• Started July 2009• Into our 3rd year• Staff– Dr. Dee Jepsen, OSU (PI)– Kent Mcguire, OSU (Program Coordinator)– John Zeller, ES (Rural Rehabilitation Specialist)– Pat Luchowsky, ES (Director of Public Affairs)– Josh Svarda, ES (Employment Training Manager)

• What did we do first?– Get organized• Organizational plan & timeline (reference the grant

proposal)• Marketing plan

– Advisory Committee• Ag, Rehabilitation, Civic, & Rural Organizations• Networking and assisting

– Marketing plan• Where is our target clientele?• Who can help us get to them? (Exp. Advisory Committee)• What materials need to be developed.

• Who did you tap for information?– National & State AgrAbility

• Materials / resources• New staff training – Conducting Ag Worksite Assessments

– Ohio State University• Extension• College of Agriculture and OARDC• College of Occupation Therapy• OSU Medical Center• College of Engineering• Institute for Ergonomics

• Who did you tap for information?– Organizations / Agencies / Associations

• Arthritis Foundations• Centers for Independent Living• Area Agencies on Aging• Governmental – NRCS, FSA, Ohio Rehab Services Commission• Ohio Farm Bureau, Ohio Grange• Grower / Producer Associations

– Vendors• Equipment Dealers• Medical / Health Care• Assistive Technology

• How did you connect with the first farmers?– Directly• Farm Science Review – 140,000 farmers / 3days• Ag Events, Equipment Field Days• OSU Extension Programming & Events• Ohio Farm Bureau Events• Health Fairs or Workshops

– Method• Ohio AgrAbility Display• Presentations / Workshops (Arthritis)• Marketing Materials

• How did you connect with the first farmers?– Indirectly (Partnerships)

• OSU Cares: Farmer Arthritis Screening Project– OSU Occupational Therapy, OSU Extension, Ohio AgrAbility– Over 800 farmers / 26 county fairs / 2 years

• University of Dayton – Innovative Engineering Program• Arthritis Foundations• Centers for Independent Living• Area Agencies on Aging• OSU – Universal Design

– Indirectly (Statewide programming)• Ohio OT Association, Ohio PT Association• Ohio Dept of Health• FSA, NRCS, OSU Extension Offices

• How did you connect with the first farmers?– Making a connection!• Engage in Conversation (Listen)• Give them valuable information to take home

– Value of take home information• Useful on a personal level• Adds credibility to the program

– Take home materials• Fact- sheets, booklets, resource list• Vendor, supplier, dealer list• Ideas that have worked for existing clients

• What barriers were most significant?– Farmers don’t want to ask for help– Farmers not ready to come to terms with a disability• Avoidance• Not ready to admit it• Not ready to talk about it

– Individuals who do not want to help themselves – Social or Economic Barriers– Time/ Scheduling• Covering the state with limited staff

– Working with some partnerships / organizations