Addresses differences between rural and urban communities in terms of family characteristics, home life, cultural values, social norms, and economic structures. Implications for rural special education include understanding the diversity of rural communities, developing relationship-based services, and considering ecocultural factors when…

Summarizes literature regarding the accomplishments and challenges of rural education and rural special education in terms of rural schools and teachers, rural families, and rural communities. Suggests that rural children with disabilities will be well served in the future through additional resources, more professionally trained and qualified…

Examines the challenges of providing educational leadership in rapidly changing rural school settings. Describes a leadership development model that stresses learning in action, examines the role and responsibilities of school boards related to educational leadership, and suggests that the Individual Education Plan process can be a model for…

Addresses the needs of beginning special education teachers in small, rural school districts; describes strategies for recruiting special education teachers in rural areas; describes programs that small and rural school districts can use to orient new teachers to the school and community; and identifies strategies for retaining teachers in rural…

Addresses difficulties identifying gifted rural children who are economically disadvantaged and who do not exhibit traditional characteristics of gifted behavior. Suggests that individual assessment be both comprehensive and culturally specific, that curriculum interventions use the resources of rural communities, and that computer technology and…

Overviews special-education applications of distance education services in rural areas, including direct service programs for special education students, preservice personnel preparation programs, and inservice teacher training programs. Suggests that the use of distance education will continue to grow as telecommunications technologies become…

Involving families in the education of a child with a disability is beneficial to all concerned. Unfortunately, initiating and sustaining that involvement is often difficult, particularly in rural communities. A rationale for and challenges to family involvement are briefly reviewed. Twenty-one effective practical strategies for involving rural…

Content analysis of dropout literature, 1984-88, identified school, peer, home/family, and intrapersonal variables related to dropping out, which were used in questionnaire development. The 269 out of 475 randomly selected American Council on Rural Special Education members indicated 11 dropout causes that should be national priorities for…

Literature review found approximately 5-9 percent of school children having clinically significant voice disorders that interfere with classroom communication and may be a symptom of underlying illness. However, voice disorders are grossly underidentified and underserved, particularly in rural schools with personnel shortages. Proposes a teacher…

Disabled children in rural areas face special challenges in preparing for independence in communities where services are inadequate. Rural special education teachers must become promoters of independent living for disabled young people. Possibilities are outlined for teacher interventions with individuals and families and advocacy efforts.…

Disabled persons may receive needed personal assistance from spouse, parents, other family, or a hired assistant (possibly shared) who is compensated by cash or barter. Disabled persons in rural areas rely heavily on family members and face overwhelming locational, financial, and attitudinal barriers to independent living. (SV)

Examines features of independent living philosophy with regard to compatibility with Native American cultures, including definition or conceptualization of disability; self-advocacy; systems advocacy; peer counseling; and consumer control and involvement. Discusses an actualizing process as one method of resolving cultural conflicts and…

Discusses current problems and issues facing vocational special education in rural areas, including limited educational access resulting from isolation, teacher shortages, and financial problems; curriculum shortcomings; lack of relevance to local job market; and lack of local employment opportunities. Describes successful rural strategies,…

Survey of 40 state directors of special education identified skills and expertise necessary for personnel in special education transition programs. Tables list required and desired teacher competencies. Recommends that teacher preparation programs include a range of skills and information much broader than current traditional special education…

Focuses on rural service delivery issues common to special education, school psychology, and mental health and outlines training-related solutions. Cautions against simplistic dichotomy of rural versus urban service delivery and professional isolationism. Recommends five skill categories for rural training: generalist training, personal and…