assistive technology recommended for and obtained by farmers with disabilities

Assistive Technology Recommended for and Obtained by Farmers with

Disabilities

R. T. Schuler, P. Leverenz and M. E. Novak

2009 National Training Workshop

AgrAbility

Grand Rapids, MI

October 5-8, 2009

AgrAbility of Wisconsin

Ron

Ronald Schuler

AgrAbility Program

Initiated USDA funding in 1991

Provides education and assistance to farmers and ranchers with disabilities.

Provides assistance through worksite assessment on the farm or ranch

Recommends assistive technology equipment for the farmers and ranchers


AT Reutilization Study

Goals:• To understand the types and costs of AT used

by WI farmers• To understand the farmers’ use of AT devices

over time in WI• Develop a used farm AT equipment referral and

exchange service


Methods

Selected 204 clients:

Served by AgrAbility of Wisconsin

Served by WI Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

Closed cases between 2001 and 2006

Developed and conducted a phone survey in collaboration with the UW Survey Laboratory


Survey Results• 204 farmers called• 178 (87.3%) responses• 26 farmers unable or refused to respond

– Disconnected number– Unable to answer– Refused– Deceased

• Average Age - 54.4 years• Gender - 87.1 percent males• Still farming - 96.6 percent


Role on the farm(n – 178 respondents)

Role Number Percent

Owner/operator 169 94.9

Spouse/partner 2 1.1

Employee 7 4.0


Work status(n – 178 respondents)

Work status Number Percent

Full time 165 92.7

Part time 9 5.1

Not working 4 2.2


Primary farm enterprise(n – 178 respondents)

Enterprise Number Percent

Dairy 118 66.3

Livestock 35 19.7

Field crops 9 5.0

Fruit & Veg. 8 4.5

Other 8 4.5


Primary disability(n – 178 respondents)

Disability Number PercentBack, joint 74 41.6Amputation 24 13.5Arthritis 22 12.4COPD 6 3.4Spinal cord 6 3.4Diabetes 4 2.2Cancer 4 2.2Stroke 4 2.2Other 34 19.1


Origin of disability(n – 178 respondents)

Origin Number PercentAgricultural related injury

Tractor/mach. 21 11.8Falls 16 9.0Livestock 4 2.2Other 15 8.4

Non-agricultural related injury Motor vehicle 6 3.4Recreation 1 0.6Other 14 7.9

Chronic, non-incident 101 56.7


Year of worksite assessmentYear Number Percent (valid

responses)2000 1 0.6 2001 6 3.5 2002 18 10.4 2003 38 21.9 2004 54 31.2 2005 24 13.9 2006 32 18.5 No data 5 ---


More resultsFor 204 farmers:

1467 pieces of AT were recommended

For 178 farmers:

1287 pieces of AT were recommended

For 178 farmers:

1094 pieces (85.0%) of AT were obtained

1017 pieces (93.0%) in use or plan to be used

77 pieces (7.0%) not being used

193 pieces (15.0%) of recommended AT were not received.


AT reutilization study – AT cost

Initial* Surveyed* Obtained AT Clients 204 178 156Cost $7,624,944 $6,888,756 $5,928,033Cost/client $37,377 $38,701 $38,000AT #’s 1467 1287 1094Cost/AT $5198 $5315 $5379* Recommended AT


Commonly recommended pieces of AT Steps for tractors-most common (154, 11.97%)


Common recommended pieces of AT Utility Vehicles-Second (113, 8.78%)


Commonly recommended pieces of AT

Seat and suspension (84, 6.53%)

Skid steer loader(57, 4.43%)



Manual feed cart (50, 3.89%) Feed bin and auger

(49, 3.81%)



Milking systems

(47, 3.65%)Powered feed cart

(44, 3.42 %)Animal handling

(46, 3.57%)


Most frequent pieces of AT equipment recommended and obtained

AT equipment Recommended Obtained for 178 respondents (n = 1287) (n = 1094)

Steps for tractors 154 (11.97%) 129 (11.79%)Utility vehicles 113 (8.78%) 101 (9.23%)Seat and suspensions 84 (6.53%) 78 (7.13%)

Skid-steer 57 (4.43%) 52 (4.75%)Manual feed cart 50 (3.89%) 39 (3.56%)Feed bin and auger 49 (3.81%) 42 (3.84%)

Milking equipment 47 (3.65%) 41 (3.75%)Animal handling eq. 46 (3.57%) 40 (3.66%)Powered feed carts 44 (3.42%) 39 (3.56%)


Number of AT pieces recommended for/obtained by each of the 178 Farmers

Number of pieces Recommended Obtained (number of respondents) (number of respondents)

0 0 22(did not receive any pieces)

1 4 132 8 103 12 04 21 175 23 216 13 137 18 128 10 99 14 1610 8 611 13 1012 34 29 Total 178 178


Condition of equipment in use or planned to

be used – 1017.

Current condition Number Percent (valid)

Excellent 706 69.5

Good 294 28.9

Poor 9 0.9

Broken 7 0.7

No response 1 ----


Impact of the assistive technology on ability to complete farm chores - 1017.

Helps with chores Number Percent (valid)

Helps a lot 751 74.1

Helps quite a bit 215 21.2

Helps a little 40 4.0

Does not help 7 0.7

No response 4 --


Equipment not being used - 77Still have – 58

ConditionExcellent – 34Good – 23Broken – 1

Fixed or modified – 10Have gotten rid of – 19

Sold or given to another farmer – 5Trade – 10Something else – 4

Willing to sell or give to another farmer with a disability – 30Not willing to sell - 26


List of equipment available for sale or to be given to another farmer with a disability(1)

Equipment Cost ConditionAnimal handler or chute $11,060.00 GoodAuger posthole $1,019.00 ExcellentAutomatic hitches $1,265.00 GoodAutomatic hitches $1,570.00 ExcellentAutomatic hitches $470.00 ExcellentCalf cart Kozy Kalf $126.00 ExcellentCalf cart $820.00 ExcellentCalf cart $475.00 ExcellentCamera closed-circuit TV $1,298.00 GoodComputer equipment $189.00 Excellent


List of equipment available for sale or to be given to another farmer with a disability (2)

Equipment Cost ConditionControls or switches $135.00 GoodControls or switches $365.00 GoodGate (s) crowd gate $7,500.00 GoodGate (s) drive-through gates (3) $500.00 ExcellentHand truck $871.00 BrokenHandrail (s) $39.00 GoodHeavy-duty radios, 2-way (2) $855.00 GoodMilking system auto.take-offs(5) $12,754.00 GoodMilking system $30,541.00 ExcellentMower 5' rotary cutter $850.00 Excellent


List of equipment available for sale or to be given to another farmer with a disability (3)

Equipment Cost ConditionSeat and suspension $1,479.00 ExcellentStep (s) with handrail-IH560 $190.00 GoodStep (s) with handrail $462.00 GoodStep (s) with handrail $404.00 ExcellentTiller electric start roto-tiller $949.00 ExcellentTractor with loader (used) $10,300.00 ExcellentUpper hand devices $91.00 GoodUpper hand devices $91.00 ExcellentWagon (large) bale wagon $925.00 ExcellentWater heater $470.00 Excellent


An equipment exchange

• Facilitate direct seller to buyer contact

• Develop a Craigs List-type system

• Allow seller to lists his/her’s available equipment

• Allow buyer to find equipment of interest on the web site

• Buyer contacts seller directly.

• Website: farm.eastersealswisconsin.com


Easter Seals Wisconsin web sitewi.easterseals.com

FARM Program

Ag. Equipment Exchange

Reutilization Web Site Activity as of September 18, 2009

Web site became available August, 2008

Number of AT items posted – 17

Number of AT items transferred – 7

Value of AT items transferred - $32,925

Number of AT items currently listed – 10

Value of AT items currently listed - $40,035


Examples of AT transferredAgri-Speed Automatic Hitches: 3 - Chopper wagon hitches, 1 - Chopper hitch, 1 Additional wagon hitch and 1 tractor hitch may be available also

In-barn Bale Wagon: WIC bale wagon with 4-wheel steering system. 1,500# capacity. 85"x30"x33". 4 - 16" pneumatic tires. Provides steering around corners. Excellent condition. Must be picked up.

Easyline Milker Carrier: Easyline track system for 66 stall barn. Includes carrier trolleys for five (5) units

Power Chair Lift: Life Essentials power chair lift for tractor. Previously on IH-656 tractor. Unit has been removed from the tractor. Lift must be picked up.


Examples of AT Available (September 18, 2009)

Hand Clutch - JD 4020:Removable hand lever fits over foot clutch. Manufactured by Life Essentials. Never used. Needs to be picked up or pay shipping.

Platform Lift: Life Essentials platform lift. New unit - used 3 days. Unit is off of the tractor. Previously on MF tractor. Will need mounting brackets. Will need to be picked up.

Automatic Take-offs: 5 - Boumatic milker units with one-hand connection. Milkhouse receiver group also available.

Step Kit :For late model JD 4020. Needs to be picked up.


Summary

• AT equipment is being used

• AT equipment is in good condition and helps with completing chores

• Some of the unused AT equipment is available to other farmers with disabilities

• A web site was established to facilitate the exchange of AT equipment


Further Analysis to Consider

AT equipment versus enterprise

AT equipment versus disability

AT equipment versus disability origin


Questions and Discussion

AgrAbility was supported by USDA-CSREES grant 2004-41590-01880 and The reutilization study was supported by RSA, OERS, USDOE grant H235V060026


Questions and Discussion

Suggested discussion topics:


assistive technology recommended for and obtained by farmers with disabilities

Documents

agrability of wisconsinyear

agrability of wisconsinserved

agrability of wisconsinorigin

pieces of atseat

obtained1017 pieces

used193 pieces

responses26 farmers

used farm