WHO: Join Purdue University Breaking New Ground Resource Center, Goodwill Industries International, the Arthritis Foundation Indiana Chapter and the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the National AgrAbility Project. Learn how this USDA-sponsored program has impacted rural communities as well as farmers and ranchers with disabilities.
Agriculture consistently ranks as one of the nation’s most dangerous occupations. Each year, 90,000 agricultural workers sustain disabling injuries in work-related accidents. Authorized under the 1990 Farm Bill, AgrAbility has fostered the growth of knowledge and expertise on how to accommodate disability in agriculture through education, technical assistance and other supportive services. People eligible for AgrAbility services may have any type of disability — physical, cognitive or sensory.
Rural communities are inordinately affected by a lack of access to services and AgrAbility has been a valuable tool to allow people with disabilities in rural communities maintain their productivity and improve their quality of life
WHAT: The vision of AgrAbility is to enable a high quality lifestyle for farmers, ranchers and other agricultural workers with disabilities and to support their families. While the term “disability” often brings to mind conditions such as spinal cord injuries and amputations, AgrAbility addresses not only these but also many other conditions, such as arthritis, back impairments, and behavioral health issues. AgrAbility is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and consists of national, state and regional projects (currently serving 24 states), each involving collaborative partnerships between land grant universities and various nonprofit disability services organizations. As part of the National AgrAbility Project, Purdue University Breaking New Ground Resource Center, Goodwill Industries International, the Arthritis Foundation Indiana Chapter and the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign work in partnership to develop resources and opportunities for farmers and ranchers with disabilities to maintain productivity and continue their quality of life.
The National Project is led by the Breaking New Ground Resource Center at Purdue University. Support, funding, and oversight for AgrAbility comes from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
WHERE: The Four Points by Sheraton, 1201 K St. NW, Washington, DC 20005.
Lunch will be provided.
WHEN: Wednesday, September 14, 2011, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
WHY: Hear first-hand from rural farmers and their families who have benefited from the AgrAbility project and received rehabilitation and other supportive services. AgrAbility has become one of rural America’s most valuable and cost-effective resources, having provided on-farm assessments to more than 15,000 farmers and ranchers with disabilities since it was funded in 1991. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) will receive an award recognizing his long term support for AgrAbility at a brief ceremony at his office following the Forum.
