Presented by Paul Leverenz, M.S., Vice President, Easter Seals Wisconsin

1. Opportunities for Training and Collaboration with State DVR StaffNational AgrAbility Training WorkshopNovember 7-10, 2011 Presented by Paul Leverenz, M.S., Vice President, Easter Seals Wisconsin DOE/OSERS Project # H133G100195

2. The Agricultural Assistive Technology Training Project (AATT )

3. AATT Project • Purpose of the Easter Seals Wisconsin AATT Project • Create a national training program • Share the expertise of five agencies • Strengthen professional competencies of vocational rehabilitation counselors with underserved population • The goals of the training • Increase the capacity of VR counselors to provide knowledgeable and comprehensive rehabilitation and assistive technology services • Achieve successful employment outcomes for rural and largely self-employed farmers and farm workers with disabilities

4. Overview of the AATT Project • The three year AATT project • Improve employment outcomes among individuals with disabilities by using the knowledge we have gained from extensive field research • A collaboration between five partners: • Easter Seals Wisconsin • University of Wisconsin-Extension • Department of Workforce Development, Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) • Council of State Administrators in Vocational Rehabilitation, (CSAVR) • Technical Assistance and Continuing Education (TACE) Center Region V

5. Easter Seals Wisconsin • Easter Seals Wisconsin with Paul Leverenz, M.S., VP, FARM and Vocational Services and AATT Project Director, will: • Take the leadership role in project design • Lead the creation of agriculture-based vocational rehabilitation training materials for the hands-on training workshops and presentations • Co-conduct with Manuel Lugo (DVR) each of the five hands-on training workshops for VR counselors in five designated states • Provide fiscal oversight of the entire project

6. University of Wisconsin-Extension (UW-E) • University of Wisconsin-Extension with Richard Straub PhD, Department Chair, Biological Systems Engineering, Principal Investigator, AgrAbility, will: • Lead curriculum development for the internet-based, distance-learning continuing education course • Assist in the development of hands-on training materials • Ensure continuing education credits for participants • Oversee the launch, implementation and marketing of distance-learning course

7. Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) • Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation with John Connelly, former Executive Director of Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission, will: • Lead the assembly of the AATT Advisory Council to review training materials and make recommendations • Advise on curriculum content • Coordinate training sessions at three CSAVR annual meetings • Promote AATT and materials to state administrators nationwide • Assist in the evaluation process following trainings • Assist in development and promotion of AATT designed training and on-line course at completion of project

8. Technical Assistance & Continuing Education (TACE) Centers • The Technical Assistance and Continuing Education Centers, Region 5 with David Adams, Director, will: • Serve as key representative on the AATT Advisory Council • Provide feedback on training curriculum development • Assist with promotion of the project nationwide and with selection of five states to receive hands-on training in coordination with other TACE Centers nationwide

9. Meeting the Needs of the Agricultural Community • There are 3.12 million farms and ranches in the US • 3.49 million operator household members provide both paid and unpaid labor to the operations. • 1.2 million agricultural workers are employed either full time or seasonally. • According to the National AgrAbility Program, approximately 500,000 farmers with disabilities live in the U.S. • The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates the rate of disabling injuries to be 500 per day.

10. Meetingthe Needs of the Agricultural Community • Approximately 5% (or 9,125) of these injuries result in new permanent disabilities each year. • Combined with the risk for chronic illness and other diseases, 14.0% to 19.4 % or 500,000 to 1 million farm workers have a disability. • Out of a total of 205,447 employment outcomes reported by Rehabilitation Service Administration (RSA) in 2007, only 992 were agriculture-related. • Less than 0.2% of the 500,000 identified farmers with disabilities were provided services that allowed them to continue farming.

11. Why is participation rate so low? • Rehabilitation professionals often assume • that farmers with disabilities should be directed to less physical vocations • that farming is an undesirable vocation • Sometimes the knowledge and skills of VR counselors are insufficient to help farmers accommodate a disabling condition by • modifying the work environment • restructuring work tasks • incorporating agriculture-related assistive technology

12. Overview of the AATT Project • Objectives • Partners within the Advisory council will create training materials for hands-on training in five states for 150 DVR field staff. • A website will be developed with cost effective on-line distance learning course for 100 VR professionals. • Project results will be measured and results will be shared with collaborative partners, NIDRR, National AgrAbility Project, and other USDA funded health programs. • On-line training created by the AATT project will continue to be available to VR professionals following the conclusion of the project.

13. Updates on Year One Activities • Selected Advisory Council members • Created AATT website • Presented at CSAVR Spring Conference • Crafted a survey instrument for CSAVR conference • Created host application for hands-on training • Selected 5 state VRs to host trainings • Developed curriculum outline and training materials for Advisory Board approval

14. Advisory Council • Provide guidance and oversight to the project • Review and approve training materials • Reviewed applications and chose five states to host the in-person trainings

15. Our Advisory Council • John Connelly, Chair, AATT Advisory Council, Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation, Assistant Director of ARRA Projects • Paul Leverenz, AATT Project Director, Easter Seals Wisconsin, Vice President of Vocational Services • David M. Adams,Director, Region V Technical Assistance & Continuing Education • Shell Bowne, VR Counselor, Indiana VR Services

16. Our Advisory Council, cont. • John Bredehoft, Rehabilitation Specialist II , Minnesota Dept. of Employment & Economic Development, • Mike Hansen, Farmer, Good Earth Farms, Milladore WI, • Earl Hobby, Farmer, Fairview, Utah • Mike O’Brien, Executive Director, Oklahoma Dept. of Rehabilitation Services • Luke Petersen, AgrAbility Program Mgr., Utah State University • Randy Sommerfeld, WDA Director, Wisconsin DVR • Don Uchida, Executive Director, Utah State Office of Rehabilitation

17. Develop AATT website • http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com/ • Share information related to the project • Provide updates on the progress toward meeting grant goals • Serve as a resource for VR staff

19. Annual Presentations at the CSAVR Conference • To create a greater awareness of vocational needs of farmers and ranchers with disabilities and how the VR system can meet those needs • To develop greater understanding of how AgrAbility services can be used as a resource to meet those needs

20. Presentation at Annual CSAVR Conference • First Presentation • April 2011 Spring Conference • Visit the website to view the presentation http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com/content/ resources-1

21. Wisconsin DVR Outcomes • Fiscal Year 2009 farm closures • 77 successful rehabilitations • Total rehabilitation cost $3,556,332 • ($46,186 per case) • Estimated annual salaries $5,222,568. • ($67,826 per person) 100% rehabilitation rate! http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com

22. Wisconsin DVR Outcomes • Fiscal Year 2010 farm closures • 99 successful rehabilitations • Total rehabilitation cost $3,874,439 • ($39,136 per case) • Estimated annual salaries $6,784,284 • ($68,528 per person) 100% rehabilitation rate! http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com

23. CSAVR Presentation Survey Results • AATT Project presented at the CSAVR 2011 Spring Conference • Evaluation completed by 35 VR directors and participants collected by electronic methods • Results include • 97% gained better understanding of rehab and technology services needed by farmers and ranchers with disabilities • 91% will share information with their staff • 61% will provide AATT training for members of their staff • 81% wanted to obtain additional information about AATT program • 97% gained a better understanding of AgrAbility • 81% see an opportunity to improve rehabilitation and assistive technology services to farmers and ranchers with disabilities • 100% agree or strongly agree that working as farmers and ranchers merits consideration as an outcome of rehabilitation and assistive technology plans

24. In-State Trainings • Application process developed with input from the advisory council • Promoted through the AATT web site and CSAVR • Applications from 6 states were received

25. Five States Selected for Training • Michigan • Lou Adams, contact • Missouri • Kathy Kelly, contact • Oklahoma • Joe Carr, contact • Utah • Don Uchida, contact • Virginia • Bob Krollman, contact

26. Additional Training Opportunities • Michigan site will be a regional training • promoted to VR staff outside of Michigan • through collaboration and additional funding with TACE region five

27. Online Training Development • Currently in development stage • Completion target of materials, April 2012 • Training to be made available to VR staff around the country

28. Additional Opportunities • Oklahoma DRS agency requested additional information regarding service to farmers following the presentation at the CSAVR conference • As a result, Wisconsin DVR hosted a visit from Oklahoma DRS and Oklahoma AgrAbility staff • Ideas were discussed and resources shared among the group

29. Oklahoma DVR and AgrAbility staff visit with Easter Seals and Wisconsin farmer

30. Additional Opportunities • A conference call was held in September, 2011 with members of Pennsylvania OVR, Alisa Estes of Oklahoma DRS and Paul Leverenz, AATT PI • Discussions focused on policy ideas and decisions related to providing VR services to farmers with disabilities

31. Feedback from VR • There is interest and desire among state VR agencies to improve access and increase services for farmers with disabilities • At times VR staff experience frustration similar to that experienced by AgrAbility projects while trying to work collaboratively to meet the needs of this population

32. Opportunities For Growth • As AgrAbility projects, how can we better understand VR services and how they can be applied to meet the needs of our consumers? • VR focuses on outcomes/ closures; eligibility is the start of the process not the end. • There is no consensus regarding application of rehabilitation technology related to VR’s ability to provide needed equipment.

33. Authority: Section 7(2) of the Act; 29 U.S.C. 705(2) • (7) Assistive technology device means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of an individual with a disability.

34. Continuing Opportunities for Growth • The NIDRR funded AATT project is creating opportunities to exchange ideas and develop consensus related to serving farmers with disabilities. • There is a common desire and interest to improve service to this population. • We are interested in continuing the dialog with any additional thoughts or ideas you might have.

35. Paul Leverenz Contact Information • Cell Number: (608) 225-2394 • Email address: pleverenz@eastersealswisconsin.com • Mailing Address: Easter Seals Wisconsin 101 Nob Hill Rd Suite 301 Madison, WI 53713

36. AATT Website For the latest news and contact information, visit: http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com DOE/OSERS Project # H133G100195