Agricultural Disability Assistance Project

Oklahoma ABLE Tech Agricultural Disability Assistance Project of Oklahoma (ADAP) by Linda Jaco, Program Manager

Oklahoma ABLE Tech, the state's assistive technology program under Title I of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 is housed on the Oklahoma State University campus and is mandated to provide outreach to underrepresented populations, which include persons from rural areas. In order to more effectively meet this requirement, in October 1999, ABLE Tech sought and received additional funding from the Southwest Center for Agricultural Health, Injury Prevention and Education, a project of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), to conduct applied research to determine disability type and prevalence among Oklahoma farmers/ranchers.

This funding resulted in the creation of the Agricultural Disability Assistance Project of Oklahoma (ADAP). The two major objectives of ADAP was to first identify Oklahoma farmers/ranchers with disabilities and secondly provide outreach and educational activities that will expand their knowledge and utilization of disability related resources and assistive technology intervention.

In Oklahoma, the United States Bureau of Census reports 625,000 individuals have some type of disability, 20% of the state's population. Additionally, the United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service estimates that more than 200,000 agricultural workers experience lost work-time injuries and occupational illness every year, approximately five percent of which have serious results. A state estimate, of the disability prevalence and functional limitations of farm/ranch operators, was conducted by the ABLE Tech Agricultural Disability Assistance Project to determine if there was a higher rate of disability than the general population. A screening questionnaire was mailed to 3032 households. A telephone interview to 544 respondents, that identified themselves with either a physical or emotional condition that kept them from performing their usual work, was completed. A follow-up study was conducted utilizing four focus groups. The objective of the focus groups was to identify the needs of farmers/ranchers, as a result of their disabling condition.

Additionally, it was to determine the resources and assistive technology either accessed or utilized. ABLE Tech is utilizing both the quantitative data results (survey) and the qualitative data results (focus groups) gathered by ADAP to recruit agricultural and disability-related partners for the purpose of enhancing the health care service delivery system for Oklahoma farmers/ranchers. Effective collaborative efforts by both public and private entities needs to occur in order to find better ways to provide rural Oklahomans with important health-related information and resources that will improve their overall quality of life.

For more information about Oklahoma ABLE Tech and the Agricultural Disability Assistance Project of Oklahoma (ADAP) please call Linda Jaco or other staff members toll free at 1-888-885-5588 or visit the website at http://okabletech.okstate.edu. Oklahoma ABLE Tech is located at the Seretean Wellness Center at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.
10/04/01