Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

America At A Glance: Travel Patterns By Disability And Rurality, Luke Santore, Andrew Myers, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Independent Living and Community Participation

RTC:Rural researchers use 2022 National Household Transportation Survey (NHTS) data to assess differences in travel behavior across disability status and rurality.

Montana Voices Amplified: My Perspective: Tell People What You Need! We’Re All In This Together, Maclaen R. Burningham, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Independent Living and Community Participation

It can be difficult to let others know that you are struggling, but it's important to talk openly and share your needs with others. Maclean R. Birmingham, a person with Prader-Willi Syndrome who is a self-advocate and serves on the Rural Institute’s Consumer Advisory Council, explains the benefits in starting that conversation yourself and finding freedom and success in openly asking others for their assistance.

Factsheet: Examining The Equity Of Vocational Rehabilitation Services For Rural Americans, Catherine Ispen, Will Hoard, Rtc: Rural

Employment

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) programs are funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) to assist individuals with disabilities to obtain, advance, or retain employment. Employment is a valuable outcome because it can increase economic independence and community participation. To achieve employment, VR programs offer a range of services such as assessment, counseling, training, and job placement. We conducted two studies using RSA-911 case-services data to better understand
how VR agencies are serving diverse populations. RSA-911 data includes information about each consumer who enters the VR program, including sociodemographic characteristics and VR services received. In our first study, we used RSA-911 data …

Sharing Your Success: Using Photovoice To Document And Communicate The Impact Of Independent Living Services, Lillie Greiman, Rayna Sage

Independent Living and Community Participation

In this brief guide, you will learn about strategies for documenting and communicating the impact of your independent living work. Specifically, this guide will give you a tool for using “Photovoice”, along with some examples of how to share your organization’s outcomes with the communities you serve.

Montana Voices Amplified: My Perspective: How To Help When You Don't Know How To Help, Elizabeth Hill, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Independent Living and Community Participation

Someone you care about is in serious crisis. How can you support them in their time of need? What should you say? (What shouldn't you say?) Elizabeth Hill, a writer and mom of a child with a genetic condition, explains how to help someone who is struggling, and the myriad ways her own family has been supported by the caring and giving of others.

"Patiently Waiting": How Do Non-Driving Disabled Adults Get Around In Rural America, Rtc: Rural, Krys Standley, Andrew Myers

Independent Living and Community Participation

Poster presentation exploring interviews with rural people with disabilities who rely solely on rides from others or public transportation.

Creating A Resource Map With Google My Maps, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Independent Living and Community Participation

RTC:Rural researchers provide a step-by-step tutorial for creating a community living resource map using Google My Maps.

Outcome Measurement Toolkit: A Resource For Centers For Independent Living, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Independent Living and Community Participation

RTC:Rural researchers and advisory groups provide a toolkit designed to help Center for Independent Living (CIL) administrators learn practices for measuring, evaluating, and improving outcomes generated by their CIL’s programs. This document is an adaptation of the Outcome Measures for Centers for Independent Living training, created with permission from Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU).

Summit Snapshot: Rural Personal Assistance Services, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Independent Living and Community Participation

RTC:Rural researchers and panels of individuals with lived experience present research and perspectives on rural personal assistance services at the 2023 Rural Disability Research and Practice Summit.

Montana Voices Amplified: My Perspective: Living And Grieving In Faith, Briella Wilson, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Independent Living and Community Participation

Briella Wilson lost her brother, Weston, when she was in the 3rd grade and has worked hard to overcome her grief. Her contribution to Montana Voices Amplified shares the importance of faith in negotiating grief.

Summit Snapshot: Rural Digital Access, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Independent Living and Community Participation

RTC:Rural researchers and panels of individuals with lived experience present research and perspectives on rural digital access at the 2023 Rural Disability Research and Practice Summit.

America At A Glance: Transportation Use During The Covid-19 Pandemic, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Independent Living and Community Participation

RTC:Rural researcher Andrew Myers reviews data from the 2017-2021 American Time Use Survey (ATUS) to explore transportation use among urban and rural disabled adults during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Montana Voices Amplified: My Perspective: Can I Pet Your Eyes?, Ed Worrell, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Independent Living and Community Participation

The author shares the most common questions he is asked when working with his dog guide, Helen.

America At A Glance: Occupational Injuries Among Rural Workers, Andrew Myers, Arin Leopold, Catherine Ipsen, Bryce Ward, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Employment

RTC:Rural researchers led by Andrew Myers review data from the 2019 American Community Survey to explore differences in occupations and workplace injuries across rural and urban areas.

Montana Voices Amplified: My Perspective: I Run My Own Iep; You Can Too!, Heath Montgomery, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Independent Living and Community Participation

An Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting is an opportunity to meet with the school team to build rapport, express appreciation, brainstorm ideas, and more. This conversation with teachers, school therapists, and parents might be just as important as what ends up in the actual document if it builds respect for you as a self-advocate.

Building The Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Self-Employment Toolkit, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Employment

RTC:Rural researcher Dr. Catherine Ipsen details the collaborative work that went into designing a Vocational Rehabilitation toolkit specifically for Native American and Alaskan Native Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Programs.

Montana Voices Amplified: My Perspective: Planning For Crisis – Benefits Of A Family Safety Plan, Elizabeth Cummings, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Independent Living and Community Participation

Crisis can be a part of many families’ experiences, including those with a loved one with special needs. It can be hard to talk about, and too often a source of shame or stigma. Like many other families, mine has experienced a crisis, so I understand the challenges as well as the need to discuss the subject. The hard part is knowing where to start.

America At A Glance: An Update On Rural-Urban Difference In Disability Rates, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Independent Living and Community Participation

For this report we analyzed the most recent disability data from the American Community Survey (ACS 5-year estimates 2015-2019) to examine what has changed over the last decade. Our key findings are:

• The disability disparity between rural and urban persists, with higher rates of disability in rural counties
• Rates of disability across rural and urban have increased slightly
• Rates of disability are higher in rural counties across disability type, age, race, and ethnicity

Montana Voices Amplified: My Perspective: Diabetes, Tech And A Series Of Beeps, Ed Worrell, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Independent Living and Community Participation

The author shares the daily technology he uses for diabetes management.

Increasing Consumer Opportunities For Self-Employment In Vocational Rehabilitation, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Employment

Self-employment is an important option for people with disabilities, especially for those living in rural communities where economic choice and opportunity may be more limited. Although people with disabilities are self-employed at higher rates than people without disabilities, few vocational rehabilitation (VR) consumers become self-employed partly due to lack of knowledge and barriers within VR systems. This research report explains some reasons for low rates of self-employment within the VR system, and presents the Vocational Rehabilitation Self-Employment Guide-an online resource providing guidance and tools to assist people with disabilities and VR counselors with the self-employment process. This guide was …

Is Teaching Skills For Independent Living To Disabled Adults Associated With Change In Self-Determination?, Craig Ravesloot Ph.D., Tannis Mardece Hargrove, Tracy Boehm Barrett, Krys Standley, Mary Willard, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Independent Living and Community Participation

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of teaching people with disabilities independent living skills on the basic human needs specified in Self-Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000). Nine Centers for Independent Living (CILs) recruited 160 disabled adults with disabilities to participate in weekly group sessions to go through the Community Living Skills curriculum (CLS). The CLS curriculum includes 10 sessions that cover basic independent living skills. Groups of participants met weekly to go through the curriculum with a CIL staff member trained in workshop facilitation. We used the Basic Needs Satisfaction General Scale (Gagne, 2003) to …

Skills And Strategies For Health Care Decision-Making With Children, University Of Montana Rural Institute For Inclusive Communities

Early Childhood

Being a decision-maker for your own healthcare is important. Families and healthcare providers want children to become good decision-makers. For some children this takes more support, practice, and some special tools. Learning this skill should begin in childhood and continue into adulthood. This guide and its resources help families and healthcare providers support children to learn the skills they need.

Child And Family Tip Sheet: Communicating With Families, University Of Montana Rural Institute For Inclusive Communities

Early Childhood

Working with families is an important part of working with children. Ideally, child care providers, teachers and families learn from and support each other. Here are some ideas to keep in mind as you communicate with families.

Child And Family Tip Sheet: Communicating With Children, University Of Montana Rural Institute For Inclusive Communities

Early Childhood

Communication is the act of sharing ideas, feelings, and concepts with others. Communication can be verbal and nonverbal. Some children may have difficulty expressing themselves. Other children may have difficulty understanding what is said to them. It is important to identify and encourage all children’s attempts to communicate.

Montana Voices Amplified: My Perspective: Rediscovering Museums With Tactile Tours, Sara Streeter, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Independent Living and Community Participation

A tactile tour is just what it sounds like—a tour that gives a visually impaired patron an opportunity to touch museum exhibits themselves or small models of some of the items on display. This Montana Voices Amplified submission shares tactile tour tips.

Montana Voices Amplified: My Perspective: Old Tv Static: Finding ‘My Way’ Through Medical Trauma, Bee Croyle, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Independent Living and Community Participation

“The summer between my freshman and sophomore year of high school, I went to camp in Oregon. Halfway through my week there, my legs stopped working. It happened slowly at first, the feeling of old TV static climbing up my legs till I was in a wheelchair. Then came the pain.” This issue of Montana Voices Amplified shares the author’s tips on managing medical trauma.

Child And Family Tip Sheet: Making Connections With Children, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Early Childhood

The rewards for putting time and energy into connecting with a child come back to you in many ways. When children are in a caring environment, they learn to treat one another with care.

Child And Family Tip Sheet: Create A Learning Environment, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Early Childhood

A child’s environment communicates expectations and supports their development. The space around children impacts their sense of order, invites play, and promotes feelings of ownership.

Child And Family Tip Sheet: Building Skills Through Toys, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Early Childhood

Children learn important skills from interacting with peers and play materials. Here are things to think about when evaluating toys for a group-play setting.

Montana Voices Amplified: A Parent’S Perspective: Plexiglass Butterflies – Lessons Learned At The Children’S Hospital, Elizabeth Hill, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Independent Living and Community Participation

I used to be offended when someone would comment innocently, “I don’t know how you do it.” “It” being raising a child with special needs. Now, with a few more years of wisdom and empathy under my belt, I recognize the meaning and message behind their words.