RTC: Rural – Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
For nearly 30 years, RTC: Rural has conducted disability research in rural communities as part of the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities at the University of Montana. RTC: Rural is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) to improve the ability of people with disabilities to engage in rural community living.
Research projects at RTC: Rural focus on community participation and independent living, health & wellness, and employment and vocational rehabilitation. Research products include: Living and Working Well with a Disability, health promotion programs for people with disabilities; Telecom Toolbox, a resource for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors; and the Transportation Voucher program available from the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL).
Learn more about RTC: Rural, our staff and history by checking out our About Page.
Home Usability at NARRTC
Home is the springboard for community participation. When a home is not fully accessible it presents barriers to people with disabilities that impact their daily lives and may prevent full participation in community living. As part of a collaborative research project on this topic between the RTC on Disability in Rural Communities at the University of Montana and the RTC on Community Living at the University of Kansas, researchers presented information on home usability at the National Association of Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (NARRTC) conference in Alexandria, VA.
Continue reading about Home Usability at NARRTC
Geography and Rural Disability
Principal staff: Craig Ravesloot, Ph.D., Tom Seekins, Ph.D., Tracy Boehm, M.P.H., Tannis Hargrove, M.S., Lillie Greiman, M.A.
In order for policy makers to make decisions about resources and program development for people with disabilities, they must have accurate information. Until recently, there has been no data to help guide these decisions. Researchers on the Geography and Rural Disability project are analyzing data from the American Community Survey with the goal of providing information to policy makers to improve programs and services in rural communities.