AgrAbility in Georgia

Agriculture is Georgia’s largest industry. According to a 2006 University of Georgia study, one in every seven Georgians works in an agricultural-related sector of the economy. AgrAbility in Georgia began three years ago with the mission of serving the state’s farmers, ranchers, and farm family members with disabilities. AgrAbility in Georgia is a partnership between the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service (UGA CES) in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the Institute on Human Development & Disability (IHDD) at the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. AgrAbility in Georgia also has a strong relationship with The Shepherd Center, one of the nation’s leading rehabilitation hospitals. The Shepherd Center has referred several of their patients to the Georgia AgrAbility program. The center has also collaborated with AgrAbility to train local occupational, physical and recreational therapists to work with farmers and ranchers with disabilities. Other active partners involved in Georgia’s AgrAbility program are AgGeorgia Farm Credit, Georgia’s Network of Assistive Technology Resource Centers, Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, and USDA-Farm Service Agency.

A Community-Centered Approach

AgrAbility in Georgia strives for a holistic approach in serving farmers and ranchers with disabilities, and believes that by bringing community members, health care professionals, students, and funding sources together, sustainable solutions may be developed. In the past few years, more than 200 community members consisting of farmers, family members, and health professionals from small, rural areas around the state have attended informational workshops conducted by AgrAbility in Georgia. In addition to learning about assistive technology and farming with a disability, the workshop gives community members the opportunity to build relationships and to network with each other.

AgrAbility in Georgia also takes full advantage of its partnership with the University of Georgia by involving college students in service learning projects for AgrAbility farmers. In addition to the example of students constructing raised flower beds for the Byrds, a landscape architect student from the College of Environment and Design created a layout design plan to help Andy and Hilda organize their visions for the growth of Whippoorwill Hollow Farm.

Peer Support

In 2006, AgrAbility in Georgia hired Hilda Byrd to develop its Peer Support Network. Andy and Hilda Byrd are no strangers to the concept of peer support. For the past four years they have been part of the Georgia Organics Farmer-to-Farmer Mentoring Program. The program pairs established organic farmers with others who are just beginning, in order to assist in the transfer of knowledge and expertise in organic farming. In addition, Andy and Hilda have hosted at their home farmers with disabilities who are interested in organic farming.

Hilda’s vision for the program is to continue building the connections between farmers, extension agents, and AgrAbility staff. She says that right now, “We mainly want to get people to take that first step to make the phone call into the program, and get them signed up. Once we get more people involved with AgrAbility, we can then build the [peer support] program from there.” Hilda truly believes in the power of peer support, and says that the most important part is the connection; whether it is through a telephone call, a written letter, or a face-to-face conversation. Future plans include peer support themed pot luck dinners with AgrAbility clients and community members, plus Garden Club events in collaboration with the Shepherd Center. Hilda has a great source of inspiration for her new role as peer support coordinator by her side every single day—Andy.

AgrAbility in Georgia Staff

Glen Rains, PhD, PE, principal investigator and associate professor, oversees management of the project. Glen has been in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at UGA CES for nine and a half years and has been serving as principle investigator of the program since 2005. Glen also has fifteen years of experience in the field of safety, including working at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Rebecca Brightwell, MBA, program manager, oversees all aspects of the Georgia AgrAbility project, which she has been involved with since April 2005. Rebecca is also associate director of the UGA IHDD and has been employed there for five years. She came to UGA from the Walt Disney World Company, where she gained more than ten years of experience in marketing and finance.

Jessica Forbes, B.S., project coordinator, serves as the primary contact point of the Georgia AgrAbility program. Jessica has a background in child and family development and has been working with both AgrAbility and UGA IHDD since August of 2005. She is very instrumental in developing partnerships, advocating for farmers and coordinating all of the community events.

Hilda Byrd, B.S., peer coordinator, coordinates the peer network in North Georgia. Hilda has been part of AgrAbility since April 2006. Along with working for UGA IHDD, Hilda co-owns Whippoorwill Hollow Organic Farm, established in 1997, with her husband Andy. She has a degree in recreational therapy and has worked in nursing homes in the past.

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In This Issue
Section 1: Client Story Section 2: Focus – Peer Support Section 3: State Project Feature - AgrAbility in Georgia	Section 4: References Section 5: Contacts