Focuses on characteristics of rural Black families and the importance of their role in the education of handicapped children. Urges schools and teachers to understand the cultural strengths of rural Black children and use these cultural advantages to optimize the learning environment. (JHZ)

Most students who are deaf or hard of hearing do not read proficiently. When adults read regularly to these students, the students' language and literacy abilities improve. Ten essential practices for adults to use when reading aloud are presented with examples. Also included are activities in which students read to adults. Contains 24 references.…

Deaf or hard-of-hearing students are influenced by four cultural groups: family, neighborhood, community, and school. Presents a framework for exploring the personal cultures of rural hearing-impaired students; strategies for gathering cultural information; and steps by which a teacher, with the help of cultural brokers, can develop appropriate…

Argues that the "social capital" provided to schools by parent and community involvement has been eroded in rural areas by school consolidation, centralization, and urban models, placing all rural students at risk. Traces this erosion in one rural West Virginia school district. Contains 19 references. (SV)