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University of Montana Rural Institute For Inclusive Communities

Center for Excellence in Disability Education, Research, and Service

The Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities (RIIC) is committed to creating better lives for rural people with disabilities and their families. With innovative services, training and research, RIIC strives to improve independence and participation of people with disabilities in everyday activities and all aspects of the community.

The Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities is one of 67 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living.

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” - Hellen Keller

Featured Program/Product: RTC Rural

Research projects at RTC: Rural focus on community participation and independent living, health & wellness, and employment and vocational rehabilitation.  Research products include: Living and Working Well with a Disability, health promotion programs for people with disabilities; Telecom Toolbox, a resource for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors; and the Transportation Voucher program available from the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL).

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  • Living Well helps participants to set and reach quality-of-life goals by developing a healthy lifestyle.
  • Working Well builds on the concepts introduced in the Living Well program but focuses on improving health in preparation for, or maintaining, employment.

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Telecom Toolbox supports career development professionals and job seekers in using online tools. 

  • Communication
  • Online Career Development
  • Ethics

Transportation Voucher

  • Our research suggested that a major cause of the lack of transportation in rural communities is the lack of resources for transportation.
  • Our partner, APRIL, conducted a national evaluation of the voucher model and provides a toolkit for implementing the program on its website.

RTC: Rural Map Monday

American women with disabilities 2015. Description below image.

#MapMonday today features American women with disabilities! These numbers are based on women’s responses to the US Census Bureau American Community Survey. Read more about the survey questions that determine the disability rates you see in the map.

Disability among females tends to be higher (19.03-35.62%) in Appalachia, particularly along the KY-WV border, as well as pockets in the South, and Puerto Rico. Disability among females tends to be less common (3.8-19.02%) in AK, southern CA, and regions of the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains. Rates range from 3.8%-35.62%. Map by RTC: Rural, July 2017.

Building Inclusive Programs to Serve Adults with Disabilities

Building Inclusive Programs to Serve Adults with Disabilities from National Council on Aging on Vimeo.

Adults with disabilities in the U.S. face significant barriers to preventing ongoing health conditions and accessing health care services. One way to address these health disparities is through evidence-based programs, like Living Well with a Disability (LWD). LWD is a peer-led program that was created specifically for adults with disabilities with input from the national network of centers for independent living. Listen to this webinar to learn more about the development, implementation, and successes of LWD. Helpful resources and strategies for ensuring evidence-based programs are accessible for all are featured.

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ScholarWorks Readership Map

Browse the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities Collections at ScholarWorks University of Montana

 
Rural Institute

Happenings at Rural Institute

Major Programs within the Rural Institute