Paul Jones and William FieldBreaking New Ground

Purdue University

AgrAbility Services in a Culturally Diverse Population: The Amish and

other Old Order Anabaptists

What Does it Mean to be Anabaptist?

• Anabaptist movement began in 1525 in Switzerland

• Anabaptist continuum– Traditional (Amish)– Transitional (Conservative Mennonites)– Transformational (Church of the Brethren)

What Does it Mean to be Old Order?

• Selective use of technology• Plain clothing• Special dialect• Use horse-drawn transportation

Population Estimates• Every currently funded AgrAbility

state except Nebraska, Utah, and Colorado has an Old Order group (Colorado has an Amish Mennonite community)

• 225,000 Old Order Anabaptists (2001—Kraybill)

• Doubling of population every 20-22 years

Service Delivery Experience

• 3 recent Old Order clients (1 current, 1VR, 1 German Baptist)

• Participation in 5 “Amish Handicapped Gatherings” with 500-600 attendees

• Treva Chupp– Visual impairment resource

• Other state AgrAbility projects

Service Delivery Experience

• Farm Safety– Northern Indiana Family Safety Committee

• Amish safety days on Amish farms• Buggy/auto initiative

– Fatality study (Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health)

– Current NIOSH-supported injury study

Cultural Values Related to Agriculture

• Historically, agriculture has been:– The primary means of economic survival– A primary means of cultural survival

• Currently, around 50% have primary source of income off-farm but most live on-farm

• Unique perspective on technology

Cultural Values Related to Receiving Services

• Focus on helping within community (barn raising)

• Separation from “the world” and the state

• Resistance to free help, including materials

Barriers to Service Delivery

• Normally don’t participate in government-sponsored programs

• Technological divide• Favor face-to-face relationships

over “programs”– Cost of relationships

Cultural Ignorance and Insensitivity

• Basic values and history• Local rules (Ordnung); can vary

significantly between communities• Viewed as stupid or backward• Disneyland syndrome

Outreach Suggestions

• Cultivate long-term personal relationships– Bishops normally must give approval for

atypical activities

• Network with Extension personnel who have long-term relationships

• Conduct or participate in safety days

Outreach Suggestions

• Read The Budget or similar publications

• Come to Elizabethtown conference June 2-4, 2004

• Buy cookies and bread

Thank you for your kind attention