This study examined the effects of sound-field amplification (SFA) use for children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) with additional diagnosed conditions enrolled in preschool and first and second grades in a rural district. Four focus children who are DHH with additional diagnoses were matched with hearing peers and observed for attending…

Rural school principals continue to have difficulty hiring and retaining qualified teachers. Researchers have sought to determine the preferred type of preparation programs and the specific characteristics of teacher candidates, but few have specifically focused on the perceptions of the rural principal. The purpose of this study was to understand…

School-based microenterprises and vocational training opportunities represent an effective approach to developing transferable vocational skills in students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The authors describe the implementation of an online, school-based microenterprise at a rural high school that emphasizes functional digital…

If people with intellectual disability are to become truly self-determined, they must be allowed to express choice throughout their lives, including employment. Expectations for competitive employment tend to be low for this population, if considered at all (Citron et al., 2008). Theoretically, integrated employment options, including customized…

Vision problems occur at higher rates in the deaf and hearing impaired population than in the general population. When an individual has a hearing impairment, vision becomes more significant in the instructional and learning process, as well as in social and communicative exchanges. Regular comprehensive visual screening of hearing impaired…

The pyramid model of staff training provides rural school districts with a practical low-cost solution to the problem of underqualified teachers of students with severe disabilities. In this model, special-education administrators or supervisors receive training in program improvement, train teachers in their districts, and provide ongoing…

A survey of special education directors investigated the provision of related services to disabled students in rural Nevada. Difficulties included hiring qualified personnel, low numbers of students needing particular services, geographic dispersement of students, and distance from urban areas. Solutions included collaboration with other agencies,…

A middle school and a high school in rural Nevada participated in a project with the University of Nevada to develop a model for training staff in the successful inclusion of students with disabilities. Project participants included all 23 teachers and 3 assistants from both schools, 4 university students in teacher education programs, the…

As inclusion increasingly becomes the accepted model for meeting the needs of students with disabilities, administrator involvement becomes critical because the attitudes of school personnel and students toward inclusion frequently mirror those of the administrator. In rural areas, the building administrator is often isolated from other school…

A 2-year followup evaluation was conducted with 1 male and 19 female rural Nevada regular and special education teachers and related service workers who had participated in two summer institutes on teaching practices for students with severe, multiple disabilities and students with emotional disturbances. Telephone interviews sought to determine…

Related services include transportation and such developmental, corrective, and supportive services that enable a student with a disability to benefit from special education. Rural school districts have difficulty providing services comparable to those provided by urban districts. Special education directors of 11 of the 15 rural school districts…

This paper provides special educators with effective strategies for successfully implementing full inclusion of disabled students in general education classrooms. The starting point for inclusion is the Individualized Education Plan (IEP), which develops goals and objectives and considers appropriate student placement. Frequently, IEP objectives…