Beyond Disability: An Album of Success Stories Vermont Rural and Farm Family Members with Disabilities
RFFVRP's Homepage	The Rural & Farm Family Vocational Rehabilitation Program
View a Success Story	AgrAbility
Acknowledgements	Album of Success
	RFFVRP How-To"

First established in October 1968, the Rural and Farm Family Vocational Rehabilitation Program (RFFVRP) is a joint effort of the University of Vermont Extension System and the Vermont Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Over the years, the counselors and staff of the RFFVRP have worked with more than 10,000 Vermont individuals and families with disabilities. RFFVRP's goal is to assist with 45 rehabilitations annually; in 1995 the program provided successful rehabilitation to 60 Vermonters. A successfully rehabilitated client is one who has gained or regained employment, either working for him- or herself or for someone else.

While their target audiences are the same, the purposes of the UVM Extension System and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation are quite different. The mission of the UVM Extension System is to provide education and information to all rural families engaged in agriculture and natural resource-related vocations. Extension's program delivery system successfully reaches this widely dispersed segment of the Vermont population. Vermonters, wherever they live around the state, are familiar with and have access to Extension's educational support for their natural resource, agricultural, or home-related needs.

Until the RFFVRP was established, most Vermonters were not aware of or familiar with the range of vocational rehabilitation services available to help them with their physical, mental, or vocational needs. Vocational rehabilitation services were typically available in population centers; Vermonters in isolated rural areas had limited access to these services. Combining the strengths of the two organizations, the RFFVRP was created to meet the needs of this hard-to-reach group of Vermonters.

Thanks to a staff with a strong background in agriculture, it has been possible to acknowledge the importance of farming as a vocational goal--in spite of a disability--especially for second, third, and fourth-generation farmers! Farming to many rural Vermonters is a way of life and the only life they know and love.

RFFVRP counselors and staff are often able to locate and provide appropriate technologies and services to enable individuals to return to active involvement in their vocations of choice. In cases where adaptations or modifications are not possible, RFFVRP staff work with their clients to help them prepare to enter other appropriate employment. A return to farming is always given careful consideration and is only ruled out after a complete and thorough evaluation.

RFFVRP has always been unique. While there have been many programs designed to provide services to rural and farm families, few could provide the direct face-to-face services that are necessary to educate, guide, and counsel an individual back to gainful employment following a traumatic accident, illness, or disease.

Because farmers with disabilities have constituted a relatively small segment of our state's and our nation's population, and they have received limited representation by the vocal and influential advocacy groups, it has been difficult to generate the interest and support necessary to develop a nationwide program in this area.

In 1990, however, largely because of the success of Vermont's RFFVRP, and with the efforts of the Breaking New Ground Resource Center at Purdue University in Indiana and the Farm Family Management Program in Iowa, a national program to provide education and assistance to farmers with disabilities was authorized under Section 1680 of the 1990 Farm Bill. That bill provided funds through an agreement between the USDA Extension System and the National Easter Seals Society.

Working cooperatively, the UVM Extension System and New Hampshire Easter Seals applied for and received financial support through the AgrAbility Project. Funds were provided to expand and enhance the RFFVRP in Vermont and to initiate a similar program in New Hampshire. From 1990 to 1995 more than $400,000 came to Vermont and New Hampshire programs. Grant monies provided two outreach assistants in Vermont; in New Hampshire, a job placement/vocational counselor and a part-time program manager were hired. This album of success stories was also initiated with funds from the AgrAbility grant.

Connecting with others with disabilities, realizing that disability is an obstacle to overcome, hearing about accomplishments and victories--these are all important to Vermonters and their families who are coping with disabilities. We thank the many people who shared their stories and experiences for "Beyond Disability." This album of success stories is dedicated to all of you--individuals who refuse to give in to adversity and tragedy. You have persevered and weathered the storms; you have succeeded when many would falter. You set your limits high!

When a family is referred to RFFVRP, they are visited at home by a RFFVRP counselor who makes a thorough analysis of health problems that may be vocationally limiting. This visit includes an evaluation of the individual's work task and specific functional limitations. Worksite, machinery, and equipment evaluations are performed to determine the potential for technological assistance. Also included is an evaluation of family resources and capabilities that could be developed as part of a rehabilitation plan.

An Individual Written Rehabilitation Plan (IWRP) is developed and includes the client's input on planning goals and vocational ambitions. The worksite assessment, which identifies areas causing the most difficulties as well as safety issues, is also included. The completed IWRP is a plan to improve and reduce difficulties.

NOTE: The term "disability" as used in this album is defined as "physical or mental impairment that materially limits, contributes to limiting, or, if not corrected, could result in limiting, an individual's vocational activity or functional level."