Creative Collaborations for Rural Empowerment: Library and Independent Living Partnerships - The Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities (RTC:Rural), alongside the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) and the Association of Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL), is proposing a five-year project to enhance well-being of rural disabled individuals through nationwide CIL-Rural Libraries partnerships. The project’s goal is to implement rural-appropriate NIDILRR-funded programs and resources to improve the lives of disabled individuals. Key objectives include: (1) Training CIL and rural library staff in community development processes to identify community assets and the needs of rural disabled individuals; (2) Applying processes to identify and implement rural-relevant NIDILRR-funded products, including RTC:Rural resources; (3) Partnering with APRIL and ARSL to establish a nationwide peer network for sustainable knowledge translation; (4) Evaluating the use, adoption, and impact of NIDILRR-funded products through process and participatory evaluation methods like Ripple Effects Mapping and Photovoice; and (5) Disseminating various rural-appropriate resources and strategies to stakeholders to communicate needs and impacts effectively. Expected outcomes include: (1) Training 12 CIL and library staff in rural outreach, independent living, and rural-appropriate NIDILRR products; (2) Assisting 12 rural communities in identifying disabled residents’ needs and implementing relevant solutions; (3) Supporting 120 rural disabled individuals in accessing programs to improve health, employment, and community living; (4) Developing knowledge translation tools for CIL-library collaboration based on outcomes; and (5) Creating a sustainable nationwide peer network for CIL and library staff. Key products will include a new collaborative program, a nationwide peer network, and a system for promoting the use and adoption of existing rural-appropriate NIDILRR-funded products.
