Count Us In: Why All of Us Makes Sense for Montanans with Disabilities

All Of Us logo

There are many things we treasure about living in the Last Best Place. Wide open spaces, pristine wilderness, a slower pace of life, and knowing our neighbors. These are benefits we enjoy here, all of which contribute to our quality of life. But there are downsides to living off the beaten path. People in rural states are often overlooked by experts when major health and wellness studies take place. And when data about us is missing, it can't drive the policies and protocols that affect our lives.

All of Us webinar and Twitter chat

Mark your calendars: All of Us webinar and Twitter chat

It might almost be Halloween, but no tricks here! Mark your calendars for these two upcoming All of Us events co-hosted by the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities. After a morning Twitter chat, join the 1.5 hour webinar, which will feature presentations from local Montana disability advocate speakers Bob Liston and Marsha Katz of ADAPT Montana, as well as a presentation from Dr. Erica Woodhal, a professor in the University of Montana’s Department of Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Rural Institute shares knowledge on disability as part of UM public health graduate seminar

Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities (RIIC) staff, students, and community partners will be participating in a series of presentations at the University of Montana as part of the School of Public & Community Health Sciences seminar program for students, staff and faculty. The 16 week graduate seminar is part of UM’s Public Health doctoral program aimed to educate and equip students with the skills and expertise to improve public health at the community level and around the world.

October 4, 2018—Health Care Transitions for Youth/Young Adults with Disabilities
October 18, 2018—Walkable communities for all: Using inclusive, interdisciplinary walk audit workshops to achieve health equity
November 8, 2018—Geographic Methods for Application in Public Health

Learn more at: https://rtc.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/um-public-health-grad-seminar/

Congratulations to the 2018 CIF recipients!

The 2018 Community Investment Fund ($2000) award will be shared by two recipients, Flathead High School in Kalispell and Quality Life Concepts in Great Falls.

Flathead High School will use the money to help purchase supplies for their Braves Coffee Company School-based Enterprise. This new business will feature students with and without disabilities working side-by-side to plan, market and operate the coffee company. Several community partners are collaborating with the high school to provide personnel training, discounted supplies, and mentoring.

Quality Life Concepts will apply their award toward expenses for their Community Recreation Co-ed Softball Team. The 40-person team includes clients with disabilities served by QLC, staff, and community members. All team members play, rotating throughout the game so that everyone has a turn at defense and at batting. They also have a team photographer who takes pictures for the team’s Facebook page.

Learn More about the Community Investment Fund

All of Us Research Program

All of Us Researcghb Program: The Future of Health Begins with You

University of Montana Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities

Joins NIH in Launching the All of Us Research Program to Advance Precision Medicine

On May 6^th, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will open national enrollment for the All of Us Research Program - a momentous effort to advance individualized prevention, treatment and care for people of all backgrounds, including people with disabilities. The All of us Research Program is a historic effort to gather data from one (1) million or more people living in the United States to accelerate research and improve health.

University of Montana Rural Institute: A Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities