Community Support Systems for Farmers Who Live With Disability

Abstract

To return to farming following the onset of a disabling injury or health condition is predicated on a supportive environment for the farm owner-operator. The purpose of this study was to examine barriers and facilitators of returning to work after an injury or acquired disability, and to identify community supports (formal and informal) needed and available to farmers. This was a qualitative study using a participatory action research approach that involved a research team, an advisory group of seven stakeholder participants and semistructured interviews with farmers, their spouses, and service providers in the study communities. A total of 11 farmers and 17 service providers took part in a focus group or were interviewed individually with or without the spouse present. Focus group discussions and interviews were transcribed and analyzed using constant comparison method and team consensus of findings. Themes of barriers and facilitators for return to farming were identified as health care services, financial and economic issues, and "hands-on" assistance. Themes were organized into an ecological conceptual diagram depicting barriers and facilitators in the microsystem of the farm family, the mesosystem of the local farming community and regional health jurisdictions, and the macrosystem of the province and/or nation's social, legislative, and economic realities. Enhancing community support systems for farmers who become disabled as a result of injury or illness will require a multilevel system approach that involves health, financial, and labor resources.

Diversity, equity and inclusion policy texts in Canadian agriculture

“…The experience of disabled people who work in agriculture is understudied (Friesen et al, 2010b). Farmers with disabilities have unique health care needs and face additional financial and economic issues to work productively on the farm (Friesen et al, 2010a). As such, researchers have argued that government funding structures, and entitlements to such funding, are extremely important for farmers with a disability (Molyneaux-Smith et al, 2011).…”

Determinants of Participation of Young Farmers with and without Disability in Agricultural Capacity-building Programs Designed for the Public in Uganda

“…Disability refers to a social consequence of the possessed impairment attributed to inequities faced by people with disabilities due to community structure (Whelan et al, 2009;Yeo, 2005), which emanates from a complex system of restrictions and barriers imposed on people with physical and mental impairments. The restrictions and barriers tend to impede the ability and rights of people with disabilities to enjoy opportunities and benefits accessed by people without disabilities (Friesen et al, 2010;Siddiqua et al, 2012;Yeo, 2005). Disabilities can occur in the form of physical, sensory, intellectual, mental or behavioral condition (Friesen et al, 2010;Yeo, 2005), an injury, illness, or inborne (Whelan et al, 2009).…”

“…The restrictions and barriers tend to impede the ability and rights of people with disabilities to enjoy opportunities and benefits accessed by people without disabilities (Friesen et al, 2010;Siddiqua et al, 2012;Yeo, 2005). Disabilities can occur in the form of physical, sensory, intellectual, mental or behavioral condition (Friesen et al, 2010;Yeo, 2005), an injury, illness, or inborne (Whelan et al, 2009). According to the Uganda Police Force annual crime/traffic reports for 2010 through 2013, accidents constitute the leading cause of death and disability in Uganda.…”

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Senior Farmers

“…Research has shown that for disabled farmers in Canada, limited access to health care and rehabilitation was a barrier to continuing or returning to farm work; community and family support were facilitators (Friesen, Krassikouva-Enns, Ringaert, & Isfeld, 2010). At a recent conference focused on farmer disability, presenters suggested that education and work practice modification should be provided for younger farmers (Cook & Field, 2011).…”

“…AgrAbility, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and other affiliates, assists farmers with disabilities including arthritis or injuries for which farmers require assistive devices if they wish to continue working (AgrAbility, 2013;Hamm, Field, Jones, Wolfe, & Olson, 2012). Research has shown that for disabled farmers in Canada, limited access to health care and rehabilitation was a barrier to continuing or returning to farm work; community and family support were facilitators (Friesen, Krassikouva-Enns, Ringaert, & Isfeld, 2010). At a recent conference focused on farmer disability, presenters suggested that education and work practice modification should be provided for younger farmers (Cook & Field, 2011).…”