Volume 16    No. 4

    In 1999, Paul Leverenz, the Rehabilitation Specialist for the Easter Seals Wisconsin FARM Program, would visit farmers and provide farm assessments.  During his visits to the farms, he would sit down with the farmer and his/her family and discuss how the disability was affecting the farm operation.  The visits to the farms have not changed much since then, but Leverenz is no longer the single Rehabilitation Specialist visiting farmers.  His role changed from Rehabilitation Specialist to Vice President of FARM, overseeing six rehabilitation specialists.  T Ellenbecker and Paul Untiet, Rural Rehabilitation Specialists, make available information and referral services to farmers before the initial farm visit.  Once a farmer signs up for the program, Ellenbecker or Untiet will provide an extensive phone interview to learn more about what services or resources may further benefit the individual.  Holly Allen, Jeff Kratochwill, Cindy Lueck and Bruce Whitmore are the rural rehabilitation specialists who travel throughout the state visiting farmers and their families, completing the farm assessments.  Melba Brown and Judith Guttman provides assistance to the rehab specialists through contacting vendors, scheduling appointments and collecting and tracking necessary data for each client. 

            AAW also staffs booths at farm shows, such as Farm Technology Days and Wisconsin Public Service Farm Show, and additional events, including safety day camps, around Wisconsin each year.  These shows and events, allow area farmers, current and past clients, and other professionals the opportunity to learn more about AAW and answer questions or concerns individuals may have.

For the 2006-2010 grant, the program is making particular efforts to reach out to Occupational and Physical Therapy professionals through presentations and increased exposure at professional events and conferences.  Cally Ehle, the AAW outreach specialist, has traveled throughout Wisconsin presenting to occupational therapy and physical therapy students at universities and technical schools.  Students are offered the opportunity to visit former AAW client’s farms to learn about the program and assistance provided to farmers.  These specialized presentations create awareness of the program to future medical professionals, their future patients, and gives farmers the support and resources they need to continue to successfully farm with a disability.

           In 2007, AAW hosted the first annual Assistive Tech Awareness Day.  This event brought farmers and professionals in the agriculture field together to learn about the various resources that are available.  The Assistive Tech Awareness Day took place in Wausau with about 30 farmers and ten organizations attending. The staff is organizing another Assistive Tech Awareness Day in southwest Wisconsin in summer 2008, and a similar event will be held in a different location in the state each year.             

Several activities created over the years have continued to successfully grow and enhance our services to farmers and farm families.  The Farmer Network is a peer support group that allows farmers willing to talk to other farmers in the area about AgrAbility.  With an initial goal of 36 volunteers to represent all 72 counties, AAW now has 70 Farmer Network members, representing 30 counties.

            The Speakers Bureau consists of volunteers who help promote AAW.  These volunteers host the AAW display at local events and statewide farm shows.  Another group of volunteers created in 2007 is the Focus Group.  This group consists of five former AAW clients who meet via teleconferences with AAW staff.  The meetings are allow everyone involved the chance to brainstorm ideas on how to improve AAW’s current programs.

               For 17 years, AAW has successfully helped farmers with disabilities to farm when others thought it could not be done.  To date, the AgrAbility program in Wisconsin has helped over 1,600 farmers to stay on the farm and remain successful.  If anyone is interested in participating in our volunteer programs or just has an idea to help expand  AgrAbility’s services, feel free to contact any of the staff.  AAW hope to continue to aid farmers with disabilities for another seventeen years and beyond.

Partners...