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Resilience and Strengths of Rural Communities

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Disability and Vocational Rehabilitation in Rural Settings

Abstract

Rural communities have an unwritten but lived protocol of self-sufficiency, independence, and autonomy. Historically, residents of rural communities have always demonstrated resilience and strength through economic downturns, natural disasters, and demographic shifts. This chapter reviews the characteristics of rural communities: its people, values and beliefs, and “rural code” of behavior. The intent is to discuss the positive aspects of rural culture and value from a strength-based approach, as well as the concerns of the social conditions of resilience.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rehabilitation and Human Services, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Allison R. Fleming

  2. College of Health and Human Services, Rehabilitation Services and Rehabilitation Counseling, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA

    Noel A. Ysasi

  3. Department of Early Childhood, Special Education, and Rehabilitation Counseling, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA

    Debra A. Harley & Malachy L. Bishop

Authors
  1. Allison R. Fleming
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  2. Noel A. Ysasi
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  3. Debra A. Harley
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  4. Malachy L. Bishop
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Allison R. Fleming .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Early Childhood, Special, Education, and Rehabilitation Counseling, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA

    Debra A. Harley

  2. College of Health and Human Services, Rehabilitation Services and Rehabilitation Counseling, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, USA

    Noel A. Ysasi

  3. Department of Early Childhood, Special, Education, and Rehabilitation Counseling, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA

    Malachy L. Bishop

  4. Pennsylvania State University, Rehabilitation and Human Services, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

    Allison R. Fleming

Learning Exercises

Learning Exercises

Self-Check Questions

  1. 1.

    List and describe some common challenges associated with rural communities (i.e., Grant County, New Mexico) and how rehabilitation counselors can work with persons with disabilities to overcome these issues.

  2. 2.

    The chapter discusses residents and social infrastructure as two of the greatest assets to a rural community. What other factors increase a rural community’s strengths? What contributes to its weaknesses?

  3. 3.

    As a rehabilitation counselor, what recommendations would you have for consumers toward building natural supports to overcome difficulties commonly faced (i.e., transportation)?

Experiential Activities

  1. 1.

    Take a tour of your town or community. Assess transportation, architectural accessibility, safety, ease of getting around, and availability of necessary services (e.g., grocery, laundry, goods and services, medical care, mental health, education and vocational preparation, available housing, affordability, job prospects). List the top strength and the top weakness of your community.

  2. 2.

    Interview the person you know who has lived in your community for the longest period of time. What can they tell you about community strengths? What do they see as the greatest challenges for residents? If they were asked to lead a community initiative, what would they try to improve?

Multiple Choice Questions

  1. 1.

    Which of the following defines the term resilience?

    1. (a)

      The ability to bounce back after adversity

    2. (b)

      Taking the good with the bad

    3. (c)

      Knowing when it is time to give up

    4. (d)

      A strength that most people do not have

  2. 2.

    Which of the following best describes coping?

    1. (a)

      Putting up with something long enough

    2. (b)

      Trying to forget about your problems

    3. (c)

      Utilizing strategies to minimize the consequences of stress

    4. (d)

      Exercising instead of worrying

  3. 3.

    Which of the following describes one of the greatest strengths of rural communities?

    1. (a)

      Poverty

    2. (b)

      Low taxes

    3. (c)

      Close social networks

    4. (d)

      Higher rates of disability

  4. 4.

    Urbanormativity refers to which of the following?

    1. (a)

      Cultural norms in the USA are based on rural areas

    2. (b)

      People in rural areas are more normal than urban residents

    3. (c)

      Cultural norms in the USA are based on urban areas

    4. (d)

      Suburban residents set the standard for US culture

  5. 5.

    If a counselor is not familiar with the social landscape of a new service area, how might he or she gain the trust of people in a new community?

    1. (a)

      Develop relationships with elders and leaders

    2. (b)

      Door-to-door introductions

    3. (c)

      Counselors need to know their own clients

    4. (d)

      Move to the center of town

  6. 6.

    What is the benefit of residents leading community advocacy efforts?

    1. (a)

      Cost-effectiveness

    2. (b)

      Awareness of strengths and weaknesses

    3. (c)

      Legality

    4. (d)

      There is no benefit

  7. 7.

    Which of the following best describes social capital?

    1. (a)

      Knowing a lot of people

    2. (b)

      Being able to raise money

    3. (c)

      Your values as a person

    4. (d)

      The value of social connections

  8. 8.

    Which of the following is a common expectation in rural communities?

    1. (a)

      Neighbors help each other

    2. (b)

      Everyone has responsibility in the community

    3. (c)

      We take care of our own

    4. (d)

      All of the above

    5. (e)

      None of the above

  9. 9.

    Which of the following is a common challenge in rural communities?

    1. (a)

      Natural disaster

    2. (b)

      Economic depression

    3. (c)

      Crumbling infrastructure

    4. (d)

      All of the above

  10. 10.

    An approach to supporting persons with disabilities at work without the help of professionals is known as which of the following?

    1. (a)

      Environmental validity

    2. (b)

      Natural supports

    3. (c)

      Friendly neighbors

    4. (d)

      Independence

Key

  • 1 – A

  • 2 – C

  • 3 – C

  • 4 – C

  • 5 – A

  • 6 – B

  • 7 – D

  • 8 – D

  • 9 – D

  • 10 – B

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Fleming, A.R., Ysasi, N.A., Harley, D.A., Bishop, M.L. (2018). Resilience and Strengths of Rural Communities. In: Harley, D., Ysasi, N., Bishop, M., Fleming, A. (eds) Disability and Vocational Rehabilitation in Rural Settings. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64786-9_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64786-9_7

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