Uses data from 1985 and 1988 surveys of 48 rural West Virginia school districts to assess changes in patterns of personnel deployment and program implementation related to students with severe disabilities. Examines staff ratios, certification issues, teacher recruitment and retention problems, service delivery, and service configurations.…

Outlines a model for development of a special physical education program, emphasizing methods that capitalize on strengths of small and rural schools. Discusses formation of a strategic planning team, assignment of special physical education staff, development of integrated instructional programing, relationship of regular and special education…

Describes the multiple roles and special challenges experienced by rural itinerant teachers delivering special physical education services. Provides a breakdown of time spent in various job functions by two itinerant special physical educators (ISPEs) studied in north central Kansas. Suggests strategies for successful delivery using the ISPE…

Describes transdisciplinary (TD) team model as holistic approach for identifying and educating young migrant students with special needs. Describes differences between TD and multidisciplinary team models. Describes half-day TD assessment of child. Assesses TD approach regarding student needs, staff training, ongoing staff development, and child…

Guidelines for implementing a transdisciplinary (TD) team approach for delivering special education services to rural students cover team development, assessment, program planning, implementation of service delivery, training of team members, role release, ongoing monitoring, and regular team meetings. Includes a checklist for evaluating teams…

Strategies for educating students with low-incidence disabilities in rural schools include inclusion, peer- and community-referenced curriculum, student-centered educational planning, instruction in actual performance settings, positive behavioral support, and transdisciplinary teams. In Utah, the state office of education, universities, and…

Small rural schools incur greater expense and hardship to take advantage of staff development activities, usually held in cities or universities. The Iowa Intervention Initiative (III) overcame practical and logistic problems to hold teacher workshops for 79 small rural Iowa schools. Discusses III goals, recruitment of participants, selection and…

Preliminary data comparing individualized education program (IEP) development in three demonstration and three nondemonstration sites show that demonstration sites had significantly more individuals attending IEP meetings, more service options on the IEP, and more best-practice elements included in the IEP. Suggests that the demonstration site…

Existing models of supported employment (individual placement, mobile crew, enclave, and benchwork models) have limited utility in rural areas. The Black Hills Special Services Cooperative (Sturgis, South Dakota) developed an entrepreneurial model that addresses the lack of rural employers and transportation problems by creating new businesses…

Title VII-Part B of the Rehabilitation Act of 1978 created federally funded independent living centers (ILCs), but funding shortages left many rural areas unserved. A survey found 76 ILCs in 24 states that did not receive Part-B funds. Most were supported solely by state and local funds. (SV)

A study of two rural independent living demonstration projects contrasts successful approaches: an independent living center and the integration of independent living philosophy and practices into an existing service network. Presents demographic information; community resources; and interview results from disabled persons, religious leaders, and…

A survey of 21 superintendents and administrators of boards of mental retardation and developmental disabilities in 12 rural northwestern Ohio counties examined problems in recruitment and retention of special education teachers and ancillary personnel and rural factors contributing to these problems. Recommends strategies to address personnel…

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…

Describes six rural service delivery models that place severely disabled students in regular classrooms: team teaching, pairing regular and special education teachers; parallel teaching by special educators within regular classrooms; regular classroom base with in-class or separate tutorial; regular classroom placement with dual-certified teacher…

Dissonance and conflict occur when the culture of a service delivery system differs greatly from a disabled client's culture. Strategies are outlined for adapting services to match culturally diverse client needs. Examples focus on rehabilitation services and special education for visually impaired Hispanic Americans. Contains 20 references. (SV)