Understanding the challenges to providing disabilities services and rehabilitation in rural Alaska: where do we go from here?

Abstract

American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) suffer from some of the highest rates of health and mental health-related disabilities. Despite high rates of disabilities experienced among this population, services available to treat the disabilities are extremely limited, especially within the rural Alaska context. Additionally, limited research exists regarding the perceived barriers to receiving disability services, the importance of treating disabilities within one's own community, and individual and community-level strengths that exist to help cope with the lack of services. This article attempts to bring awareness to these issues, as well as propose tangible solutions to help mitigate the barriers.

Keywords: disability; elderly; ethnic minorities; home and community-based services; individuals with disability; mental health; service providers; strength-based perspective.