Putting Things Back Together…Effects of Disability on Farm & Ranch Families
Putting Things Back Together…Effects of Disability on Farm & Ranch Families
Angie Fletcher, MSEdHuman Development Specialist, University of Missouri Extension
Angie Fletcher, MSEdHuman Development Specialist, University of Missouri Extension
By the end of our time today…
By the end of our time today…
Define family and disability Clarify what roles exist within a
family and how disability can change and redefine roles
Identify characteristics of a strong family
Explore the implications of disability on farm and ranch families
Define family and disability Clarify what roles exist within a
family and how disability can change and redefine roles
Identify characteristics of a strong family
Explore the implications of disability on farm and ranch families
By the end of our time today…
By the end of our time today…
Review the grieving process and its effect/affect on individuals
Explore ways AgrAbility professionals can identify and support families adjustment to disability
Review the grieving process and its effect/affect on individuals
Explore ways AgrAbility professionals can identify and support families adjustment to disability
What Is A Family?What Is A Family?
A family is defined as two or more persons who share resources, share responsibility for decisions, share values and goals, and have a commitment to one another over time.
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
A family is defined as two or more persons who share resources, share responsibility for decisions, share values and goals, and have a commitment to one another over time.
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
Who does what?Who does what?
Housekeeper Provider Child Care Kinships Help-giver Recreational
Housekeeper Provider Child Care Kinships Help-giver Recreational
What makes a family strong?
What makes a family strong?
Caring & appreciation Time together Encouragement Commitment Communication Spirituality Community & family ties Clear roles
Caring & appreciation Time together Encouragement Commitment Communication Spirituality Community & family ties Clear roles
What makes a family strong?
What makes a family strong?
Coping with change—all families develop habits, routines and rules. These contribute to continuity and stability. In strong families, this pattern remains flexible or adaptable enough to cope with crises or change. May require changes in habits, rules, power structure, roles and division of labor.
Coping with change—all families develop habits, routines and rules. These contribute to continuity and stability. In strong families, this pattern remains flexible or adaptable enough to cope with crises or change. May require changes in habits, rules, power structure, roles and division of labor.
What Is Disability?What Is Disability?
An individual with a disability is defined as a person who:
has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities
a record of such an impairment or is regarded as having such an
impairmentSource: Disability Information & Statistics
http://www.joniandfriends.org/disability_ stats.php
An individual with a disability is defined as a person who:
has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities
a record of such an impairment or is regarded as having such an
impairmentSource: Disability Information & Statistics
http://www.joniandfriends.org/disability_ stats.php
Impact of Disability on Rural Families
Impact of Disability on Rural Families
Rural Location Long drives to medical facilities,
physical therapy, etc. Fewer services offered vs. those
located in town or urban locations
Rural Location Long drives to medical facilities,
physical therapy, etc. Fewer services offered vs. those
located in town or urban locations
Impact of Disability on Rural Families
Impact of Disability on Rural Families
Financial Decrease in income Medical bills and costs associated
with care/rehabilitation Costs of adaptations
http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/famecon/gh3830.htm
Financial Decrease in income Medical bills and costs associated
with care/rehabilitation Costs of adaptations
http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/famecon/gh3830.htm
Impact of Disability on Rural Families
Impact of Disability on Rural Families
Responsibility Reassignment of
chores/responsibilities Who is there or who is able to take
over those responsibilities If no one in the family is available—
added stress of finding/paying someone to do chores
Responsibility Reassignment of
chores/responsibilities Who is there or who is able to take
over those responsibilities If no one in the family is available—
added stress of finding/paying someone to do chores
Impact of Disability on Rural Families
Impact of Disability on Rural Families
Challenges Feelings of the disabled family member
of being a burden Feelings of other family members
being overwhelmed by new/added responsibilities
Stress Hopelessness Fear
Challenges Feelings of the disabled family member
of being a burden Feelings of other family members
being overwhelmed by new/added responsibilities
Stress Hopelessness Fear
Impact of Disability on Rural Families
Impact of Disability on Rural Families
Challenges (continued) May see disability as a threat rather
than an opportunity
Encouragement Renewed commitment Satisfaction Opportunity
Challenges (continued) May see disability as a threat rather
than an opportunity
Encouragement Renewed commitment Satisfaction Opportunity
“To us what matters is an individual…We ourselves feel that what we are doing is a drop in the ocean. But if that drop was not in the ocean, I think the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”
Mother Teresa
Disabled Individual
Family AgriAbility
The Grieving ProcessThe Grieving Process
Grief is necessary Provide a “safe” place for
interactionValidate feelings Grief Expectations Grief time frame Identifying resources and
support
Grief is necessary Provide a “safe” place for
interactionValidate feelings Grief Expectations Grief time frame Identifying resources and
support
The Grieving ProcessThe Grieving Process
Stage I—Shock Stage II—Recovery Expectations Stage III—Mourning Stage IV—Defense Stage V--Adjustment
Stage I—Shock Stage II—Recovery Expectations Stage III—Mourning Stage IV—Defense Stage V--Adjustment
The Grieving ProcessThe Grieving Process
Stage I—ShockNumbnessDisbelief Denial that anything serious has occurred
Stage I—ShockNumbnessDisbelief Denial that anything serious has occurred
The Grieving ProcessThe Grieving Process
Stage II—Recovery ExpectationsHope that this is only temporary
Things will get back to normal with a little time
Stage II—Recovery ExpectationsHope that this is only temporary
Things will get back to normal with a little time
The Grieving ProcessThe Grieving Process
Stage III—MourningGrieving the loss
Stage III—MourningGrieving the loss
The Grieving ProcessThe Grieving Process
Stage IV—DefenseAngerAggression
Stage IV—DefenseAngerAggression
The Grieving ProcessThe Grieving Process
Stage V—AdjustmentAcceptanceInterested in making adaptations
Goal setting
Stage V—AdjustmentAcceptanceInterested in making adaptations
Goal setting
CommunicationCommunication
Communicating—Common Pitfalls
Communicating—Common Pitfalls
JudgingLabelingMoralizingAdvising
JudgingLabelingMoralizingAdvising
Communicating—Listening
Communicating—Listening
Most people… Talk at about 125 words per minute Listen at a rate of about 400 words
per minute
Most people… Talk at about 125 words per minute Listen at a rate of about 400 words
per minute
This Means…
We think ahead of the person who is speaking
Communicating--ListeningCommunicating--Listening
Putting aside your own thought and opinions
Openness and respect for what the other person is sharing
Sensitivity, listening for feelings and meaning
Putting aside your own thought and opinions
Openness and respect for what the other person is sharing
Sensitivity, listening for feelings and meaning
Balancing ResponsibilityBalancing Responsibility
How to Have a Really Bad Day… Over schedule yourself Be inflexible Expect perfection Worry about everything Try to do it all Take everything personally Procrastinate Leave your sense of humor at home
How to Have a Really Bad Day… Over schedule yourself Be inflexible Expect perfection Worry about everything Try to do it all Take everything personally Procrastinate Leave your sense of humor at home
Factors That Cause Imbalance
Factors That Cause Imbalance
Job Family Taking on too much
Job Family Taking on too much
Stress!Stress!
Getting a Grip on StressGetting a Grip on Stress
Communicate Delegate Say no Simplify Laugh Exercise Plan ahead
Communicate Delegate Say no Simplify Laugh Exercise Plan ahead
Getting a Grip on StressGetting a Grip on Stress
Identify specific stressors Stress Management--You can
change… how you think some of the ways your body reacts situation
Referral
Identify specific stressors Stress Management--You can
change… how you think some of the ways your body reacts situation
Referral
“To us what matters is an individual…We ourselves feel that what we are doing is a drop in the ocean. But if that drop was not in the ocean, I think the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”
Mother Teresa
Disabled Individual
Family AgriAbility