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March 1999

AgrAbility Welcomes George Dills
George Dills is the new Project Assistant/Coordinator for AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians. George has a BS in Ag Systems Management and Technology from Penn State University, BS in Financial Management and Economics from State University of New York, and an AS in Business Administration from Monroe Community College. He has extensive work experience with the University of Maryland's Hayden Research Farm as well as the Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences' farms and research centers. George is also involved in production agriculture at his crop farm in Centre County.

AgrAbility Occupational Therapy Project
AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians is working with occupational therapy programs at Penn State Mont Alto campus and St. Francis College to provide a unique fieldwork experience. This is an exciting opportunity for AgrAbility and students. AgrAbility would like to thank the instructors for their enthusiasm and interest.

There are approximately 34 occupational therapy assistant students at the Penn State programs that are doing their Level 1 Fieldwork with the AgrAbility Project. The program started with an orientation about AgrAbility and a stop at a local farm machinery dealership. With the help of the Franklin County Cooperative Extension office, students will be doing on site assessments at two local farms. The class will be divided into small groups and 'assigned' a disability or condition from which they will need to do their evaluation. At the end of April, each group will present their evaluation to the class.

The two occupational therapy students from St. Francis College are doing their observation level fieldwork with AgrAbility. These students are required to have 10 observation hours and will be attending on-site evaluations with AgrAbility staff to learn more about ways to modify farm operations.

PROBLEM SOLVED
Problem: Hanging barbwire to a fence post after an arm amputation.

Solution: After an arm amputation, a farmer in northeastern Pennsylvania was having difficulties building fence because he could not hold the barbwire in place and start the staple to attach it to the fence post. After talking with Breaking New Ground and AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians, the farmer was instructed on a way to modify a hammer for this type of task. A notch large enough for the staple was made in the top of the hammer and a magnetic steel plate was placed over the top of the notch. This created a slot that would secure the staple until it could be started with one hand.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT
Pennsylvania's Initiative on Assistive Technology (PIAT) is a statewide project whose goal is to assure a system of easy access to assistive technology for all Pennsylvanians with disabilities, including access to information, devices, services and funding. PIAT contracts with agencies to serve as more local assistive technology resources to individuals with disabilities across the state. The following regional Assistive Technology Resource Centers (ATRC) identify local resources for assistive technology, coordinate the short-term loans of specific technology for consumers, and develop a network of local technology users to help with recommendations, purchasing, general information and referral.

• Pennsylvania's Initiative on Assistive Technology (ATRC): (800) 204-PIAT (7428) Voice or (800) 750-PIAT (7428) TTY
• Rural Outreach on Assistive Technology (ROAT) - Northern Counties
• United Cerebral Palsy of Northeastern Pennsylvania: (717) 347-3357 Voice or (717) 347-3117 TTY
• Rural Outreach on Assistive Technology (ROAT) - Southern Counties
• Easter Seals Franklin and Adams Counties: (717) 264-7578 Voice or (717) 264-5864
• Community Resources for Independence: (814) 838-7222 Voice or (814) 838-8115 TTY
• Center for Independent Living of Southwestern PA: (800) 633-4588 Voice or (412) 371-6230 TTY
• Life and Independence for Today: (814) 781-3050 Voice or (814) 781-1917 Fax/TTY
• United Cerebral Palsy of the Capital Area: (717) 737-3477 Voice/TTY
• VIA of Lehigh Valley: (610) 317-8000 Ext. 253 Voice/TTY
• Tri-County Patriots for Independent Living: (724) 223-5115 Voice/TTY
• Center for Independent Living of Northcentral PA: (800) 984-7492 or (717) 327-9070 Voice (717) 327-5254 TTY

UPCOMING EVENTS

• AgrAbility OT Pilot Project, Penn State - Mont Alto Campus - Farm Visit - Tuesday, March 16, 1999
• NW PA Guernsey Breeders' Association Annual Meeting, Mercer County Cooperative Extension - Friday, March 26, 1999
• AgrAbility OT Pilot Project, Farm Visits- Franklin County - Thursday, April 1, 1999
• AgrAbility OT Pilot Project, Penn State Mont Alto Campus - Classroom Presentations - Friday, April 23, 1999
• Feature Event...Assistive Technology in the Heartland, Enhancing Independence through Assistive Technology...at School, at Work, at Home, and at Play; Westin Suites & Sheraton Indianapolis North Hotel, Indianapolis, Indiana - April 25-29, 1999
  
  The purpose of this conference is to enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities through the expanded utilization and appropriate application of assistive technology. The conference will feature assistive technology training for persons with disabilities and their families, care providers, vocational rehabilitation counselors, rehabilitation engineers and technologists, educators, occupational therapists, physical therapists, community-based rehabilitation workers, case managers, recreation therapists, and independent living center staff.
  
  For more information contact Breaking New Ground at 1-800-825-4264 or check the Heartland Conference Web Site.

FROM THE DIRECTOR'S DESK...
AgrAbility and the New Extension Four-Year Plan of Work

The AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians program is slated to become a part of the new four-year Cooperative Extension Plan of Work for Pennsylvania. New state Plans of Work (POW) are developed every four years by each state.

These plans provide a broad picture of the kinds of programs and activities that state and county extension professionals will be actively supporting over that four-year period of time in their state. The new plan, which becomes effective October 1 of this year, is an important way by which relatively new programs, such as AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians, becomes more firmly rooted as an ongoing state wide extension program. The AgrAbility project will be located under the Farm Safety section of the Health People/Healthy Communities POW.

Dennis J. Murphy, Professor
221 Agricultural Engineering Building
University park, PA 16802

Ph: 814-865-7157
Fax: 814-863-1031
E-Mail: djm13@psu.edu

AgrAbility staff is available for presentations throughout the state! If you would like an AgrAbility presentation at your county or state level event, please contact Linda Fetzer at (814) 238-4434. For more information about AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians or to share any ideas about articles for future editions, please contact either Linda or David.

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