An Introduction to West Virginia AgrAbility Project
The national AgrAbility Project is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funded program established to assist farmers and farm families who, because of occupational and personal accidents or illnesses, need to find ways to accommodate their farms or farm equipment in order to remain active in agriculture.
West Virginia AgrAbility Project staff assists farmers and their families by making recommendations for assistive devices and safe affordable modifications to their homes, land, vehicles, and farming equipment. The program also helps farm families locate peer support and funding sources and provides education on independent living skills. WVAgrability is designed to aid farmers and farm family members who experience any number of disabilities or chronic health conditions including: amputation, arthritis, back pain, developmental disabilities, hearing problems, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, vision problems, respiratory problems, stroke, spinal cord injury, post-polio syndrome, chronic pain, and any other health or disabling conditions.
The West Virginia AgrAbility Project serves agricultural families regardless of farm type and can develop solutions to meet specific needs through direct on-the-farm visits. The West Virginia AgrAbility Project can develop and pursue resources, inform farmers of what is available, and, in some cases, help them design and build assistive devices.
Modern farms make use of assistive technologies to make farming a less dangerous and labor-intensive process. Assistive technology (AT) is any device used to perform tasks that would otherwise be difficult or impossible. AT devices for use on the farm can be as simple as a long handled gardening tool or as complex as an automated irrigation system. A variety of assistive technology solutions can make farm work easier for everyone in the family.
Sometimes a few simple equipment modifications can make farm work easier, more productive, and less likely to cause injury to the farmer. For example, adding wheels reduces resistance and makes large bulky items easier to move without unnecessary bending and lifting. Large handles are far easier to use for maintaining a secure hold and extended handles need less force to manipulate objects and help to conserve energy. Small variations can make all the difference in easing use of farm tools and saving energy.
If you have a specific question on assistive technology or would just like more information about West Virginia AgrAbility, please call 800-841-8436 or e-mail agrability@hsc.wvu.edu. We would love to hear from you.
