For 30 years the USDA's agrability program has helped to bridge the GAP between agricultural workers with disabilities and the resources they need to continue pursuing their livelihoods

Agrability staff members provide a variety of services including in-person assessments and crucial information about assistive technologies strategies for navigating social services and rehabilitation issues. In fulfilling this mission the national agrability project (NAP) develops service capacity through innovative educational programs designed to advance individual capabilities adapt new technologies and deliver program content through appropriate educational venues. The NAP also coordinates services via the 20 state and regional agrability projects (sraps) operating as a network hub to integrate educational information disseminate effective programs market agrability initiatives to potential customer/clients and foster participation by stakeholders and supporting entities. Finally the NAP also provides services to those areas of the U.S. That do not otherwise have access to sraps. In addition to these three core service areas the NAP is responsible for marketing the agrability program to make key audiences aware of agrability and its initiatives.for 2021-25 purdue university's breaking new ground resource center will build on more than 40 years of experience working with farmers ranchers other agricultural workers and their families to continue hosting the national agrability project (NAP) and fulfilling its mandated mission. IT will seek to serve the needs of the overall agrability program through education networking technical assistance marketing program evaluation and enhancing srap sustainability. NAP will conduct activities designed to directly or through collaboration with state agrability projects (sraps) increase the likelihood that individuals with disabilities engaged in production agriculture will achieve greater levels of success. Activities will include: (1) developing evidence-based resources for both rehabilitation professionals and agrability customers; (2) organizing and conducting the annual agrability national training workshop; (3) expanding the agrability.ORG website; (4) conducting educational outreach efforts and providing technical assistance to individuals in states not served by an agrability project; (5) serving veterans with disabilities exploring careers in agricultural production; (6) continuing to measure the impact of agrability services through administration of quality of life assessment tools; and (7) enhancing srap financial sustainability. The NAP will include returning partners such as goodwill of the finger lakes colorado state university and washington state university plus new partners osteoarthritis action alliance and agrisafe network. Returning non-funded collaborators include farmer veteran coalition and april; new collaborators include the council of state administrators of vocational rehabilitation and the association of assistive technology act programs.