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#RuralDisability eNews
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Rural Disability Data Summit
RTC:Rural is working with a variety of stakeholders to improve the quality and availability of rural disability data. We kicked off our efforts at the 2023 APRIL Conference, where we held a Rural Disability Roundtable session. Participants shared how they use data at their CIL or organization, and what data would be most impactful if they had access. Themes included questioning the trustworthiness of data, the need for consistent definitions, and how to understand and use data effectively. We are continuing to explore data with our partners at the Urban Institute through listening sessions and will host a virtual summit in September 2024. The summit will bring stakeholders together to collectively identify data that matters for the rural disability community. We hope these efforts will help set a data-driven rural community living agenda. Stay tuned for more details.
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Update on ACS Changes
As detailed in our November Special Edition eNews, the U.S. Census Bureau has proposed changing how disability information is collected in the American Community Survey (ACS). The changes will reduce the U.S. disability rate from 13.9% to 9.1%. RTC:Rural, our research partners, and disability advocates have worked to include the voices of the disability community in providing feedback to the Census Bureau. You can learn more about the proposed changes from our partners at the Urban Institute. If you would like to take direct action, you can submit public comments through the Federal Register up to December 19.
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New RTC Staff!
Hannah Pepprock, Research Associate
Hannah is originally from Montana and grew up on the hi-line (Shelby and Havre). She earned her bachelor’s in Anthropology from UM in 2019 and completed her master’s in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2023. While earning her master's, Hannah began working full-time as a clinical research coordinator with a focus on cancer genetics and prevention. Joining RTC: Rural felt the natural next step, and she is excited about the opportunity to contribute to the inspiring work being done throughout the institute.
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Luke Santore, Graduate Research Associate
Originally from NYC, Luke moved to Missoula in 2013 where he worked as a wildland firefighter, then as a service provider for at-risk youth and people experiencing homelessness. He holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Montana and is a semester away from his MA in Sociology with a focus on social justice and inequality. A qualitative and quantitative researcher, his research interests include mental health service use, disability health equity, social connection, and disability stigma.
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Will Hoard, KT Coordinator
Originally from Great Falls, MT, Will earned his BA in English Literature with a minor in Theatre from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR. After college, he pursued a certificate in User Experience Research and Design. During his time at Lewis and Clark College, Will worked as a student coordinator for the school's office of accessibility. It was during this time that he became passionate about accessible disability services. After spending a few years working for start-ups, Will was ready for a change. RTC:Rural felt like the next best step!
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Publications and Presentations
Recent Publication
Mobility drives community participation. But for the millions of Americans that do not or cannot drive, lack of transportation can be a major barrier. In “'Patiently waiting': How do non-driving disabled adults get around in rural America?”, RTC:Rural researchers Andrew Myers and Krys Standley explore transportation modes and policy suggestions to address rural transportation challenges.
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Upcoming Presentation
On December 12 at 1:00 ET, Catherine Ipsen will present at a webinar series sponsored by the Patient Advocacy Network and CVS Specialty. Her presentation, “Addressing the needs of rural communities,” will explore the healthcare access challenges faced by healthcare providers and people living in rural communities and identify key strategies to help address these challenges.
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National Survey on Health and Disability
Participate in the 2023 National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD) based at the University of Kansas! The National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD) gives voice to the concerns of people with disabilities and documents their experiences with a variety of issues. Those include access to health care, insurance coverage, housing, transportation, Long Covid, employment, and more. It also explores aspects of people's sense of belonging and how they matter. The survey is anonymous and confidential and takes about 20-30 minutes to complete. It can be completed online with a smartphone, tablet, computer, or over the telephone with a project staff person. Want to learn more?
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The Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities (RTC:Rural) conducts research on disability as part of the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities at the University of Montana.
RTC:Rural is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) grant number 90RTCP0002 to improve the ability of people with disabilities to engage in rural community living.
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