Topics: People with disabilities

For more information and resources, see the Community Supports for Rural Aging in Place and Independent Living topic guide.

Enhancing Services for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deafblind Patients in Rural America

Deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind people in rural communities may struggle to access healthcare due to a lack of interpreters as well as providers’ misunderstanding of their culture and communication needs. A Michigan clinic hires ASL-fluent staff and provides telemental health, a New Jersey state division provides deaf sensitivity training, and a Colorado program brings interpreters to rural communities.

Nearly 1 in 5 American adults have a diagnosable mental or behavioral disorder. By supporting 16 nonprofit agencies, the Vermont Care Network facilitates the provision of services for this population. Nearly 50,000 Vermont residents have access to behavioral health and developmental disability services through their efforts.

Rural programs across the country rely on service or therapy animals to help people with mobility, motor skills, and mood. Come meet the service dogs of Hawaii, the therapeutic riding horses of Wyoming, and the therapy pig and tortoise who call a skilled nursing facility home in Florida.

The Rural Monitor

Articles and resources on key rural health issues, from the Rural Health Information Hub

Topics: People with disabilities

Enhancing Services for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deafblind Patients in Rural America

Vermont Care Network Advocates for Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Agencies

Animals Help People Heal in Rural Areas