Recent research indicates that problems in the transition from school to employment are frequent among students with learning disabilities, particularly those in rural areas. While a systematic approach to transition appears to be beneficial, the best method for implementing such an approach is still in question. One hundred seventeen special…

This paper addresses problems in providing educational services to gifted students in rural areas and discusses feasible solutions. Rural schools face numerous obstacles such as small numbers of identified gifted students; limited resources and funding; locations distant from universities, libraries, and cultural activities; difficulty in…

Seven rural counties on Maryland's Eastern Shore cooperated in a 3-year project to determine the feasibility of using microcomputers to instruct special education students in writing skills. All 42 participating teachers received inservice training in teaching writing to special education students; the 26 teachers in the experimental group were…

This bibliography of cross-cultural materials contains 437 bibliographic citations of journal articles, books, government reports, court cases, and bibliographies of interest to rural special educators. Major topical areas are bilingual exceptional children (136 items) and culturally diverse exceptional children (135 items). Other topics include…

This proceedings record contains 87 presentations, including 65 complete or edited transcripts and 22 abstracts. Eighteen papers address the conference theme of creative collaboration, describing cooperative agreements between universities and school districts to provide enhanced high school curricula, college preparation courses, and…

Three case studies investigated the school day of disadvantaged rural students with severe disabilities. Subjects were severely disabled girls, living in families with no income other than public assistance, and attending elementary or middle school in three poor rural school districts. A constant comparative method of single and cross-site data…

The design of a needs assessment model to establish the existing status and requirements of general and special education in eight small rural South Dakota districts interested in forming an education cooperative involved: (1) synthesizing major areas of need into workable components; (2) designing a needs assessment instrument based upon these…

Collaborative strategies were used by The College of Saint Rose (CSR) and 15 rural school districts in upstate New York to implement preservice teacher training and programming to better meet the needs of handicapped learners in rural settings. Through meetings and questionnaires, rural administrative teams identified relevant skills and issues…

The problem of securing funds to support programs for the young handicapped child is a major one for rural service providers. The process of securing funds from within the rural community itself should include nine steps: (1) defining the needy; (2) determining responsibility; (3) identifying resources; (4) considering the message; (5) choosing…

A screening and referral procedure for rural, at-risk infants was developed by a three-step process that: (1) identified key professionals; (2) educated rural medical personnel regarding benefits and strategies of early intervention; and (3) implemented a screening and referral system with low temporal and monetary costs for hospital personnel.…

Presents a brief history of the retarded adult in society, looks at services presently available to retarded adults, and proposes an integrated rural transitional facility. Emphasizes the role that schools could play in developing training which would allow retarded adults to live and to work in the least restrictive environment. (JHZ)

Describes a program which addresses the needs of underserved handicapped children who live in isolated rural areas of Nevada. Covers the program's computer-assisted, home-based curricula and video-assisted, home-based assessment and instruction as well as evaluation methodology and results of preliminary child-progress data. (JHZ)

Examines the importance of including families in the education of young handicapped children and discusses trends in the foci of family involvement programs of recent years. Describes the family involvement component of the Precise Early Education of Children with Handicaps (PEECH) outreach project. (Author)

The relationship among role ambiguity and role conflict and the three burnout factors of depersonalization, personal accomplishment, and emotional exhaustion was evaluated in a study of 307 rural special educators. Findings demonstrated a relationship between role ambiguity and role conflict and burnout factors among rural special educators. (JHZ)

Although formal vocational training in technical high schools or community-based job placements provides opportunities for adolescents with disabilities, educators need to consider a broader continuum of vocational training options for these students. Entrepreneurial options such as school-based businesses, internships, and apprenticeships may…