Opportunities for Training and Collaboration with

State DVR StaffNational AgrAbility Training Workshop

November 7-10, 2011

Presented byPaul Leverenz, M.S., Vice President,

Easter Seals Wisconsin

DOE/OSERS Project # H133G100195

The Agricultural Assistive

Technology Training Project (AATT )

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Meeting the 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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Annual Presentations at the CSAVR Conference

Presentation at Annual CSAVR ConferenceFirst Presentation

April 2011 Spring Conference Visit the website to view the

presentation

http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com/content/resources-1

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

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

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

In-State Trainings Application process developed with

input from the advisory councilPromoted through the AATT web

site and CSAVRApplications from 6 states were

received

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

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

Online Training DevelopmentCurrently in development stageCompletion target of materials,

April 2012Training to be made available to

VR staff around the country

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

AATT Website

For the latest news and contact information, visit:

http://aatt.eastersealswisconsin.com

DOE/OSERS Project # H133G100195