Technology and Disability

Rural Americans face many challenges in providing rehabilitation services, and rehabilitation service providers face many obstacles in providing outreach to rural consumers. The first step to analyzing rural rehabilitation issues is to define ‘rural’ and ‘disability’ and their relationship to remote communities. Problems experienced by the rural community include the following: poverty, dangerous nature of occupations, lack of available job opportunities, limited rehabilitation personnel, increasing need for networks, growing proportion of elderly persons, numerous challenges to special education, and the need to carry through grassroots legislation. Through many challenges, rural citizens continue to be faithful to themselves and the community. The conclusions will show the various challenges of providing rehabilitation services, and note positive actions that may be taken to address each hurdle.

This paper reports on the findings of a pilot study focused to discover the range of attitudes and perceptions of Montana rural, small business owners' on disability-accessibility issues. Research methods of this qualitative study utilized in-depth personal interviews with business owners in rural communities in Montana. Their attitudes may help explain why accessibility changes in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), are or are not occuring. Moreover, disability groups striving to achieve compliance through non-threatening technical assistance may be able to apply these findings and fine-tune or redirect their approach with the business community. The study focuses on the attitudinal impact of six factors on small rural business owners in Montana: (1) acknowledge level of awareness and relative importance of the ADA; (2) perceived affect of ADA on their business and community; (3) external and internal influences affecting their attitudes; (4) presence or absence of attitudinal barriers towards people with disabilities; (5) perceived motivators and/or solutions; and (6) personal background information.

A large percentage of individuals with disabilities reside in rural areas. It is imperative that outreach be effective, so that rural populations are aware of the benefits and availability of assistive technology which enable one to live independently and enjoy full inclusion in society. Traditional outreach methods do not lend themselves to rural areas; therefore, unconventional outreach approaches designed specifically for rural areas must be utilized. Partnerships between assistive technology agencies and rural community service providers have proven to be an effective means of transferring information to persons with disabilities living in rural areas. This article discusses the impact of the Technology-Related Assistance For Individuals With Disabilities Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-407) and cites examples of successful rural outreach practices using a partnership approach.

The present paper describes how different service delivery models have evolved in Canada to meet the medical rehabilitation needs of individuals with disabilities living in rural communities. This paper describes advantages and limitations of three approaches to providing rehabilitation services to rural communities: (1) referral to an urban rehabilitation institution; (2) developing community-based rehabilitation resources; and (3) establishing out-reach rehabilitation programs. The paper also addresses the need for more coordinated efforts in the development of effective strategies for rural rehabilitation service delivery. Current obstacles and future challenges are discussed within the context of rehabilitation service delivery in Canada.

The Terry Fox Mobile Rehabilitation Clinic has served adults with physical disabilities who reside in rural communities outside of the Ottawa area since 1983. It provides clinical support to these adults, their families and their communities' health care providers through a consultation model. Education, evaluation activities and advocacy are also key elements of the Mobile Clinic. The delivery of assistive technology was a major reason for its development and continues today in the provision of a multi-disciplinary team approach to outreach rehabilitation.

The Modest Home Makeover Program offers a cost-effective strategy for improving farmhouse accessibility. The program includes three key ingredients: (1) a team approach involving family members, Extension staff and/or other professionals and volunteers; (2) a focus on low-cost or no-cost improvements; and (3) advance preparation so the makeover can be completed in one intensive ‘work day.’ The makeover process that the AgrAbility team used with the Miller family is described in detail.

Vocational rehabilitation for those involved in the logging and forestry industries has traditionally been of placement outside of the industry. Nationally, logging ranks as one of the most dangerous occupations with an accident and illness rate far above other occupations except coal mining. Many loggers find themselves with a career threatening disability and very few rehabilitation professionals unfamiliar with the industry and the available assistive technology. The Vermont/New Hampshire AgrAbility Project has begun to link loggers and rehabilitation professionals with ideas on modifying equipment and worksites through assistive technology to return to logging. Sam J. one of the first loggers to be saved, is being retrained in the field to operate a log loader with several modifications providing safe and easy access and operation of the machine.