What is this site?

This website was created to be an easily accessible and searchable set of resources for people with disabilities who live in rural areas.

Who is it intended for?

Many different people will find the resources on this website useful. There are resources for people with different types of disabilities and their family members. Some resources are also designed for people who serve those with disabilities, such as policy makers and care givers. The resources listed here have been designed for, or are useful for, those who live in rural areas but could also be useful for people living in more urban areas.

Why a rural resource library?

Rural towns are different than cities and the people who live there sometimes have different needs. There are lots of resources available online for people with disabilities, but it can be difficult to sort through them and find ones that are most useful. Also, very few resources exist that have been designed with rural communities in mind. This website helps make the job of finding relevant resources easier for people who live in rural areas, and those who serve them.

Who is RTC:Rural?

RTC:Rural is the Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities. We are located at the University of Montana and are part of the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities. For the last 30 years, we have studied how people with disabilities who live in rural America can be better served. The subjects we research include health and wellness, employment, and community participation.

We get our funding from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), under Grant #90RT50250100. NIDILRR is a branch of the federal agency, the Administration for Community Living.

A word about external resources and accessibility

Here at RTC:Rural we are committed to improving access to information, and sharing information that is accessible for all. This website contains both links to resources that were created by RTC:Rural, and others that were created by other organizations and agencies.

For resources created by RTC:Rural

We welcome feedback about your experience with our website and the resources we have created. If you have comments about accessibility or would like to request resources in alternate formats, please contact us.

For resources created by others

We work hard to make sure this site contains useful, up-to-date and accessible information, but unfortunately the external resources are not under our control—links to their location may have changed, or they may not be fully accessible. Please contact us if you notice a link that is broken, if you have accessibility concerns, or if you would like to suggest a good resource to be added!

How can I get involved?

We’re so glad you asked! Read our get involved page to learn lots of ways you can help make the collection of resources for rural people with disabilities better.

Photos

Unless otherwise noted, all the photos on this site are from another great project at the Rural Institute, Healthy Community Living. As part of this project, people from around the country have sent in photos of “Real People, Real Places” that have to do with living with disability in America. Thank you to the amazing photographers and organizations that made this collection possible!

Technical Assistance

Any questions? Here at RTC:Rural we are available to help you find the right resource, or interpret the information we have provided. Just contact us, be sure to include your email or phone number, and we will get back to you!