MAPPing Healthcare of the Physically Disabled in Rockbridge County, VA: A Community Based Research Project

Abstract

The following study was completed in conjunction with the Rockbridge Area Free Clinic's assessment of the access to and quality of health care for the disadvantaged residents of Rockbridge County, Virginia. The study was completed under the guidelines of MAPP – Mobilization for Action through Planning and Partnership. This portion of the assessment focused on a specific group - persons with physically disabilities. Despite the severity of their conditions, the needs of the disabled populations are not distinct from the general community. The findings and recommendations generated by this study have beneficial implications for the broader community – specifically the growing elderly population, the underinsured, and those for whom poverty hinders mobility.