Empowering the caregiver network of farmers with a disability: A case study of the North Carolina AgrAbility project

A majority of farmers with a disability rely heavily on caregivers to ensure they can fulfill their daily roles and responsibilities. Family members, such as spouses, parents, siblings, and children, are the most common caregivers. However, little is known about the resources and support needed to ensure these individuals can successfully navigate this complex role. In response, the North Carolina AgrAbility Project has provided caregivers with education, resources, and support so that these individuals can better assist farmers with a disability to minimize the job-related obstacles they face. In the current study, we sought to examine how caregivers of farmers with a disability have been empowered through the North Carolina AgrAbility Project. When viewed through the lens of Zimmerman’s empowerment theory, four themes emerged (a) barriers to empowerment; (b) intrapersonal empowerment; (c) interactional empowerment; and (d) behavioral empowerment. Consequently, findings from this investigation documented that caregivers navigated key barriers to become empowered after receiving assistance from the North Carolina AgrAbility Project. Further, their experiences in AgrAbility changed how they approached supporting farmers with a disability. In response, we provide recommendations for better supporting and leveraging the caregiver network of farmers with a disability.