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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: People with disabilities

Action Guide: Partnering to Expand Access to Home Modifications, Repairs, and Weatherization for Community Living
Offers strategies for partnership building for improving accessibility and safety of existing homes for residents that are aging or have disabilities. Includes examples of successful partnerships across the country and discusses rural specific challenges.
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: USAging
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Implementation of Acute Care Services and Long-Term Services and Supports System Redesign for Individuals with an Intellectual or Developmental Disability
Report on 2022 initiatives related to acute care and long-term services and supports (LTSS) systems for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) in Texas. Includes both assessment of implementation and recommendations to the state legislature for improvements. Includes rural considerations throughout.
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health and Human Services
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Take Control in 1, 2, 3: Disaster Preparedness Guide for Older Adults
Offers recommendations for becoming prepared for disasters, in 3 steps: Assessing needs, making a plan, and engaging with a support network. Includes sections geared toward older adults with disabilities or with limited resources, and rural older adults.
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Linking Local-Level Chronic Disease and Social Vulnerability Measures to Inform Planning Efforts: A COPD Example
Examines chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its relationship to community vulnerability. Utilizes multiple data sources to analyze the relationship between chronic disease and social vulnerability at the county and census-tract level, with a focus on socioeconomic factors, household composition and disability, minority status and language, and housing type and transportation. Includes U.S. maps showing prevalence of COPD and social vulnerability.
Author(s): Susan A. Carlson, Kathleen B. Watson, Sarah Rockhill, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 20
Date: 08/2023
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English Learners and Students with Disabilities in Rural Public Schools
Provides 2019 data to show percentages of students who are English language learners or who have disabilities according to city, suburban, town, or rural locale.
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Education Statistics
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Promoting Health Literacy through Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS)
Recording of a June 8, 2023, conference session on health literacy and culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS) as part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Health Equity Conference. Features a presentation from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences on the Targeted Rural Health Education Project, in which health sciences students write newspaper articles on medical topics of importance to the rural communities they serve. Transcript available by clicking the dots above the video description, then selecting Show transcript.
Additional links: Kay Miller Temple and David Schmitz, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences - Presentation Slides
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Disability Rates Higher in Rural Areas Than Urban Areas
Examines urban and rural differences in disability rates nationally and by region, based on data from the American Community Survey.
Author(s): Katrina Crankshaw
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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The Impacts of Extreme Weather Events on People with Disabilities
Reports on the impact of extreme weather on people with disabilities in the areas of regulations, healthcare, housing, employment, education, and emergency management. Discusses concerns and recommendations for both rural and tribal residents throughout.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Council on Disability
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County-Level Geographic Disparities in Disabilities Among US Adults, 2018
Provides county-level estimates of 6 types of disability including hearing, vision, cognition, mobility, self-care, and independent living. Utilizes geocoded 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, Census 2018 county-level population estimates, and American Community Survey 2014-2018 poverty estimates to provide U.S. county-level maps showing percentage of disability and cluster patterns.
Author(s): Hua Lu, Yan Wang, Yong Liu, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 20
Date: 05/2023
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2022 Transportation Trends
Identifies trends and issues affecting the availability of accessible transportation for older adults and people with disabilities. Summarizes results of a September 2022 survey of public transit and human services transportation providers; stakeholders; and aging and disability organizations such as Area Agencies on Aging, Centers for Independent Living and Aging and Disability Resource Centers. Discusses nine themes related to the challenges of providing transportation to older adults, younger adults with disabilities, and caregivers, including the lack of transportation options in rural areas.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
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