Deadline: 13-Jan-22
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is seeking applications for the Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities through the AgrAbility program, for fiscal year (FY) 2022.
The AgrAbility program works to increase the likelihood that farmers, farm workers and farm family members with disabilities, including veterans with disabilities, and their families who engage in farming, farm-related occupations, or are pursuing new farming opportunities, will experience success in agricultural production.
Purpose and Priorities
The AgrAbility program works to increase the likelihood that individuals with disabilities, including veterans, and their families engaged in production agriculture (AgrAbility customers) will become more successful. The program supports cooperative projects in which State Cooperative Extension based at either 1862 or 1890 Land-Grant universities subcontract to private, non-profit direct service disability organizations to provide on-the-farm agricultural education and assistance directed at accommodating disability in farm operations for individuals with disabilities who are engaged in farming and farm-related occupations and their families.
- Grants awarded under paragraph (1) may be used to initiate, expand, or sustain programs that:
- provide direct education and assistance to accommodate disability in farming to individuals with disabilities who engage in farming and farm-related occupations;
- provide on-the-farm technical advice concerning the design, fabrication, and use of agricultural and related equipment, machinery, and tools, and assist in the modification of farm worksites, operations, and living arrangements to accommodate individuals with disabilities who engage in farming, farm living and farm-related tasks;
- involve community and health care professionals, including Extension Service agents and others, in the early identification of farm and rural families that are in need of services related to the disability of an individual;
- provide specialized education programs to enhance the professional competencies of rural agricultural professionals, rehabilitation and health care providers, vocational counselors, and other providers of service to individuals with disabilities, and their families, who engage in farming or farm-related occupations; and
- mobilize rural volunteer resources, including peer counseling among farmers with disabilities and rural ingenuity networks promoting cost effective methods or accommodating disabilities in farming and farm-related activities.
- The AgrAbility program supports rural communities in the United States by:
- supporting cooperative programs between State Cooperative Extension Service agencies and private nonprofit disability organizations to provide on-the-farm agricultural education and assistance directed at accommodating disability in farm operations for individuals with disabilities who are engaged in farming and farm-related occupations and their families and
- enabling a national private nonprofit disability organization to provide technical assistance, training, information dissemination and other activities to support community based direct service programs of on-site rural rehabilitation and assistive technology for individuals (including veterans) with disabilities, and their families, who are engaged in farming or farm-related occupations or, in the case of veterans with disabilities, who are pursuing new farming opportunities.
Goals
The AgrAbility program is aligned with the following FY 2018 – FY 2022 USDA Strategic Goals:
- Ensure USDA Programs Are Delivered Efficiently, Effectively, With Integrity and a Focus on Customer Service;
- Maximize the Ability of American Agricultural Producers to Prosper by Feeding and Clothing the World; and
- Facilitate Rural Prosperity and Economic Development
Elements
The AgrAbility program funds projects that deliver education, networking, direct assistance, and marketing activities with following elements:
- Education
- Within the context of production agriculture, learning objectives focus on enhancing competencies necessary to accommodate disabilities and avoid secondary injuries in persons with disabilities.
- Audience includes farmers, rural agricultural professionals, rehabilitation and health care providers, vocational counselors, and other providers of service to individuals with disabilities and their families who engage in farming or farm related occupations. This element applies also to veterans with disabilities and their families who engage in farming, farm-related occupations, or are pursuing new farming opportunities
- Delivery formats include authoring or adapting printable resources, presentations delivered in person or remotely, and recorded presentations that may encourage audience interaction, and internet presence.
- Projects must have means to appraise efficacy of AgrAbility educational efforts.
- Networking
- Objectives encourage the sharing of information among, and the provision of services, value, or funds from, individuals or organizations not employed by AgrAbility.
- Partners include customers, peer support, volunteer groups, university student groups, stakeholders, non-profits, and public and private funding organizations.
- Delivery formats include the donation of goods and services of direct benefit to AgrAbility customers.
- Projects must have means to appraise economic value of services rendered to AgrAbility and its customers.
- Direct Assistance
- Objectives focus on the early identification of farm and rural families who are in need of services related to the disability of an individual and to provide individualized consultative services that increase the likelihood that AgrAbility customers and their farm operations experience success.
- Audience includes AgrAbility customers and others working on farms, including veterans with disabilities and their families who engage in farming, farm-related occupations, or are pursuing new farming opportunities.
- Delivery formats include product selection advice, accessibility and ergonomic recommendations, life activities and farm operations planning guidance, and advocacy to obtain service and financial aid. Assistance can occur in person or remotely.
- Projects must have means to appraise successes experienced following intervention.
- Marketing
- Objectives concentrate on program and project awareness intended to make key audiences aware of SRAP efforts. This excludes information required to provide education, assistance, or facilitate networking.
- Audience includes the general public.
- Delivery formats include public appearances with displays and the production or distribution of program awareness materials; press releases; public service announcements; print advertisements; webinars, web pages with awareness content; newsletters; or electronic notices.
- Projects must have means to link their marketing activities with registration, requests for information and consultation, and networking successes.
Funding Information
The anticipated amount available for grants in FY 2022 is approximately $4.38 million. NIFA anticipates that approximately $2.57 million will be available to support new SRAPs.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applications may be submitted only by Cooperative Extension at 1862 and 1890 Land-Grant Colleges and Universities including the University of the District of Columbia, Tuskegee University, West Virginia State University, and Central State University.
- Applicants must partner on their projects with private non-profit organizations providing direct service to individuals with disabilities. Applications must include commitment letters from nonprofit partner organizations.
- Failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the application deadline may result in the application being excluded from consideration or, even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=336423