Employment
RTC:Rural's Employment research uses systems-level approaches to improve employment opportunities and outcomes among people with disabilities living in rural places. We respond to identified rural barriers such as limited economic opportunity, choice, and access to services to develop and test employment and delivery options appropriate in resource-constrained environments.
Self-employment is an important option for people with disabilities, especially in places with limited economic opportunities.
Resources
The Vocational Rehabilitation Self-Employment Guide is an online resource for people with disabilities and VR counselors to assess self-employment readiness and develop a business plan. The Guide is self-directed, and can be used by individuals on their own or with the guidance of a counselor or business development mentor.
The Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Self-Employment Toolkit is an online resource for tribal VR counselors and consumers to assess self-employment readiness and develop a business plan. The Toolkit is self-directed, and can be used by individuals on their own or with the guidance of a counselor or business development mentor.
Publications
Research progress report: Building the tribal vocational rehabilitation self-employment toolkit
April 2022 | Catherine Ipsen | University of Montana Rural Institute | PDF; EPUB; Word document
Increasing consumer opportunities for self-employment in Vocational Rehabilitation
October 2021 | Catherine Ipsen | University of Montana Rural Institute | PDF
Rural and urban vocational rehabilitation self-employment outcomes
January 2017 | Catherine Ipsen & Grant Swicegood | Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation | PDF
A rapid review of self-employment literature: Implications for the Vocational Rehabilitation program
September 2014 | Nancy Arnold & Catherine Ipsen | University of Montana Rural Institute | PDF
A citizen led program for rural community economic development: Two case studies
November 2010 | Catherine Ipsen, Tom Seekins, Nancy Arnold & Karl Kraync | Journal of the Community Development Society | PDF
2007 | Kyle Colling & Nancy Arnold | Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling | PDF
Introduction: Disability and community development
2006 | Tom Seekins (guest editor) | Journal of the Community Development Society | PDF; online access
State self-employment policies: Changes through the decade
September 2005 | Nancy Arnold & Catherine Ipsen | Journal of Disability Policy Studies | PDF
Self-employment for people with disabilities: Enhancing services through interagency linkages
2005 | Catherine Ipsen, Nancy Arnold & Kyle Colling | Journal of Disability Policy Studies | PDF
2003 | Nancy Arnold, Tom Seekins, Catherine Ipsen & Kyle Colling | Australian Journal of Career Development | PDF
August 2003 | Catherine Ipsen, Nancy Arnold & Kyle Colling | Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship | PDF, online access
Self-employment: A process for use by vocational rehabilitation agencies
2002 | Nancy Arnold & Tom Seekins | Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation | PDF
NxLeveL for Micro Entrepreneurs Disability Component: What you should know about owning a business if you have a chronic illness or disability: Debunking myths, evaluating your capabilities, creating a work environment, evaluating a business opportunity, promoting and growing a business, finding startup $$, and working with disability agencies
2001 | Nancy Arnold, R. Foley & E. Wollman | Helena: Montana Department of Commerce | Introductory small-business course
Transition to adulthood brings opportunities for employment. Pre-employment services can open doors to future options.
Publications
November 2020 | Jean Hall, Catherine Ipsen, Noelle Kurth, Sara McCormick & Catherine Chambless | Children and Youth Services Review | PDF; online access
Exploring the PROMISE of transition services for youth with disabilities receiving SSI
January 2019 | Catherine Ipsen, Noelle Kurth, Sara McCormick, Jean Hall & Cathy Chambless | Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation | abstract
Teaching self-determination to youth with disabilities: The ASPIRE model
August 2019 | Catherine Chambless, Sara McCormick, Catherine Ipsen, Noelle Kurth & Jean Hall | Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation | PDF; online access
Engaging SSI youth and families with ASPIRE services
August 2019 | Catherine Ipsen, Noelle Kurth, Sara McCormick, Jean Hall & Catherine Chambless | Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation | PDF; online access
Vocational Rehabilitation services look different in rural communities, where consumers are at a distance from support offices and economic opportunities are more limited.
Publications
Vocational rehabilitation service receipt, service expenditures, and ruralness
September 2022 | Catherine Ipsen | Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation | abstract; online access with registration
Increasing consumer opportunities for self-employment in Vocational Rehabilitation
October 2021 | Catherine Ipsen | University of Montana Rural Institute | PDF; EPUB; Word document
The effect of ruralness on Vocational Rehabilitation applications
June 2020 | Catherine Ipsen & Steven Stern | Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation | abstract; online access with registration
September 2019 | Catherine Ipsen, Rebecca Goe & Stacey Bliss | Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation | abstract; online access with registration
Pilot testing a digital career literacy training for vocational rehabilitation professionals
2018 | Rebecca Goe, Catherine Ipsen & Stacey Bliss | Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin | PDF; EPUB; online access
Telecom Toolbox: A resource for Vocational Rehabilitation counselors
2016-2018 | RTC:Rural | website
Vocational Rehabilitation agency guidance on social media use: A policy analysis
2017 | Catherine Ipsen & Rebecca Goe | Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin | PDF; EPUB; online access
6 essential elements of social policy for VR agencies
2017 | Lauren Smith | RTC:Rural | online access; text description
2016 | Catherine Ipsen & Rebecca Goe |Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation | abstract; online access with registration
Exploring exit from the Vocational Rehabilitation system
March 2015 | Rebecca Goe & Catherine Ipsen | University of Montana Rural Institute | PDF
2015 | Catherine Ipsen & Grant Swicegood | Rehabilitation Research, Policy, and Education | PDF
A rapid review of self-employment literature: Implications for the Vocational Rehabilitation program
2014 | Nancy Arnold & Catherine Ipsen | University of Montana Rural Institute | PDF
Access to, use of, and attitudes toward telecommunication among rural VR clients
2013 | Catherine Ipsen, Bethany Rigles, Nancy Arnold & Tom Seekins | Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin | PDF: EPUB; online access
2012 | Catherine Ipsen, Bethany Rigles, Nancy Arnold & Tom Seekins | Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin | PDF; EPUB; online access
February 2011 | Bethany Rigles, Catherine Ipsen, Nancy Arnold & Tom Seekins | Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin | PDF
Rural employment research is focused on economic and employment trends for people with disabilities.
Publications
America at a glance: Occupational injuries among rural workers
May 2022 | Andrew Myers, Arin Leopold, Catherine Ipsen & Bryce Ward | University of Montana Rural Institute | PDF; EPUB; Word document
America at a glance: Unemployment among people with disabilities during the COVID-19 recession
November 2020 | Bryce Ward & Andrew Myers | University of Montana Rural Institute | accessible PDF, text-only EPUB, text-only Word doc
How will the COVID-19 recession impact people with disabilities in rural America?
April 2020 | Bryce Ward, Andrew Myers, Catherine Ipsen & Lauren Smith | University of Montana Rural Institute | accessible PDF, text-only EPUB, text-only Word doc
Employment disparity grows for rural Americans with disability
January 2019 | RTC:Rural | University of Montana Rural Institute | PDF; text-only Word doc
Rural people with disabilities are still struggling to recover from the recession
January 2019 | Lillie Greiman, Andrew Myers, Bryce Ward & Catherine Ipsen | The Conversation | online access