State Project Feature - Idaho AgrAbility

State Project Feature – Idaho AgrAbility

When you think of Idaho, usually the potato comes to mind. However, Idaho’s agricultural economy boasts more than just potatoes. Wheat, barley, sugar beets, and alfalfa are also widely grown on Idaho’s 11.7 million acres of farmland 9. With the price of land increasing and the number of farms decreasing due to rapid population growth in the state, many farmers find it difficult to decide whether to continue in their agricultural work, or to sell their land to developers offering large sums of money. Farmers with an illness or disability may find the decision especially difficult. Idaho AgrAbility is beginning its third year as a project, working to serve farmers, ranchers, and farmworkers dealing with a disability, illness, or injury, and exploring product and service options to help them continue farming.

Idaho AgrAbility is a partnership with the University of Idaho Cooperative Extension, Idaho Assistive Technology Project (IATP), and United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Idaho. Idaho AgrAbility takes full advantage of their partnerships, which in turn allows them to offer unique programs to clients. UCP of Idaho and IATP manage a loan library where farmers anywhere in Idaho can borrow the assistive technology they need for a thirty-day trial period. This program allows users to determine whether something works for them before a purchase is made. From a voice-operated phone for people with limited movement, to a seat cushion that helps relieve back pain, inventory is continually being updated to better serve AgrAbility clients.

Idaho AgrAbility also operates a peer-to-peer network, inviting farmers, ranchers and farmworkers with disabilities to share their challenges and solutions with others having similar situations. Forums are available on the Idaho AgrAbility website so clients can easily access the peer network and related information (www.idahoagrability.org under “Peer-to-Peer” heading). Idaho AgrAbility also encourages agricultural workers to view another forum, https://www.idaho.at4all.com/welcome.aspx, which serves as a “classifieds” for equipment or tools that are for sale, for donation, or wanted by others.

Additionally, UCP of Idaho and University of Idaho Cooperative Extension hold training sessions for occupational and physical therapy professionals across the state. Other trainings Idaho AgrAbility sponsors are targeted at farmers, ranchers, and their families, with the goal of educating clients, and increasing knowledge of the services available to them through the AgrAbility network.

Idaho AgrAbility strives to fully utilize partnerships in order to fulfill its mission to help farmers, ranchers, or farmworkers maintain or increase their independence, and remain successful in production agriculture.

Idaho AgrAbility Staff

Tom Karsky, co-principle investigator, shares duties in project administration oversight, reporting, evaluation, and marketing. Tom has worked as an extension professor and extension safety specialist for University of Idaho for thirty years.

Ronald Seiler, co-principle investigator, shares duties in overseeing project administration, reporting, and evaluating, along with assisting in other project activities and marketing. Ronald is also the project director of IATP and Idaho Assistive Technology Reutilization Project, where he has been employed for fifteen years.

Kathy Griffin, education coordinator, serves as the main contact for Idaho AgrAbility, while developing curriculum and overseeing the education component of the project. She develops training programs and conducts assessments and consultations for clients across the state. Kathy has been with UCP of Idaho for eleven years.

Cindy Schuppan, outreach coordinator, develops marketing products and materials including brochures, newsletters, and displays for Idaho AgrAbility. Cindy maintains all avenues of communication and dissemination among the health and agriculture related organizations. She has worked for UCP Idaho for two and a half years.

Matthew Schuppan, administrative assistant, and program assistant for UCP of Idaho, provides clerical and organizational support for the project. He has been with UCP of Idaho for the past two years.

Deb Brown, administrator, works for UCP Idaho and provides budgetary support for the project. She has been with UCP of Idaho for two years.

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In This Issue
Section 1: Client Story Section 2: Focus Section 3: Assistive Technology	Section 4: State Project Feature Section 5: References Section 6: Contacts