AgrAbility – A Critical Service for PA's Agricultural Community

I serve on the Advisory Board for the AgraAbilityPA group that manages the AgrAbility program in Pennsylvania. I wanted to get this information out to our fellow Pennsylvania Farmers, Dairymen and Agricultural workers that receive the Field Crop News email. This is information to consider for yourself if you have a disability or long-term health condition or pass this information along to neighbors or fellow farmers to whom it may be helpful.

AgraAbility for Pennsylvanians is a project that is supported under USDA/NIFA in collaboration with Penn State Extension.

The AgraAbility PA project assists farmers and agricultural workers with disabilities or long-term health conditions. Direct services are provided through this program and support is given to assist farmers and agricultural workers to help them continue working in production agriculture and to live independently.

Disability or long-term health conditions may include:

• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Spinal cord injury
• Back pain or back injury
• Knee pain or injury
• Amputation
• Traumatic brain injury
• Stroke
• Visual or hearing loss
• Respiratory problems

There is no cost for professional training, technical assistance, the on-site assessments or educational materials available through AgrAbility PA. However, the project does not provide direct funding or equipment.

Services provided at no cost include

• On-site farm assessments that help identify challenges to successful completion of daily tasks.
• Identifying safe and appropriate modifications to equipment or assistive technology
• Caregiver and peer support
• Referrals and information about state and local resources.

AgraAbility PA staff members work together with The PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF),  Pennsylvania's Initiative on Assistant Technology (PIAT) and other third-party funding sources to help obtain needed equipment, modifications or other assistive technology.

Assistive Technology (AT) puts technology to the task of making your daily work life easier, making the difficult or impossible tasks possible. Assistive Technology includes using equipment or technology modifications on equipment to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities for anyone with a disability or long-term health condition.

These Assistive Technology modifications may include such things as:

• Larger, slip resistant steps or a lift to help access a tractor.
• Ergonomic seats to provide back and support from impact.
• The use of power or motorized feed carts instead of wheelbarrows.
• Hitching systems designed to reduce repetitive motions.
• Mobility aides such as an Action Trackchair an Action Trackstander, or a utility vehicle.
• Modifying equipment with hand controls or visual or hearing impairment aids.
• Dairy parlor modifications including automatic takeoffs, rail systems, gutter grates, and motorized feed carts.

Left photo: Lift chair on combine. Right photo: Trackchair

 Left-Before: Using a ladder to access grain trailer, Right-After: Steps and elevated walkway deck to access grain trailer.

Modifications may vary for each individual depending on the type of disability and the needs of your specific farm operation. There are varying ways to develop solutions including using manufactured or modified devices or structures. Or ways to modify the work practice.

For More Information, Contact

AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians
Penn State Extension
UCP Central PA

814-867-5288
AgrAbility Website
Email: AgraAbility@psu.edu
Facebook/Twitter: AgrAbilityPA