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Resources by Topic: People with disabilities

America at a Glance: Social Isolation and Loneliness During the First Wave of COVID-19
Explores how COVID-19 and related stay-at-home orders contributed to feelings of social isolation and loneliness among people with disabilities. Compares feelings of social isolation and loneliness among urban and rural groups before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses the possible impact of technological accommodations on these feelings.
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities, University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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Living at Home in Rural America: Improving Accessibility for Older Adults and People with a Disability
Information on current federal resources, programs, and initiatives intended to improve home safety and accessibility for rural older adults and people with disabilities. Supports the Rural Health Strategy, launched by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in 2018 to improve health care in rural America by leveraging partnerships on the federal, regional, state, and local levels.
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Community Living, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Health of American Indian and Alaska Native Adults, by Urbanization Level: United States, 2014–2018
Examines health status and health conditions among American Indian and Alaska Native adults compared to all U.S. adults, with data for rural, small metropolitan, and large metropolitan statistical areas. Addresses poor or fair health status, disability, multiple chronic conditions, hypertension, and diabetes.
Author(s): Maria A. Villarroel, Tainya C. Clarke, Tina Norris
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Practicing Holistic Review in Medical Education
Issue brief that explores holistic review in medical school admissions and key issues related to diversifying and assessing medical school applicants and cohorts in order to expand the healthcare workforce in rural, minority, and underserved areas. Discusses the history and purpose of holistic review, which considers not only academic measures of potential success but also applicants' life experiences, socioeconomic background, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, and disability status, among other characteristics. Recaps informant interviews describing issues and lessons learned from medical school administrators, particularly related to applicant evaluation and emerging assessment methods.
Author(s): Tim Bates, Sunita Mutha, Janet Coffman
Date: 07/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Healthforce Center at UCSF
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America at a Glance: COVID-19 and Disability in Rural Areas
Summarizes results of a survey conducted between April-May 2020 exploring rural and urban differences in COVID-19 health risks, adherence to public health recommendations, and trust in different information sources among individuals with disabilities. Includes recommendations for how to better communicate health information to at-risk populations.
Date: 07/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
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Geographic Distribution of Disability Among Older Veterans, United States, 2013–2017
Provides nationally representative data from 2013-2017 on county-level disability prevalence among military veterans older than 64. Individuals were considered disabled if they reported having hearing, vision, cognitive, ambulatory, independent living, or self-care disabilities.
Author(s): Justin McDaniel
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
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America at a Glance: How Do Working-Age Adults with Travel-Limiting Disabilities Get Around?
Examines the travel behaviors, employment status, and health of rural and urban residents with travel-related disabilities. Explores the use of public transit and other transportation services by rural and urban residence.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities, University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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How will the COVID-19 Recession Impact People with Disabilities in Rural America?
Fact sheet discussing ways in which rural people with disabilities are especially vulnerable to the COVID-19 recession. Analyzes data from the 2015 and 2016 Survey of Household Economics and Decision-making and the American Time Use Survey 2017-18 Leave and Job Flexibilities Module. Features statistics on numbers of people with disabilities who have emergency funds, paid sick leave, and jobs that can be done from home, with breakdowns by rural or metropolitan location.
Author(s): Bryce Ward, Andrew Myers, Catherine Ipsen, Lauren Smith
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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Delayed Identification of Infants Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing — Minnesota, 2012–2016
Examines delays in diagnosis of hearing loss among Minnesota infants identified as deaf or hard of hearing. Includes data by location of patient residence and by birth hospital location for metropolitan and nonmetro areas.
Author(s): Abby C. Meyer, Melinda Marsolek, Nicole Brown, Kirsten Coverstone
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(11), 303-306
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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2019 Transportation Trends Mental Health and Transportation
Report explores the role transportation plays in providing access to mental healthcare. Highlights a number of programs in both rural and urban communities, as well as resources pertaining to transportation to support mental health.
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
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