Handicapped Migrant Farm Workers. Characteristics of Disabled Migratory and Seasonal Agricultural Workers and Their Families, Impact of the State/Federal Vocational Rehabilitation Program, and Strategies for Expanding Services.

After surveying the vocational rehabilitation (VR) needs of disabled migratory and seasonal farmworkers in the U.S., a national plan to meet those needs was developed, in cooperation with designated state agencies. A random cluster sample of farmworkers was interviewed to determine service needs. Additional planning data were gathered by interviews with rehabilitation counselors and administrators, and with the staff of other agencies and organizations. Rehabilitation agencies were represented on the study's advisory committee. It was found that an estimated 293,000 farmworkers were eligible for VR services. Although their disability rate was three times that of the general U.S. population, farmworkers were less likely to receive VR services. Those receiving VR services were less likely to be successfully rehabilitated. This report presents information pertaining to: background characteristics of migratory and seasonal farmworkers, incidence of disabilities among farmworkers, types and severity of disability, rehabilitation services for disabled migrants, racial/ethnic classification of farmworkers, income and household size, seasonal migration, resettlement for vocational purposes, education, language ability and preference, awareness of VR and other service programs, factors affecting service delivery, agency priorities and incentives for counselors, current VR programs for farmworkers, and barriers to successful rehabilitation. The proposed service delivery system is described. (NQ)