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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: People with disabilities

Evaluating the TVR-SET: Insights into Self-Employment from Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors
Discusses the Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Self-Employment Toolkit (TVR-SET) that provides resources to assist American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people with disabilities in securing employment in their communities. Evaluates TVR-SET and provides key findings and impact on users.
Author(s): Catherine Ipsen, Luke Santore
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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Navigating Disability Benefits: New Research on Administrative Burden and Work Incentives
A recorded webinar that discusses the difficulty of navigating income support for people with low incomes and/or disabilities. Focuses on supplemental security income (SSI) and social security disability insurance (SSDI) application, eligibility, and work incentives. Includes SSI and SSDI policy challenges for rural residents, such as transportation, digital access, and legal representation.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Debra L. Brucker, Mike Levere, Ramonia Rochester
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Wisconsin–Madison Institute for Research on Poverty
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The Impact of Telehealth on Cost and Time Efficiency for Patients With Disabilities During Nonemergency Encounters: A Scoping Review
A scoping review of 2018-2024 studies focused on telehealth and related themes of efficiency, clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and increased access to healthcare for people with chronic disabilities. Analyzes 8 studies on telehealth and includes commentary on its effectiveness in rural areas.
Author(s): Kaushalya Mendis, Veda Priya Puligundla, Myles Rosenzweig, et al.
Citation: The Permanente Journal
Date: 08/2025
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Depressive Symptoms Among Rural Americans
Analyzes characteristics of individuals with depression in rural areas. Utilizes 2024 National Health Interview Survey data and examines metro versus nonmetro demographic profile of individuals with depression as well as their health-related behaviors, physical limitations, and functional impairments.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Adapting Research Ethics for All: Training Centers for Independent Living in Community Based Research
Describes adapting the Research Ethics for All training to meet the needs of Centers of Independent Living (CILs) staff in a rural research program.
Author(s): Will Hoard, Krys Standley, Catherine Ipsen
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities, University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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Caregiving in the US: Rural Family Caregivers
A national profile of rural family caregivers and challenges they face. Offers data on living arrangements, access to affordable services, and employment.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, National Alliance for Caregiving
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Understanding the Experience of Disabled Americans in Rural Communities through Data: The Data We Have, the Data We're Missing, and How to Close the Gap
Discusses the need for adequate rural disability data and inclusion of people with disabilities in research and policymaking. Provides suggestions to improve disability data collection in rural areas, focusing on collaboration, qualitative data collection, cultural and geographic sensitivity, transparency and accessibility in data systems, and funding and capacity-building.
Author(s): Susan J. Popkin, Alexis Weaver, Violet Sulka/Hewes, et al.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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Ground Transportation for People with Mobility Disabilities 2025: Challenges and Progress
Discusses transportation barriers for people with disabilities that require wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs). Highlights accessibility of common transportation methods, federal policies and regulations, and recommendations to policymakers and businesses for increased accessibility. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Council on Disability
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The Appalachian Region: A Data Overview from the 2019-2023 American Community Survey Chartbook
State- and county-level information on population, age, household characteristics, housing occupancy, education, labor force, employment, transportation, income, health insurance coverage, disability, and veteran status, for the 13 Appalachian states. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density. Includes data explorer options for Appalachian categories such as population and age, education, income and poverty, computer and broadband access, rural Appalachia versus rural America, and employment and commuting.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): Sara Srygley, Nurfadila Khairunnisa, Diana Elliott
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, Population Reference Bureau
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Disability Pride and Community Connection in Eastern Virginia: The disAbility Resource Center of the Rappahannock Area, Inc.
Case study highlighting the outreach efforts of The disAbility Resource Center of the Rappahannock Area, Inc (dRC), a Center for Independent Living (CIL) in eastern Virginia. Discusses the implementation and outcomes of peer mentoring and community engagement initiatives focused on supporting people with disabilities in underserved areas.
Author(s): Luke Santore, Lillie Greiman, Rayna Sage
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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