Our Mission
The vision of AgrAbility is to enable a lifestyle of high quality for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities, so that they, their families, and their communities continue to succeed in rural America.

For this target audience, "success" may be defined by many parameters, including: gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access to appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, evidence-based information related to the treatment and rehabilitation of disabling conditions, and targeted support for family caregivers of AgrAbility clients.

AgrAbility addresses a wide variety of disabling conditions in agriculture, including, but not limited to:

  • Arthritis
  • Spinal cord injuries/paralysis
  • Back impairments
  • Amputations
  • Brain injury
  • Visual impairments
  • Hearing impairments
  • Disabling diseases
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Respiratory impairments
  • Head injury
  • Mental/behavioral health disorders



[AgrAbility Project, NIFA, USDA Special Project 2008-41590-04796]

 

At some point, an assistive device may be be needed to maneuver around the farm or to complete a task. Walking devices such as canes or hand rails, all-terrain vehicles, and modified pathways can make traveling around the farm less painful. Longer handles and padded grips can be added to tools. There are many specialized assistive devices that can be utilized depending on the severity of the arthritis and the types of jobs needed to be done.
more health tips
Arthritis affects approximately one-third of all adult farm and ranch operators and is considered one of the leading causes of disability by customers of the USDA AgrAbility Project. With the average age of the American farmer climbing above 57, increasingly more farmers will find tasks difficult to complete. Many agricultural workers do not know they may be at risk of developing arthritis.
Learn More