1. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab RURAL & AGRICULTURAL VOCREHAB Rutland~ Howe Center 800-281- 6977 St. Albans ~ 278 S Main St 800-639- 2130 St. Johnsbury ~ 107 Eastern Ave 800-545- 8920 Providing Services in Support of Employment to Rural Vermonters With Disabilities since 1968

2. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab Dedicated to: Vermont farmers, market gardeners, food producers, and agriculturalists who maintain the working landscape and provide safe, first quality, locally grown, produced and manufactured products for our communities and markets in Vermont, across the country and around the world.

3. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab Four Generations of a Vermont agricultural family

4. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab Finding common ground

5. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab Cultivating Healthy Communities Catamount Partnership Community Hero Awards ~ Honors local farmer for her work in helping others

6. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab Maintaining good relationships in the office or on the road

7. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab

8. Due to spinal stenosis this farmer needed a new air suspension seat to support him in his work.

9. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab Tractor step extensions on both sides of this tractor greatly reduce the stress of getting on and off for the farmer who has had a hip replacement “This was so simple I don’t know why I didn’t think of it long ago” ~ Orange County Farmer

10. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab Things we wish we’d thought of long ago

11. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab This market gardener with multiple arthritic conditions demonstrates use of a flame thrower to weed and maintain her gardens.

12. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab Potatoes in wire baskets allow her to simply knock over the soil to harvest her crop of several varieties

13. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab Modified used golf cart has freed the farmer to work many areas of her land that she can not reach on foot, carry supplies and have a safe shaded place to rest. Yes she Kayak s too !

14. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab

15. The path to the back forty, fit for the golf cart

16. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab Calf cart & power wagon help this farmer with multiple disabilities to work safer and smarter

17. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab

19. “Pick Your Own Blueberries” is this retired teachers dream, complicated orthopedic conditions present significant challenges.

20. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab Get this mulch on these berries with this Gator!!

21. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab Culled 3 times by hand this quality berry product is delivered to 4 Farmers Markets and 3 Food Cooperativ es in Addison County

22. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab The oldest live Elm in Vermont

23. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab Collaborations among agencies and programs brings expertise and diversity to services.

24. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab Vermont Arthritis Program

25. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab AgrAbility assists people with disabilities employed in agriculture by linking Cooperative Extension at land-grant universities with a nonprofit disability service organization to provide education and assistance that promotes independence in agricultural production and rural living.

26. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab

28. Northern New England AgrAbility Services available at No Cost to Farm Families include: Assessing agricultural tasks and providing guidance to accommodate for the disability Evaluating (or "reviewing") agricultural worksites and equipment and making suggestions or modifications. Researching commercially available products Identifying ways to prevent secondary injury and illnesses. Conducting training and workshops for rehabilitation and agricultural professionals.

29. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab RAVR, Northern New England AgrAbility Project and a farmer who has significant mobility limitations. collaborated to develop and install this lift

30. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab Northern New England AgrAbility Farming Successfully with a Disability

31. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab Certified Orthotist starts state of the art business in Townshend!

32. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab Customers from all over the country are finding their way to VT for custom shoes made entirely by hand

33. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab Her own orthopedic concerns sent this enterprising woman on a search for the perfect shoe….she found it in her own workshop

34. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab

35. This kettle cook making specialty jams, jellies, and condiments is smiling and back to work after multiple orthopedic surgeries

36. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab These VT made delicacies go to Farm Markets and Community Supported Agriculture programs in New York City weekly as well as local Farmers Markets and stores.

37. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab

38. Simple equipment modification s can be made to help people work during recovery and rehabilitation

39. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab This is one high class utility cart

40. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab Livestock is a 24/7 obligation, animals have to be tended regardles s of how the farmer feels today

41. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab This piece of equipment picks up bales of hay from

42. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab This piece

43. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab And stacks them on the hay wagon ~ so that

44. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab This farmer can cut and bale thousand s of bales of hay with the help of one other worker

45. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab Giving him plenty of time to fix the road

46. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab UVM faculty and staff bring the excellence of the University to RAVR’s work

47. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab Outreach to meet the audience who needs services

48. ©Rural and Agriclutral VocRehab

53. There are no fees for service Eligibility for Rural & Agricultural VocRehab services: The presence of a physical or mental disability which, for the individual, constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment, and evidence that vocational rehabilitation services are needed to prepare for entering, engaging in, or retaining gainful employment.