Assistive Technology and Rural Life

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Living and Working
A rural environment can be challenging for people with disabilities. While it's rarely an easy task for any person with disabilities to access, select, fund, and maintain assistive technology devices and services, the more than 197,000 Oklahomans who live in farming communities face an even greater set of assistive technology challenges. Distance, isolation, and problems of cost-effectiveness can compound problems faced by rural consumers.

Assistive technology for people who live in farming communities includes any kind of device, modification, or service that will help a person with a disability work and live more independently in the rural setting. An assistive technology device is any item used to maintain or improve a person's functional capabilities. An assistive technology service is any service that helps an individual select, acquire, or learn to use an assistive technology device.

Because of the physical nature of their work, people who live on farms are more likely than the general population to sustain work injuries that result in disabilities. While approximately 9 percent of Americans suffer from some form of serious physical disability, it is estimated that between 15 and 30 percent of farm operators and farm workers have physical disabilities, many of them sustained on the job and many that hinder the farm worker from completing essential work-related tasks.

Barriers to Obtaining Assistive Technology
People living in farming communities may find it difficult to obtain assistive technology devices and services due to:

Lack of information -- Rural medical and educational institutions generally serve sparsely populated regions. As a result, these institutions may lack experience in serving low incidence populations, such as people with acquired disabilities.

Financial limitations -- Rural residents have income levels that are, on average, 20 to 40 percent lower than incomes of urban residents, which can limit their ability to pay for assistive technology devices and services. Rural residents who are self-employed may also lack health insurance coverage.

Restricted availability of transportation -- Rural populations are characterized by a relatively small number of people spread over a large geographic area. This means consumers usually need to travel some distance to access assistive technology devices and services, which can be a problem when no accessible public transportation is available.

Assistive Technology on the Farm
Farming has traditionally been a high labor-intensive operation that involves physically demanding work -- for example, handling livestock, climbing grain bins and silos, operating heavy equipment, and moving bulky supplies and materials. Modern farms are making use of automated solutions to these labor-intensive processes -- solutions that make work easier for people with disabilities. Electronics, centralized controls, hydraulics, monitoring systems, and computerization are all becoming part of farming, opening the door to the use of assistive technology.

One farmer who lost the use of his arms and legs after falling from a horse was told by doctors to give up all hope of farming again. However, with the help of assistive technology devices -- as well as the help of his family and rehabilitation professionals -he is back at work. With another person's help he can use a motorized lift to get into his tractor. Once in the driver's seat, he uses modified hydraulic controls and a tri-pin steering knob to operate the tractor.

Besides those mentioned above, other helpful devices might include prosthetic and worksite adaptations for people who have had amputations, outdoor mobility aids for rough rural terrain, modifications for tractors and other farm machinery, farm building and house modifications, and adaptive tools for independent living aids.

Electronic and telecommunications technology can connect people with disabilities who live in farming communities to information sources outside their immediate locales. With a personal computer, basic equipment and a telephone line, you can access many sources of information and services, and can even "talk" to other computer users through a Bulletin Board System (BBS). For a list of bulletin boards addressing the needs of people with disabilities, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the United Handicapped Federation, 1821 University Avenue, Suite 284-S, St. Paul, MN, 55104.

Another means of connection for a farmer with a disability might be a cellular telephone. These portable phones mean that assistance is just a phone call away for a farmer who is out in the field. Most cellular phones are easy to operate; some even have hands-free microphones and voice-activated dialing. Before you purchase a cellular phone, however, call your local telephone company to make sure that your area is served by cellular technology.

If you or a member of your family have a disability and want to continue farming and living in a rural area, you may need to make some changes in the way you farm, with assistive technology devices and services. Assistive technology professionals can visit your farm to help determine your technology needs through on-site assessments. They can also provide information about safety, equipment loans and assistive technology solutions. Finally, these consultants can put you in touch with statewide and national networks of people with disabilities who use assistive technology solutions in their rural communities. (For further information contact any of the resources listed in the "Resources" listing)

In addition, the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) may be able to help you keep working on your farm. If your disability means that you can't continue in your usual work, a Vocational Rehabilitation counselor can help you explore other options that match your abilities and interests. If you need training, the counselor will help you find the best program for you, and might also be able to help you find funding for training and assistive technology.

RESOURCES:

ABLE Tech Info-line Toll Free 1-888-885-5588 V/TDD

Breaking New Ground Resource Center: Purdue University, 1146 Agricultural Engineeringg, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1146 Toll Free 800-825-4264 V/TTY

National Easter Seal Society: 230 W. Monroe, Suite 1800, Chicago, IL 60606, Toll Free 800-221-6827 and 312-726-4258 TDD

Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America (RESNA), 1700 N. Moore, Suite 1540, Arlington, VA 22209, 703-524-6686 and 703-524-6639 TTY

Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, 3535 NW 58th St., Suite 500, Oklahoma City, OK 73112 Toll Free 800-845-8476 V/TTY/TDD

Oklahoma ABLE Tech, OSU Wellness Center, 1514 West Hall of Fame, Stillwater, OK 74078-2026 Toll Free: 800-257-1705 V/TDD