AGRABILITY PROJECT FOR PENNSYLVANIANS

AgrAbility Project for Pennsylvanians is a partnership between Penn State Cooperative Extension, and The United Cerebral Palsy Foundation of Central Pennsylvania. AgrAbility provides direct services to farmers and farm families with an injury or disability who wish to continue in agricultural production. AgrAbility continues to strengthen its project through volunteer efforts from students groups and organizations. Coordinated activities throughout the state include Pa Department of Agriculture, county and regional Cooperative Extension offices, agriculturally related businesses, rehabilitation and trauma hospitals, rural clinics, social service agencies, non-profit organizations, Pa Department of Labor and Industry's (PDLI) vocational rehabilitation offices, and other resources.Some of the major objectives for this project are to enhance the basic knowledge and cultural competency of occupational therapy students and practitioners, to increase the knowledge of both high school and college level students by providing relevant AgrAbility information including assistive technology and funding opportunities for assistive technology, to increase awareness of AgrAbility services for under-served populations in Pennsylvania, to increase awareness of home modifications and accessibility recreation to address the holistic needs of the producer with a disability, to partner with FSA and NRCS to increase awareness of AgrAbility within their staff and to identify programs that can provide support and assistance to AgrAbility customers, to collaborate with the PDLI's Hiram G. Andrew Center and the new traumatic brain injury center to increase awareness among staff and returning military personnel, and to collaborate with the Pittsburgh, Erie and Philadelphia Veterans Medical Centers to improve the capability of PA AgrAbility.