A Model Rural Inclusive Postsecondary Program for Students With Intellectual Disability

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 191-202
Author(s):  
Gerlinde Beckers ◽  
Colleen Klein-Ezell
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
College Experience ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Program Outcomes ◽  
Federal Financial Aid ◽  
Employment Skills ◽  
Rural Settings ◽  
Postsecondary Program

Lions Connected (LC) is an inclusive postsecondary program approved by the U.S. Department of Education; thus meeting rigorous program standards and accountability. Equally important is that it gives eligible students from rural areas the opportunity to receive federal financial aid to attend college. The purpose of developing LC was to meet the needs and desires of the surrounding rural communities by providing postsecondary opportunities for students with intellectual disability (ID) to enhance their social, academic, and employment skills alongside peers without disabilities. This article describes the program in detail as well as program outcomes, including employment in rural home communities. LC students receive a true college experience while preparing to become contributing members in society regardless of where they live. By following LC’s program structure, there are multiple opportunities for supporting students with ID in rural settings and helping them garner a college experience and become successfully employed in their community and reach their full potential.

scholarly journals Tackling Rural Health, Energy, … and Technological Issues All at Once: A Call for a Global Interdisciplinary Platform for Strengthening Rural Setting Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Challenges ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 16
Author(s):  
Farshad Amiraslani
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Health ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Rural Setting ◽  
Global Challenges ◽  
Rural Settings ◽  
Research Studies

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has revealed flaws in rural settings where most people live without the necessary tools, income, and knowledge to tackle such unprecedented global challenges. Here, I argue that despite the research studies conducted on rural areas, these have not solved rising rural issues, notably poverty and illiteracy. I propound a global institute to be formed by governments that provides a platform for empowering rural communities through better training, skills, and competencies. Such global endeavour will ensure the remaining rural communities withstand future pandemics if they occur.

scholarly journals Moving beyond Limitations: Designing the Helpdys App for Children with Dyslexia in Rural Areas

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7081
Author(s):  
Andres Larco ◽  
Jorge Carrillo ◽  
Nelson Chicaiza ◽  
Cesar Yanez ◽  
Sergio Luján-Mora
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Language Disorder ◽  
Educational Games ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Positive Contribution ◽  
Self Confidence

Dyslexia is a relatively common language disorder which is generally ignored in rural communities. It hinders children’s learning processes and, in some cases, is the cause of dropouts or violence in schools. The present work strives to create a web and mobile app as a preliminary step towards the diagnosis and treatment of dyslexic children. Apps providing didactic educational games and activities improve literacy skills for students with reading disabilities. The current work incorporates user experience and prototyping to fulfill app requirements. The authors evaluated the apps with the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) tool to assess engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information. The app’s improvements were immediately implemented and tested in the “Escuela Linea Equinoccial” (Ecuador) school, proving its utility for future use in the education system. The app can be a valuable tool for children with dyslexia to progress successfully through school, raising their self-confidence and, thereby, helping them reach their full potential as adults able to make a positive contribution to society.

Exploring social networks, employment and self-determination outcomes of graduates from a postsecondary program for young adults with an intellectual disability

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Patricia Spencer ◽  
James Van Haneghan ◽  
Abigail Baxter
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Employment Outcomes ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Employment Decisions ◽  
Employment Skills ◽  
Postsecondary Program

BACKGROUND: Data on graduates’ development and employment outcomes from postsecondary programs for young adults with an Intellectual Disability (ID) continue to increase and provide information on program efficacy and areas for growth. OBJECTIVE: This study explored the development of graduates’ social networks, employment outcomes, and self-determination a year after graduating from an inclusive postsecondary program. METHODS: The social networks, employment outcomes, and evidence of self-determination in a combined cohort of graduates (n = 6) were analyzed using social network analysis. RESULTS: All graduates except one were employed a year later. Half displayed smaller networks consisting of family members and new work ties. Only two graduates displayed large networks because of opportunities for socialization. In the absence of employment, students also fall back on familiar supports. Most parents were involved in graduates’ employment decisions, thereby curbing graduates’ expression of self-determination. CONCLUSIONS: Family supports are prominent in graduates’ networks and play a crucial role in employment choices. They act as constant protective and social-emotional supports ensuring graduates’ access to benefits and maintenance of well-being. Employment skills valued by employers and further opportunities to develop students’ social networks while in the PSE program needs to be a focus going forward.

scholarly journals Prescription Opioid Misuse Among Rural Community Pharmacy Patients: Pilot Study for Screening and Implications for Future Practice and Research

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 498-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald T. Cochran ◽  
Rafael J. Engel ◽  
Valerie J. Hruschak ◽  
Ralph E. Tarter
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Prescription Opioid ◽  
Opioid Misuse ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Rural Settings ◽  
Prescription Opioid Misuse

Background: Opioid misuse imposes a disproportionately heavy burden on individuals living in rural areas. Community pharmacy has the potential to expand and coordinate with health professionals to identify and intervene with those who misuse opioids. Objective: Rural and urban community pharmacy patients were recruited in this pilot project to describe and compare patterns of opioid misuse. Methods: We administered a health screening survey in 4 community pharmacies among patients filling opioid medications. Univariate statistics were used to assess differences in health characteristics and opioid medication misuse behaviors between rural and urban respondents. Multivariable statistics were used to identify risk factors associated with rural and urban opioid misuse. Results: A total of 333 participants completed the survey. Participants in rural settings had poorer overall health, higher pain levels, lower education, and a higher rate of unemployment compared to patients in urban pharmacies. Rural respondents with illicit drug use (adjustable odds ratio [aOR]: 14.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.16-95.38), posttraumatic stress disorder (aOR: 5.44, 95% CI = 1.52-19.50), and ≤high school education (aOR: 6.68, 95% CI = 1.06-42.21) had increased risk for opioid misuse. Conclusions: Community pharmacy represents a promising resource for potential identification of opioid misuse, particularly in rural communities. Continued research must extend these findings and work to establish collaborative services in rural settings.

scholarly journals Procedural Telementoring in Rural, Underdeveloped, and Austere Settings: Origins, Present Challenges, and Future Perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan P. Wachs ◽  
Andrew W. Kirkpatrick ◽  
Samuel A. Tisherman
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rural Practice ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Future Perspectives ◽  
Medical Assistance ◽  
Residency Programs ◽  
Rural Settings

Telemedicine is perhaps the most rapidly growing area in health care. Approximately 15 million Americans receive medical assistance remotely every year. Yet rural communities face significant challenges in securing subspecialist care. In the United States, 25% of the population resides in rural areas, where less than 15% of physicians work. Current surgery residency programs do not adequately prepare surgeons for rural practice. Telementoring, wherein a remote expert guides a less experienced caregiver, has been proposed to address this challenge. Nonetheless, existing mentoring technologies are not widely available to rural communities, due to a lack of infrastructure and mentor availability. For this reason, some clinicians prefer simpler and more reliable technologies. This article presents past and current telementoring systems, with a focus on rural settings, and proposes a set of requirements for such systems. We conclude with a perspective on the future telementoring systems and the integration of artificial intelligence within those systems. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering, Volume 23 is June 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

scholarly journals Rural, Pregnant, and Opioid Dependent: A Systematic Review

2016 ◽  
Vol 10s1 ◽  
pp. SART.S34547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naana Afua Jumah
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Polysubstance Use ◽  
Cochrane Database ◽  
Rural Settings

The nature, impact, and treatment of substance use during pregnancy are well described for women living in urban settings. Less is known about pregnant substance-using women living in rural communities. The objective of this review is to describe the existing evidence for the management of substance use in pregnant women living in rural areas. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the quality of the evidence was assessed using the GRADE system. Twenty-two articles that met the inclusion criteria were identified. Descriptive studies document high rates of smoking, marijuana, and polysubstance use among rural, substance-using pregnant women compared to their urban counterparts. Management of substance use disorders is limited by access to and acceptability of treatment modalities. Several innovative, integrated addiction and prenatal care programs have been developed, which may serve as models for management of substance use during pregnancy in rural settings.

scholarly journals Assessing Heat-Related Mortality Risks among Rural Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Epidemiological Evidence

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 1597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Odame ◽  
Ying Li ◽  
Shimin Zheng ◽  
Ambarish Vaidyanathan ◽  
Ken Silver
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Included Study ◽  
Rural Populations ◽  
Urban Settings ◽  
Rural Settings ◽  
Related Mortality

Most epidemiological studies of high temperature effects on mortality have focused on urban settings, while heat-related health risks in rural areas remain underexplored. To date there has been no meta-analysis of epidemiologic literature concerning heat-related mortality in rural settings. This study aims to systematically review the current literature for assessing heat-related mortality risk among rural populations. We conducted a comprehensive literature search using PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify articles published up to April 2018. Key selection criteria included study location, health endpoints, and study design. Fourteen studies conducted in rural areas in seven countries on four continents met the selection criteria, and eleven were included in the meta-analysis. Using the random effects model, the pooled estimates of relative risks (RRs) for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were 1.030 (95% CI: 1.013, 1.048) and 1.111 (95% CI: 1.045, 1.181) per 1 °C increase in daily mean temperature, respectively. We found excess risks in rural settings not to be smaller than risks in urban settings. Our results suggest that rural populations, like urban populations, are also vulnerable to heat-related mortality. Further evaluation of heat-related mortality among rural populations is warranted to develop public health interventions in rural communities.

Building a Practice in Rural Settings: Special Considerations

2013 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 228-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy Cohn ◽  
Sarah Hastings
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Metropolitan Areas ◽  
Economic Resources ◽  
Rural Practice ◽  
Collaborative Networks ◽  
Mental Health Counselors ◽  
Rural Settings

Private practice in rural areas presents special challenges. Rural communities often hold more stigmatizing views about psychotherapy and have fewer economic resources, yet rates of mental health problems are comparable to those in metropolitan areas. Rural practice can be particularly rewarding for clinicians who can build collaborative networks, adjust to visibility, negotiate boundaries, and successfully integrate into the community. This article offers recommendations for mental health counselors on building a practice for branding, marketing, collaborating, and exercising self-care. It also discusses challenges associated with counseling in rural areas and gives suggestions for building a thriving practice.

Prescribing and medication-initiation roles based on the perspectives of rural healthcare providers in a study community in Queensland

2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy C. W. Tan ◽  
Lynne M. Emmerton ◽  
H. Laetitia Hattingh
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Medical Treatment ◽  
Nurse Practitioners ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Rural Healthcare ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
Rural Settings

Objective. There are recognised health service inequities in rural communities, including the timely provision of medications, often due to shortages of qualified prescribers. The present paper explores the insights of rural healthcare providers into the prescribing and medication-initiation roles of health professionals for their rural community. Methods. Forty-nine healthcare providers (medical practitioners, pharmacists, nurses, occupational therapists, a dentist and an optometrist) from four neighbouring towns in a rural health service district in Queensland participated in face-to-face semistructured interviews. The interviews explored medication supply and management issues in the community, including the roles of health professionals to address these issues. The interviews, averaging 45 min in duration, were recorded, transcribed and qualitatively analysed for general trends and unique responses. Results. Participants recognised the potential for dentists, optometrists and nurse practitioners to reduce the prescribing workload of rural medical practitioners, and there was some support for a ‘continued dispensing’ model for pharmacists. Medication-initiation orders by endorsed registered nurses were also valued in providing timely medical treatment in rural hospitals. Conclusions. Rural communities have unique needs that require consideration of multidisciplinary support to assist medical practitioners in coping with prescription demands for timely medical treatment. What is known about the topic? Extension of prescribing rights to non-medical prescribers has been a topic of considerable debate in Australia for some decades. Several extended-prescribing or medication-initiation roles were established to supplement and support the medical workforce, particularly in rural areas, where health service inequalities and inefficiencies in prescribing and provision of medications are recognised. To date, workforce dynamics and legislative boundaries have restricted the eventual number of rurally located non-medical prescribers. What does this paper add? Little research has been conducted to investigate or evaluate the application of prescribing or medication-initiation roles in rural settings from a multidisciplinary approach. This paper provides the perspectives of rural healthcare providers on the prescribing and medication-initiation roles across health professions. Key findings from this rural-engagement exercise are considered valuable for policymakers and health service planners in optimisation of the prescribing or medication-initiation models. The qualitative methods also added richness and depth to the discussion about these roles. What are the implications for practitioners? According to the literature review and other media, extended prescribing roles are not universally accepted. However, some of the roles are being developed and implemented. Hence, it is important for health practitioners to embrace the roles and optimise their application. Specifically in rural settings, it is also important to recognise the value of multidisciplinary support and collaboration within the limited health workforce.

scholarly journals Preparing Students in Professional Programs for Rural Practice: A Case Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Brook ◽  
Neil Hobbs ◽  
Denise Neumann-Fuhr ◽  
Anne O'Riordan ◽  
Meagan Troop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Interprofessional Collaboration ◽  
Rural Practice ◽  
Working Relationships ◽  
Remote Communities ◽  
Professional Programs ◽  
Rural Settings

Understanding the supports and constraints available in rural communities is integral to the education of professionals who choose to practise in rural settings. Previous research has indicated that many professionals do not have an accurate understanding of rural contexts and how rural settings impact personal life and professional practice. To address this gap, an interprofessional course centring on professional practice in rural and remote communities was developed. This course was designed to be reflective of rural practice, not only in content but also in the way the course was delivered. Findings from this case study indicated that students’ understanding of the complexity of rural settings was enhanced on multiple levels. The interactive and experiential nature of the course allowed students to develop working relationships that increased both their understanding of the value of interprofessional collaboration as well as the professional opportunities that are available in rural areas.  

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