The purpose of AgrAbility In Dakota (AID) is to provide farmers and ranchers with disabilities and their families the information, services and support needed to help them return to farming and to live productive and satisfying lives.
Easter Seal Goodwill of North Dakota and the NDSU Extension Service work cooperatively to present AgrAbility in Dakota to the state of North Dakota. AID provides a broad spectrum of assistance to North Dakota agricultural workers with disabilities and their families.
A primary focus of AID is to combine the strength of North Dakota's agricultural communities with the experience of health care professionals, social service workers, volunteers and other rural professionals. This combined effort provides individualized services which promote a return to agriculture, the community and independent living for farmers with disabilities.
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AgrAbility In Dakota provides information to people with disabilities through a network of service providers, product suppliers, product manufacturers and advisory sources. This network fulfills a need when people with disabilities are making an effort to return to a productive lifestyle.
Persons with many different types of disabilities are served by AgrAbility In Dakota. Some of these disabilities include:
AID provides professional assistance to North Dakota's agricultural workers with disabilities and their families by helping to determine the kinds of assistive technology needed, where to locate resources, and how to access them. AID works toward increasing the public's awareness of disability issues in rural areas and provides support concerning public policy that affects rural people with disabilities.
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The Agricultural Occupational Health Nurse Program in North Dakota reported 1,300 cases of agricultural injuries in 1994. Many types of injuries occurred, and some resulted in a disability. The number of injuries which typically lead to a disability included: 440 musculosketal injuries; 416 open wounds; 60 eye injuries; 32 head injuries; 21 burns; and five toxic exposures.
When a person experiences a serious injury, the stress affects the entire family. An important function of AgrAbility In Dakota is to help family members deal with that stress.
There are many difficulties for agricultural people who are recovering from a disabling agricultural injury and who are seeking rehabilitative help and sources of assistive technology. AgrAbility In Dakota is here to provide the needed help, information and assistance so North Dakotans can adapt equipment or redesign facilities and ultimately continue in agriculture.
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Easter Seal Goodwill of North Dakota is a leader in family support services to North Dakotans with disabilities. Easter Seals provides trained and caring direct services staff who can care for family members in their own homes throughout the state - in the most remote rural areas as well as the cities. For nearly 50 years, Easter Seal Goodwill of North Dakota has offered "The Power to Overcome."
The NDSU Extension Services maintains a presence in every county of North Dakota, providing information and educational programs to the people. This network of educators throughout the state offers effective support for AgrAbility In Dakota as information about assistive technology is made available to the public.
Through a generous grant to AgrAbility In Dakota, the North Dakota Farmers Union and Rural Electric Coopereative have provided a service vehicle which houses a complete farm shop on wheels. Consultants use this vehicle to provide support to conduct on-farm modifications to machinery and facilities. The vehicle provides visibility for AID at many farm shows, fairs, and other public events in North Dakota.
Today, Easter Seal Goodwill of North Dakota, Inc. and the NDSU Extension Service provide AgrAbility In Dakota to North Dakota agricultural people with disabilities who need help to maintain their independence and their dignity and remain at home - on the farm or ranch, and in their communities.
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North Dakota farmers are proud of their independence, so a disability can become a real threat to that independence. AgrAbility In Dakota's primary goal is to assist agricultural workers with disabilities in maintaining their highest level of independence. AgrAbility in Dakota appreciates the generous participation and support of North Dakotans. Some ways in which you can help AID are as follows:
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For further information, please contact:
Tom Alexander, Co-Director
AgrAbility in Dakota
P.O. Box 1801
Minot ND 58702
Bus. (701) 839-4121 Fax (701) 838-5998
Cell (701) 720-4276 Res. (701) 852-3471
alextom@minot.com
Trina Gress, Co-Director
AgrAbility in Dakota
P.O. Box 1206
Mandan ND 58554
Bus. (701) 663-6828 ext. 303 Fax (701) 663-6859
Toll Free Nationwide 1-800-247-0698 ext. 303
Cell (701) 220-4272 Res. (701) 221-2649
esgwnd@btigate.com
George Maher
Ag Safety Specialist
NDSU Extension Service
gmaher@ndsuext.NoDak.edu
Box 5626, Ag Engineering 115
North Dakota State University
Fargo, ND 58105-5626
(701) 231-8288
(701) 231-1008 FAX
State Office: Marilyn M. Bender, LSW, Director of Program Services, Easter Seal Goodwill of ND, Inc., 211 Collins Ave., P.O. Box 1206, Mandan, ND 58554
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Copyright © 1998 AgrAbility In Dakota
