The Future of Disability and Rehabilitation in Rural Communities: An Emerging Narrative
Author: Seekins, Tom
Date Published: 2011
People with disabilities - children, youth, adults, elderly, or veterans - are a big part of rural America's future. Over the last 50 years, the disability trajectory has been moving further from special or segregated status toward more community integration. This has involved a significant effort to improve services and supports, and to fashion constructed spaces to be accommodating. While people with disabilities benefit directly from such investments in community infrastructure, they can also contribute to community development. People with disabilities can help build rural communitites of the future. Overall, to see these new realities emerge in the future of rural America, people with disabilities need a seat at the table, and their concerns need to be integrated into the broader agenda. Still many questions remain about how these aims might best be achieved, the risks for people with disabilities, and the costs associated with such efforst.
Date Published: 2011
People with disabilities - children, youth, adults, elderly, or veterans - are a big part of rural America's future. Over the last 50 years, the disability trajectory has been moving further from special or segregated status toward more community integration. This has involved a significant effort to improve services and supports, and to fashion constructed spaces to be accommodating. While people with disabilities benefit directly from such investments in community infrastructure, they can also contribute to community development. People with disabilities can help build rural communitites of the future. Overall, to see these new realities emerge in the future of rural America, people with disabilities need a seat at the table, and their concerns need to be integrated into the broader agenda. Still many questions remain about how these aims might best be achieved, the risks for people with disabilities, and the costs associated with such efforst.
