Rural Health
Resources by Topic: People with disabilities
The Moderating Effects of Perceived Transportation Access on Health and Social Connectedness for People with Disabilities
Surveys working age adults with disabilities to identify the effect of transportation access on social activity, loneliness, and self-rated health variables. Includes a rural and urban breakdown for survey respondents.
Author(s): Aaron Beuoy, Jean P. Hall, Noelle K. Kurth, Kelsey S. Goddard
Citation: Journal of Transport & Health, 44
Date: 10/2025
view details
Surveys working age adults with disabilities to identify the effect of transportation access on social activity, loneliness, and self-rated health variables. Includes a rural and urban breakdown for survey respondents.
Author(s): Aaron Beuoy, Jean P. Hall, Noelle K. Kurth, Kelsey S. Goddard
Citation: Journal of Transport & Health, 44
Date: 10/2025
view details
Better Together: Rural Community Collaboration in North Carolina's Cape Fear Region
Examines the impact of the disAbility Resource Center of North Carolina (dRC) that serves people with disabilities in rural North Carolina. Discusses collaboration with other organizations and efforts to provide disability and human services.
Author(s): Luke Santore, Lillie Greiman, Rayna Sage
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
view details
Examines the impact of the disAbility Resource Center of North Carolina (dRC) that serves people with disabilities in rural North Carolina. Discusses collaboration with other organizations and efforts to provide disability and human services.
Author(s): Luke Santore, Lillie Greiman, Rayna Sage
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
view details
Shifting Care Patterns: How Medicaid Policies Shape Family and Formal Care Use
Analyzes the impacts of Medicaid 1915(c) waivers on likelihood of receiving formal versus family care among adults aged 70 years and older with functional limitations, utilizing 2011-2019 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) data. Highlights the significance of waiver payments for family caregiving for population subgroups including Medicaid beneficiaries, rural residents, and people living with dementia.
Author(s): Johanna Thunell, Elise M Parrish, Katherine E M Miller
Citation: Alzheimer's & Dementia, 21(9), e70715
Date: 09/2025
view details
Analyzes the impacts of Medicaid 1915(c) waivers on likelihood of receiving formal versus family care among adults aged 70 years and older with functional limitations, utilizing 2011-2019 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) data. Highlights the significance of waiver payments for family caregiving for population subgroups including Medicaid beneficiaries, rural residents, and people living with dementia.
Author(s): Johanna Thunell, Elise M Parrish, Katherine E M Miller
Citation: Alzheimer's & Dementia, 21(9), e70715
Date: 09/2025
view details
Difficulties in Functioning Among Children in the United States: 2021–2023
Offers data on children with difficulties in functioning between 2021 and 2023. Domains investigated include seeing, hearing, walking, communication, behavior, learning, fine motor, playing, self-care, remembering, concentrating, coping with change, relationships, and affect. Includes comparison by 4 levels of urbanization.
Author(s): Julie D. Weeks, Jennifer H. Madans, Lindsey I. Black, Nazik Elgaddal, Benjamin Zablotsky
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
view details
Offers data on children with difficulties in functioning between 2021 and 2023. Domains investigated include seeing, hearing, walking, communication, behavior, learning, fine motor, playing, self-care, remembering, concentrating, coping with change, relationships, and affect. Includes comparison by 4 levels of urbanization.
Author(s): Julie D. Weeks, Jennifer H. Madans, Lindsey I. Black, Nazik Elgaddal, Benjamin Zablotsky
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
view details
Rural and Tribal Transit: The Federal Transit Administration Should Evaluate Its Efforts to Help Improve Accessibility and Service
Explores the primary federal funding sources for accessible transit for older adults and people with disabilities for rural and tribal communities. Describes the approaches these communities have used to provide accessible transit, and the challenges they have faced. Discusses how the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) have helped communities use funds to improve these transit services.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Explores the primary federal funding sources for accessible transit for older adults and people with disabilities for rural and tribal communities. Describes the approaches these communities have used to provide accessible transit, and the challenges they have faced. Discusses how the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) have helped communities use funds to improve these transit services.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Navigating Disability Benefits: New Research on Administrative Burden and Work Incentives
A recorded webinar that discusses the difficulty of navigating income support for people with low incomes and/or disabilities. Focuses on supplemental security income (SSI) and social security disability insurance (SSDI) application, eligibility, and work incentives. Includes SSI and SSDI policy challenges for rural residents, such as transportation, digital access, and legal representation.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Debra L. Brucker, Mike Levere, Ramonia Rochester
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Wisconsin–Madison Institute for Research on Poverty
view details
A recorded webinar that discusses the difficulty of navigating income support for people with low incomes and/or disabilities. Focuses on supplemental security income (SSI) and social security disability insurance (SSDI) application, eligibility, and work incentives. Includes SSI and SSDI policy challenges for rural residents, such as transportation, digital access, and legal representation.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Debra L. Brucker, Mike Levere, Ramonia Rochester
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Wisconsin–Madison Institute for Research on Poverty
view details
The Impact of Telehealth on Cost and Time Efficiency for Patients With Disabilities During Nonemergency Encounters: A Scoping Review
A scoping review of 2018-2024 studies focused on telehealth and related themes of efficiency, clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and increased access to healthcare for people with chronic disabilities. Analyzes 8 studies on telehealth and includes commentary on its effectiveness in rural areas.
Author(s): Kaushalya Mendis, Veda Priya Puligundla, Myles Rosenzweig, et al.
Citation: The Permanente Journal
Date: 08/2025
view details
A scoping review of 2018-2024 studies focused on telehealth and related themes of efficiency, clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and increased access to healthcare for people with chronic disabilities. Analyzes 8 studies on telehealth and includes commentary on its effectiveness in rural areas.
Author(s): Kaushalya Mendis, Veda Priya Puligundla, Myles Rosenzweig, et al.
Citation: The Permanente Journal
Date: 08/2025
view details
Depressive Symptoms Among Rural Americans
Analyzes characteristics of individuals with depression in rural areas. Utilizes 2024 National Health Interview Survey data and examines metro versus nonmetro demographic profile of individuals with depression as well as their health-related behaviors, physical limitations, and functional impairments.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
view details
Analyzes characteristics of individuals with depression in rural areas. Utilizes 2024 National Health Interview Survey data and examines metro versus nonmetro demographic profile of individuals with depression as well as their health-related behaviors, physical limitations, and functional impairments.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
view details
Understanding the Experience of Disabled Americans in Rural Communities through Data: The Data We Have, the Data We're Missing, and How to Close the Gap
Discusses the need for adequate rural disability data and inclusion of people with disabilities in research and policymaking. Provides suggestions to improve disability data collection in rural areas, focusing on collaboration, qualitative data collection, cultural and geographic sensitivity, transparency and accessibility in data systems, and funding and capacity-building.
Author(s): Susan J. Popkin, Alexis Weaver, Violet Sulka/Hewes, et al.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
view details
Discusses the need for adequate rural disability data and inclusion of people with disabilities in research and policymaking. Provides suggestions to improve disability data collection in rural areas, focusing on collaboration, qualitative data collection, cultural and geographic sensitivity, transparency and accessibility in data systems, and funding and capacity-building.
Author(s): Susan J. Popkin, Alexis Weaver, Violet Sulka/Hewes, et al.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
view details
Ground Transportation for People with Mobility Disabilities 2025: Challenges and Progress
Discusses transportation barriers for people with disabilities that require wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs). Highlights accessibility of common transportation methods, federal policies and regulations, and recommendations to policymakers and businesses for increased accessibility. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Council on Disability
view details
Discusses transportation barriers for people with disabilities that require wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs). Highlights accessibility of common transportation methods, federal policies and regulations, and recommendations to policymakers and businesses for increased accessibility. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Council on Disability
view details