Departmental News

Wyoming AgrAbility Project coordinator begins work

A University of Wyoming graduate is the project coordinator of a program designed to keep farmers farming and ranchers ranching.

            Amanda O’Brien, who received her bachelor’s of science degree in animal science in 2004, said her office will serve as a one-stop shop for the Wyoming AgrAbility Project.

            The Wyoming AgrAbility Project seeks to help the more than 4,000 estimated Wyoming farm and ranch members who may have a disability, said Professor Randy Weigel. Weigel is a UW Cooperative Extension Service human development specialist in the College of Agriculture’s Department of Family and Consumer Sciences and is the  AgrAbility project director.

            O’Brien said her office will educate service providers and consumers of what is available through the project, network with providers and those with disabilities, and provide assistance to farmers and ranchers whose families are impacted by a disability.

            She said the office has already begun receiving referrals.

            “We will take referrals and research possible solutions, whether it’s a lift into a tractor or retrofitting an ATV so the individual can check cows or their irrigation. We also will be partnering with various agencies in the state,” said O’Brien.

            Partnering agencies include UW’s Wyoming INstitute for Disabilities (WIND) and CONNECT Wyoming, the largest source of human service information in the state, Gottsche Rehabilitation Center of Thermopolis, Wyoming Independent Living Rehabilitation and the Center for Rural Health Research and Education. WIND will provide the leadership for disability and assistive technology (AT) information, education, training and assistance.

            “I think it’s exciting we are ready to start reaching out to families in agriculture who are impacted with a disability,” said Sandy Root-Elledge, WIND coordinator of community education.    

            Root-Elledge said AT device loans, demonstrations, recycling, information and referral, assessments and training will be available from WIND. Staff members will collaborate with UW’s College of Engineering students to provide assistive technology expertise and ideas for the development of senior design projects that may benefit Wyoming ranchers and farmers with disabilities.

            O’Brien was born and raised on a small farm and ranch near Aberdeen in southeastern Idaho. Her father, Paul, left agriculture due to a disability in 2000.  She believes her background in agriculture as well as experiences in the disability field will provide a valuable insight to the project.

            From her experiences, O’Brien said the best outcome from the AgrAbility project is to have a person with a disability continue participating in farm or ranch operations.

            The service encompasses many disabilities and extends to other family members. “Arthritis, stroke, diabetes…anything which impacts them not being able to utilize the farm and ranch to its full potential,” she said.

            O’Brien said the Wyoming AgrAbility Project will be visible at various agricultural events to answer questions and accept referrals. She said the project offers confidentiality to those receiving services.

            O’Brien can be contacted toll-free at (866) 395-4986 or at agrability@uwyo.edu for referrals or for more information.

            On the Web for additional information: http://www.uwyo.edu/CES/News/AgrAbility.htm

###

University of Wyoming Homepage
College of Agriculture Homepage
Family and Consumer Sciences Homepage