For the past 18 years, Kentucky AgrAbility has been helping farmers with disabilities find ways to continue farming. AgrAbility provides education and assistance to farmers who must learn to cope with or accommodate a disability, offering a broad range of support and programs. Kentucky AgrAbility, part of the national AgrAbility program, is a partnership between the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, Kentucky State University, Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Center and the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, each of which provides important expertise to the project.

AgrAbility provides:

Technical assistance. AgrAbility provides direct help to agricultural families with assistive technology, worksite modification and independent living.

Information. AgrAbility is the major information resource for farming with a disability. AgrAbility reaches out through direct, personal contact; mail and Internet delivery; and public education and outreach.

Professional training. AgrAbility offers training for consumers and professionals, and its leaders are available to make presentations to organizations and groups.

One of the most important things AgrAbility does is restore hope, helping Kentuckyís farmers who have suffered illness or injury return to work on their farm. AgrAbility staff members have experience assisting farmers with a variety of challenging issues, from back problems, impaired limbs, spinal cord injury and more. The program addresses the needs of the entire family, recognizing that injury and illness affect each family member.

In a very practical sense, AgrAbility works with farmers to modify tools, equipment and machinery so they are able to use it despite their disability. The experts at AgrAbility can assist with issues such as modifying a home for easier access and mobility, choosing the best-suited equipment, and installing adaptive technology such as a side lift on a tractor or hand gears on a combine. These modifications make the farmerís house and farm more accessible, and allow the farmer to achieve greater productivity.

AgrAbility also connects farmers to a network of people who are going through or have faced similar challenges who provide support and advice. This support network is very valuable, offering mentoring from local farmers as well as providing a connection to national resources for assistive technology. AgrAbility also can help farmers find financial support for assistive technology and farm modifications, and can provide referrals to agencies that offer needed services. AgrAbility also offers rural healthcare providers training in rehabilitation in agriculture.

Source: John Hancock, Project Director For more information, visit http://www.ca.uky.edu/ANR/Agrability.htm or contact the Logan Cooperative Extension Service.