putting things back together…effects of disability on farm & ranch families angie fletcher,...

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…


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



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?


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



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


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



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



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



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



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


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


Stage I—ShockNumbnessDisbelief Denial that anything serious has occurred

Stage I—ShockNumbnessDisbelief Denial that anything serious has occurred


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


Stage III—MourningGrieving the loss

Stage III—MourningGrieving the loss


Stage IV—DefenseAngerAggression

Stage IV—DefenseAngerAggression


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

putting things back together…effects of disability on farm & ranch families angie fletcher,...

Documents

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