AgrAbility Services in a Culturally Diverse Population: The Amish and other Old Order Anabaptists
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Transcript of AgrAbility Services in a Culturally Diverse Population: The Amish and other Old Order Anabaptists
Paul Jones and William FieldBreaking New Ground
Purdue University
AgrAbility Services in a Culturally Diverse Population: The Amish and
other Old Order Anabaptists
What Does it Mean to be Anabaptist?
• Anabaptist movement began in 1525 in Switzerland
• Anabaptist continuum– Traditional (Amish)– Transitional (Conservative Mennonites)– Transformational (Church of the Brethren)
What Does it Mean to be Old Order?
• Selective use of technology• Plain clothing• Special dialect• Use horse-drawn transportation
Population Estimates• Every currently funded AgrAbility
state except Nebraska, Utah, and Colorado has an Old Order group (Colorado has an Amish Mennonite community)
• 225,000 Old Order Anabaptists (2001—Kraybill)
• Doubling of population every 20-22 years
Service Delivery Experience
• 3 recent Old Order clients (1 current, 1VR, 1 German Baptist)
• Participation in 5 “Amish Handicapped Gatherings” with 500-600 attendees
• Treva Chupp– Visual impairment resource
• Other state AgrAbility projects
Service Delivery Experience
• Farm Safety– Northern Indiana Family Safety Committee
• Amish safety days on Amish farms• Buggy/auto initiative
– Fatality study (Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health)
– Current NIOSH-supported injury study
Cultural Values Related to Agriculture
• Historically, agriculture has been:– The primary means of economic survival– A primary means of cultural survival
• Currently, around 50% have primary source of income off-farm but most live on-farm
• Unique perspective on technology
Cultural Values Related to Receiving Services
• Focus on helping within community (barn raising)
• Separation from “the world” and the state
• Resistance to free help, including materials
Barriers to Service Delivery
• Normally don’t participate in government-sponsored programs
• Technological divide• Favor face-to-face relationships
over “programs”– Cost of relationships
Cultural Ignorance and Insensitivity
• Basic values and history• Local rules (Ordnung); can vary
significantly between communities• Viewed as stupid or backward• Disneyland syndrome
Outreach Suggestions
• Cultivate long-term personal relationships– Bishops normally must give approval for
atypical activities
• Network with Extension personnel who have long-term relationships
• Conduct or participate in safety days
Outreach Suggestions
• Read The Budget or similar publications
• Come to Elizabethtown conference June 2-4, 2004
• Buy cookies and bread
Thank you for your kind attention