People with disabilities may live in a wide range of areas, from densely populated urban areas to rural areas where neighbors are few and far between. NIDILRR-funded research has shown that people with disabilities residing in urban and rural areas may need different supports to stay socially connected to their communities, may have differences in trust in information sources and preventative practices related to COVID-19, and may have limited access to services due to a lack of transportation options in their area. The NIDILRR community conducts research and develops evidence-based consumer-friendly products to help people with disabilities living in rural communities to work, study, live independently, and participate in their communities. Below, you will find just a few examples of these products:
- The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Place-Based Solutions for Rural Community Participation, Health, and Employment (RTC: Rural) conducts research and knowledge translation activities in the areas of health, community living, and employment to explore, develop, and test strategies to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities living in rural areas. Their body of work is organized within several Focus Areas, including: Community Living, Employment, and Health. Within each Focus Area, readers will find links to RTC: Rural’s research findings that include journal articles, fact sheets, toolkits, infographics, websites, and more.
- The ADA National Network provides information, guidance, and training on how to implement the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in order to support the mission of the ADA to “assure equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities”, including those living in rural areas. The Network’s evidence-based consumer products include videos, frequently asked questions, and publications, such as factsheets, handbooks, and guides. Many of these products are also available in Spanish. To learn more about your rights and responsibilities under the ADA, contact your Regional ADA Center.
- The Temple University RRTC on Community Living and Participation of People with Serious Mental Illness (TU Collaborative) advances the development of interventions that maximize community living and participation of people with severe mental illness living in rural and urban areas through research and knowledge translation activities in partnership with consumers and other key stakeholders, and serves as a national resource center for people with mental illness, their families, service and support providers, researchers and others. The TU Collaborative has published a variety of evidence-based consumer-friendly resources, including monographs, toolkits, guidebooks, training for peer specialists, videos, and accessible webinars for consumers, service providers, and other professionals. These resources focus on general information on the principles and practices of community inclusion, including materials that focus on specific areas of community inclusion: housing, employment, education, relationships, and more.
To learn more about these and other products from the NIDILRR community, contact NARIC’s information specialists.
Collection Spotlight from the National Rehabilitation Information Center 