Working Together to Improve Rural Community Living
The Research & Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities (RTC:Rural) is part of the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities at the University of Montana. We are funded by National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
As leaders in rural disability research, we collaborate with disability community members to shape research projects and ensure the relevance of our work. Together, we work to improve the ability of people with disabilities to engage in rural community living.
Learn More
Learn more about RTC: Rural, our staff and history by checking out our About Page. Please like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Sign up for our Newsletter to stay up-to-date on our work.
COVID-19 and Rural People with Disabilities
RTC:Rural has been working to share relevant research and information about how the COVID-19 pandemic is, and will continue, to impact people with disabilities. Find a curated list of our COVID-19 posts here:
Resources
Visit our Resources page to find links to toolkits, programs, maps, and other resources we’ve created to support people with disabilities, their families, service providers, policy makers, and advocates.
Recent News
- Are a woman at least 18 years of age
- Have had a spinal cord injury
- Have had their injury for at least 1 year
- Have access to a computer with high speed internet
- Are able to use a computer and communicate in online group conversations in English
Rural Institute project seeking volunteers with SCI for online intervention study
Social distancing during COVID-19 can leave many people feeling
isolated and disconnected from their communities, which can have negative
impacts on their psychological health. For those who have high-speed internet
connections and devices that allow them to get online, virtual groups offer one
way to stay connected.
Researchers at the Rural Institute are partnering with researchers
at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston, Texas, to test ZEST, an online psychological health
promotion intervention for women with spinal cord injury (SCI). ZEST is a group
program held in Second Life, an online virtual world.
Volunteers may be eligible if they:
A small payment is offered for participation.
Volunteers are being recruited now through August 2020.
Continue reading about Rural Institute project seeking volunteers with SCI for online intervention studyNew research brief: How do adults with travel-limiting disabilities get around?
Transportation is still a barrier
RTC:Rural's newest research brief examines how rural people with disabilities use different types of transportation. These include being a driver, asking others for rides, special transportation services, reduced-fare taxis, and public transportation.
People with disabilities, especially in rural areas, still report transportation as a significant barrier to full inclusion and participation in community life, nearly 30 years after the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. Understanding how people with disabilities get around is an important first step for improving transportation options.
Using data from the 2017 National Household Travel Survey, this research brief explores travel behaviors and characteristics of rural and urban people with disabilities.
Continue reading about New research brief: How do adults with travel-limiting disabilities get around?