Collaborations to Enhance Independent Living

The RTC/IL collaborates with numerous organizations to produce research and trainings that benefit people with disabilities. Our collaborators have included:

• Centers for Independent Living
• The Center for Research on Aging and Disability Options (CRADO), KU School of Social Welfare
• The Disability Rights Center of Kansas
• The Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Disability and Health Program
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Other research centers at the University of Kansas and other universities
• Funding for our major research project comes from the National Institute of Disability Rehabilitation Research.

These products are results of our collaborations.

• Improving Access to Health Care for Kansans with Brain Injuries (PDF) and Improving Access to Health Care for Kansans with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (PDF) - produced through a project with the Disability Rights Center of Kansas
• Caring for People with Disabilities - a course for Nursing students at the University of Kansas Medical Center
• Healthcare Access for Persons with Disabilities - Online Course 

Healthcare Access for Persons with Disabilities (Link to online training)

This course is available free to providers nationwide. One CME/CNE is offered for a $10. PDF description of course.

This online course for healthcare professionals is designed to provide a better understanding of health, wellness and care issues for people with physical and sensory disabilities. Physicians, nurses, social workers, other healthcare professionals and medical office staff will learn skills to increase effective communication and tips for problem solving to enhance quality care for people with disabilities.

To enroll:

•  If you're in Kansas, go to Kansas TRAIN at http://ks.train.org or to the course information page. 
•   All others, go to www.train.org.
•  Search for "Healthcare Access for Persons with Disabilities," course number 1025624 (University of Kansas).
•  First-time users must create a login name and password.

The RTC/IL developed the course in collaboration with KDHE's Disability and Health Program.

Data Inventory on the Employment and Health of Kansans with Disabilities

This publication supports improved data sharing for people who run programs that serve people with disabilities in Kansas and people who are conducting disability-related research.

This collaboration was funded by two grants: One from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, awarded to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, which contracts with the RTC/IL; and one from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to the Kansas Health Policy Authority, with a contract to KU's Center for Research on Learning.