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Promoting Success in Agriculture for People with Disabilities and Their Families

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March 2005, Vol. 5, No. 2

Table of Contents at bottom PDF Version

State Project Feature: Delaware-Maryland AgrAbility Project

Delaware - Maryland AgrAbility Project

The Delaware-Maryland AgrAbility Project (D-MAP) began in 1998 by serving all farmers, poultry growers, loggers, and watermen in Delaware and the Eastern Shore counties of Maryland (those nine counties east of the Chesapeake Bay). The initial project was a partnership of the Universities of Delaware and Maryland Cooperative Extension Services and Easter Seals of Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

By 2002, it was evident that the project needed to expand to the area west of the Chesapeake Bay and serve all 23 Maryland counties. The project today is composed of other active partners including the Centers for Independent Living (CILS) in Maryland and Delaware State University.

The Eastern Shore counties of Maryland and Southern Delaware include numerous poultry farms. The poultry industry drives the economy and farming is a way of life on the Delmarva Peninsula. The proximity of the area to the Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean and other inland waterways also provides for a prosperous fishing industry including crabs and oysters. The watermen in this industry are an integral part of the agricultural climate of the area.

The partnerships within D-MAP are the strength of the project. The University of Delaware and the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Services have a long established relationship with farmers and provides expertise on workplace modifications and assistive technology. Easter Seals provides the case management service for our clients, expertise in assistive technology, therapy services and adult day programs. CILS provide disability-based information and advocacy to the farmers in the entire project area of Delaware and Maryland and work closely with the AgrAbility Case Manager whose office is in Delaware.

In addition to the expertise offered by the six organizations that comprise D-MAP, clients benefit from the strong relationships AgrAbility has developed with area organizations, especially with the rehabilitation services providers in both states. In Maryland, the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) has utilized its Workforce and Technology Center in Baltimore, Md., to engage technical engineers who visited the farms of AgrAbility clients in Maryland and make recommendations. Their engineers are developing a special reacher for poultry growers to use in picking up dead chickens that weigh several pounds. DORS has provided funding for farm equipment and modifications to equipment.

In Delaware, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVR) has also played an important role in providing AgrAbility clients with the AT required on their farms. They were instrumental in assisting Brian McCahill with obtaining the Dead Bird Incinerator, a computer program and fork lift for his poultry operation.

Other groups which support D-MAP’s efforts include University of Delaware student groups, FFA chapters, and 4-H clubs. The groups have participated in fundraising events for D-MAP and volunteered services for AgrAbility clients.

In 2005, D-MAP is partnering with the Mental Health Association of Delaware to provide information on mental wellness and stress for farm families. A doctoral student from the University of Delaware, who is also a clinical nurse/counselor, is working on a research project as well. This project will assess the need for education and mental health services within the agricultural community.

The University of Delaware has two poultry specialists, Bud Malone and Dr. Garret Van Wicklin who have been valuable assets to D-MAP. Although they are not AgrAbility staff members, they have each visited an AgrAbility client who is a poultry grower, completed an assessment, and made recommendations for assistive technology using their knowledge of poultry operations.

Contact Information

Delaware-Maryland AgrAbility Project
16684 County Seat Hwy.
Georgetown, DE. 19973

Phone: 1-877-204-FARM (3276)
Fax: 302-856-7303
E-Mail: rcjester@udel.edu (Ron Jester)
Web: http://www.De-MdAgrability.org

Delaware-Maryland AgrAbility Project Staff

	Ronald C. Jester, P.E. - Principle Investigator Ronald C. Jester, P.E. is the Principle Investigator for D-MAP and an Extension Safety Specialist at the University of Delaware. His duties include overall leadership of the D-MAP program, fundraising, network development and modification and design projects. He has been with the University of Delaware for 30 years and with D-MAP since it began 7 years ago.
	Nancy Ranalli - Co-Principle Investigator Nancy Ranalli is the Co-Principle Investigator of D-MAP and the Director of ATRCs at Easter Seals. Her duties include overall administrative responsibilities for Easter Seals, physical therapy leadership, leadership on steering and advisory committees, and special projects. Nancy has been on the project two of her six years with Easter Seals.
	Scott Rowe - County Agent Scott Rowe is a County Agent and the point of contact for the University of Maryland. He provides leadership on steering and advisory committees, and special projects as well as develops D-MAP’s educational opportunities. He has worked with AgrAbility for three years since starting at the University of Maryland four years ago.
	Shirl Tarbox - Centers for Independent Living Liaison Shirl Tarbox is the CILS (Centers for Independent Living) Liaison and Director of the Eastern Shore CIL. She serves as the AgrAbility point of contact for CILS and provides leadership on steering and advisory committees, and special projects. She has worked for CILs for four years and with D-MAP for three.
	John Clendaniel - Farm Management Specialist John Clendaniel is a Farm Management Specialist and the liaison to Delaware State University (DSU). He serves as the AgrAbility point of contact for DSU and the chair for ag technology expos in addition to providing leadership on steering and advisory committees. He has been on the project three of his four years with DSU.
	Sally Van Schaik - Case Manager Sally Van Schaik is the Case Manager for D-MAP. She coordinates many activities of the project, conducts client visits and follow-up’s, serves as the chair of AgrAbility Conference Planning Committee, and much more. She has been with AgrAbility since she started with Easter Seals six years ago.
	William Talley, Ph.D. - Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Services William Talley, Ph.D., is the Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Services and the liaison to University of Maryland, Eastern Shore (UMES). He serves as the AgrAbility point of contact for UMES, provides leadership on steering and advisory committees, and special projects and hosts local area AgrAbility conferences. [No picture available.]