Home AgrAbility Project People With Disabilities Work In Agriculture For most of the over three million Americans earning their livings in agriculture, the work is not just their livelihood, it is their way of life; a productive and satisfying way of life of which they are very proud. The Problem Agricultural production is hazardous. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service estimates that more than 200,000 farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers experience lost-work-time injuries and occupational illnesses every year, approximately five percent of which have serious and permanent results. Off-the-farm injuries; health conditions, such as heart disease, arthritis, or cancer; and aging disable tens of thousands more. The Breaking New Ground Resource Center estimates that more than 500,000 persons working in agriculture have physical disabilities that interfere with their ability to perform essential tasks on the farm or ranch. Additionally, thousands of children born into agricultural families have disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and epilepsy. Physical and attitudinal barriers often prevent these children from participating fully in farm and ranch operations, and from engaging in social and recreational activities enjoyed by other rural youth. The majority of people with disabilities who work or live in agricultural settings want to continue to do so despite their disabilities. All too often, however, they are frustrated in their attempts. Rural isolation, limited personal resources, gaps in rural service delivery systems, and inadequate access to agriculture-oriented assistance are among the obstacles they face. | |
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