linda Fetzer – AgrAbility Project Assistant – (814) 863-7490 Phone: 814-863-7490 Fax: 814-863-4753 Email: lmf8@psu.edu

Easter Seals Central Pennsylvania 1300 S. Allen Street State College, PA 16801 Jeanne Hanlin – Easter Seals Central Pennsylvania CEO – (814) 944-5014 David Troutman – AgrAbility Case Manager - 814-238-4434 (Voice/TTY) Phone: 814-238-4434 Fax: 814-238-3721 Email: DTROUTMAN@homenursingagency.com

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