2002 National AgrAbility Project Training Workshop

The 2002 National AgrAbility Project Workshop will be held, October 22-25 in Nashville, Tennessee. Do not miss this opportunity to hear distinguished guest speakers and workshop leaders present a wealth of information and ideas relevant to anyone helping farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities remain productive members of America's agricultural community.

Who Should Attend
Agenda
Workshop Registration
To Register
Hotel Reservations
Transportation
For Further Information

Who Should Attend:

AgrAbility Project Staff
Extension Educators
Occupational Therapists
Physical Therapists
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors
Rural Health Care Providers
Farmers, Ranchers, & Farmworkers Who Have Disabilities & Their Families

Agenda

October 22, Tuesday
12:00 – 5:00 pm	Registration
1:00 – 4:00 pm	Pre-Training Workshops AgrAbility Orientation This pre-workshop session is intended for new AgrAbility staff or others interested in learning more on AgrAbility. Presenters: National AgrAbility Project staff "Outside the Box" Funding Learn strategic "outside the box" planning for ways to secure long-term, stable program funding and resources. Discuss techniques for creating non-traditional funding streams for the hard-to-meet program and client needs. Participants will also have an opportunity to share their own unique and successful resource development ideas. Presenter: Barb Trader, Easter Seals Assistant Vice President for Federal Grant Development
5: 00 – 8:00 pm	Opening Plenary Session: Meet and Mingle - A time to gather to make new introductions or renew old acquaintances amongst conference participants. Hot hors d'oeuvres and refreshments to be served. Kicking Things Off Welcome, Dr. Ronald T. Schuler, National AgrAbility Project Leader Introduction of Special Guests from Tennessee - Tim Prather, Tennessee AgrAbility Project State Showcase - State Project Staff Each state project will introduce staff members and provide "highlights" of their project.
October 23, Wednesday
6:30 – 7:45 am	Breakfast
6:45 – 7:30 am	Registration
8:00 - 8:15 am	Board buses for travel to Site Visit
9:00 am - 5:00 pm	Site Visit at University of Tennessee Middle Tennessee Experiment Station Sessions (Participants will have the opportunity to attend each of these sessions.) Staying in the Operator's Seat For many farmers/ranchers, a primary goal is continuing to operate their tractors, machinery or farm trucks. This session will provide participants with demonstration and discussion of design consideration for modification and safety of assistive technologies for farm machinery and medium to heavy-duty vehicles. Session will feature hand controls, seating, hitching systems, lifts, additional steps and other items. Presenters: Tim Prather, Tennessee AgrAbility Project and Extension Specialist, University of Tennessee Ron Schuler, Project Leader, National AgrAbility Project and University of Wisconsin Extension Machinery Specialist Does the Tool Fit? - Hand and Power Tools for Unique Needs This hands-on activity will explore the difference between standard hand /power tools and tools designed to benefit farmers with arm amputations, gripping impairments, visual impairments and back injuries. Newer hand/power tools, designed with ergonomics in mind, potentially offer increased efficiency with a decrease in the potential for secondary injury. Participants will have the opportunity to complete simulated farm tasks with both standard and ergonomically designed tools. Presenter: Therese Willkomm, Technical Director, National AgrAbility Project 3 S's to Farmstead Accessibility Structures, surfaces and safety are factors of farmstead accessibility. Look at structural design considerations for livestock handling that considers not only animal safety but also worker safety and accessibility. Participants will discuss ways to modify existing structures and surfaces to improve farmstead safety and accessibility. Presenter: George Grandle, Extension Farm Structures Specialist, University of Tennessee Computers - What do they have to do with it? Computer technologies are used in production agriculture from business recordkeeping to crop production and animal identification. Participants can visit the Special Technology Access Resource (STAR) center "Access Express" to gain hands-on experience with computer technologies such as screen readers, screen magnifiers and voice recognition software. Participants will have the opportunity to explore other applications of computer technology in agriculture for potential client career opportunities, like dairy/herd databases and GPS/GIS. Presenters: Dennis Welton, STAR Center and Mark Novak, Agricultural Technologist, National AgrAbility Project The How and Why of Rotational Grazing Systems This will be an introduction to rotational grazing systems - fencing, water, forages, paddock layout, etc. with discussion on why rotational grazing may be an option for farmers/ranchers with disabilities. May include a hands-on demonstration of fencing and gates that can be used by farmers with disabilities. Presenter: Greg Brann, Grazing Land Specialist, Tennessee USDA NRCS "Straight from the Farmer's Mouth: Experiences with Alternative Agriculture." Farmers with different alternative agriculture operations will be on hand to share their unique approaches to successfully implementing an alternative enterprise. Participants will hear a short description of each farm, then have the opportunity to discuss with the farmers and ask specific questions about their operation. Specific aspects of these operations that may offer possibilities for farmers with disabilities will be highlighted. Facilitators: Robin Fazio, Tennessee AgrAbility and Bob Meyer, National AgrAbility Project
5:00 - 5:15 pm	Board Buses
5:15 - 6:00 pm	Travel to Hotel
6:15 - 8:15 pm	Group dinner at Wild Horse Saloon
October 24, Thursday
7:15 - 8:15 am	Breakfast
8:30 – 10:00 am	Concurrent Sessions I Fabrication Tools and Materials for Constructing Low Cost Solutions: (Participants are expected to attend both sessions I and II.) Explore over 80 different tools and materials for fabricating low cost, simple solutions. In this workshop, participants will gain experience in working with adhesives, fasteners, cutters, mini-torches, and basic switch making materials. Try out an assortment of materials for making prototypes, such as tile board, blue/pink board, tri-wall, Strata-core, PVC, acrylic, green wire, dumpster digs, and much more. Roll up your sleeves and tap into your creativity to develop solutions with simple, locally available materials. Presenter: Therese Willkomm, Technical Director, National AgrAbility Project You Got Your What Stuck Where? Understand WHAT (human performance, task analysis and functional checklists) within the context of WHERE (down on the farm). Participants will practice using the Functional Interview as a guide to determine the client's functional barriers for working or living. Be able to gather data to write comprehensive, understandable and measurable reports or referrals. Presenters: Carla Wilhite, OT, Colorado AgrAbility Project and Beth Zabel, OT, Minnesota AgrAbility Project Liability and Other Legal Concerns Examine key liability issues that AgrAbility and other professionals face as they provide product recommendations, specifications or specific designs. This session will include a discussion of legal fundamentals and frameworks to protect yourself, your organization or your business from unanticipated consequences. Participants will also have the opportunity to discuss their views and approaches to liability risk management as a group. Ideas from this discussion will be incorporated into an educational module being developed by the Minnesota AgrAbility Project in consultation with the national project staff. Presenter: John Shutske, Minnesota AgrAbility Project, University of Minnesota
10:00 – 10:30 am	Break
10:30 am - Noon	Concurrent Session II Fabrication Tools and Materials for Constructing Low Cost Solutions (continued from Session I) Resources + Activities = Results A discussion of how to get beyond the numbers to determine and measure results (impact). Topics to be discussed as time allows: how to work with the data we already collect, measuring client impacts (consistent questions and language with all state projects), giving equal coverage to the educational objectives of the AgrAbility project, and Human Subjects Reviews and IRB's. What is the current state and what impact will HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Privacy Act of 1996) have on data collection. Presenter: Bob Meyer, Evaluation Specialist, National AgrAbility Project Farming with a Vision Impairment William Fennessee, a horseman who is blind, will provide an inspirational presentation on his activities as an independent farmer. He will focus on the maintenance, care and upkeep of a mini-farm with horses. Gentling and riding horses are also a part of his world. Presenter: William Fennessee, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Rehabilitation Counselor Education at Alabama A&M University
Noon – 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 – 4:00 pm	Concurrent Sessions III Developing Solutions for Sample Cases (Small Group Activity) Participants will be broken into small groups, each group will then be given a n AgrAbility client case, which will be "managed" from beginning to end (as best as possible in the time allowed). Results to be shared among the other groups and documented for inclusion on the National AgrAbility Web Site. Facilitators: Robin Fazio, Tennessee AgrAbility and Mike Brokaw, AgrAbility Unlimited Networking Session An opportunity for interested individuals to network and discuss future directions for AgrAbility. The format will be an open discussion of topics such as: 1) setting a research agenda that includes accommodating disability in farming (i.e. plug-and-drive joystick controls for tractors); 2) AT database on the National web site (expansion plans); 3) other topics to be proposed during registration. Results to be documented for inclusion on the National AgrAbility Web Site. Facilitator: Bob Meyer, Evaluation Specialist, National AgrAbility Project and Mark Novak, Agricultural Technologist, National AgrAbility Project
4:45 pm - ?	Free Evening
October 25, Friday
7:30 – 8:45 am	Breakfast
9:00 am – Noon	Closing Plenary Session
9:00 - 10:00 am	AgrAbility Projects Sharing Innovative Ideas During the most recent AgrAbility Grants peer review process, the reviewers identified many innovative ideas included in various state grant proposals. This session will highlight a few of these creative ideas from which other state projects may benefit. Facilitator: Ivan Graff, Program Specialist, USDA-CSREES
10:00 - 10:15 am	Break
10:15 -10:30 am	Consensus Conference Review Presenters: Robin Fazio, Tennessee AgrAbility Project and Mary Yearns, Iowa AgrAbility Project; State project representatives at Consensus Conference
10: 30 - 10:45 am	No, Not the ICS Again - Bob Meyer, Evaluation Specialist, National AgrAbility Project
10: 45 - 11:00 am	Congressional Update - Jennifer Dexter, Government Relations Specialist, Easter Seals
11:00 - 11:30 am	Words from Washington - USDA Update - Brad Rein, USDA CSREES Program Leader
11:30 - 12:00 pm	Wrap-Up - Ron Schuler, Project Leader, National AgrAbility Project
Noon	Adjournment
12:30 – 2:30 pm	Workshop Planning Committee Meeting

Workshop Registration

Fee includes: participation in sessions, materials, opening reception, three breakfasts, two luncheons, one dinner, break refreshments, and transportation for site visit.

Early Bird Rates (Registration postmarked on or before August 16, 2002)

Per-person, full-workshop package early bird rates are as follows:
$225.00 for non-AgrAbility professionals
$200.00 for AgrAbility staff
$150.00 for farmers or their family members (Scholarships may be available, call 800-914-4424)

Regular Conference Rates: (Registration postmarked after August 16, 2002)

Per-person, full-workshop regular conference rates are as follows:
$250.00 for non-AgrAbility professionals
$225.00 for AgrAbility staff
$150.00 for farmers or their family members (Scholarships may be available, call 800-914-4424.)

Day Rates**

October 22 — $25.00 includes: admission to the opening plenary session and reception.
October 23 — $125.00 includes: transportation to and from site visit, participation in sessions at site visit, breakfast, break refreshments, lunch, and dinner.
October 24 — $125.00 includes: breakfast, lunch, and participation in technical sessions.
October 25 — $25.00 includes: breakfast and final plenary session

**Day rates not available to AgrAbility staff.

To Register

Send a workshop registration form along with a check* made payable to Easter Seals AgrAbility Project to:

Kristin Mahan
Easter Seals
700 Thirteenth Street, N.W., Suite 200,
Washington, DC 20005
202-737-7914 FAX

Download Registration Form
(requires Adobe Acrobat)

*We are not able to accept credit card payments.

If you need a registration form in an alternative format or assistance in completing the form, please contact Kristin Mahan at 800-914-4424 or kmahan@opa.easter-seals.org.

Hotel Reservations

A block of rooms has been reserved at the DoubleTree Hotel Nashville, 315 Fourth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219-1693. A block of sleeping rooms is being held at a special workshop rate that is good until September 24. To take advantage of this special rate, call the DoubleTree Hotel at 1-615-244-8200 and reserve a room as part of the “National AgrAbility Workshop” group.

Conference Room rates:
Single or double occupancy: $114 + tax
Triple or Quad occupancy: Additional $20/person per night.
Accessible Rooms: The DoubleTree Hotel Nashville has 10 accessible rooms.

Transportation

The DoubleTree Hotel Nashville is conveniently located in downtown Nashville, only one mile from Interstates 24, 40, and 65. Visit the DoubleTree Hotel Nashville website for driving directions.

Airport

Nashville International Airport (BNA) is approximately 10 miles or a 15-minute drive time from the hotel.

Ground transportation

Several options are available for ground transportation to and from the hotel. These include Grey Line Airport Express (typical minimum charge USD 11.00 one way & 18.00 roundtrip/person), taxi (typical minimum charge USD 20.00 one way/person) or rental car.

For Further Information Contact:

Carol Maus
National AgrAbility Project Director
Easter Seals
700 Thirteenth Street, N.W., Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005
toll free: 800-914-4424
e-mail: cmaus@opa.easter-seals.org