ABSTRACT
The social structures in rural communities often result in the problems of particular groups being defined as personal problems requiring an individual, rather than community, response. Residents of rural communities are more likely to deny the existence of special-needs groups within their community or to deal with those involved as disruptive or "trouble-makers." The video, "Capacity to Care," looks at three special-needs populations in rural areas across the country: illiterate and undereducated adults, children with multiple disabilities, and the elderly. One challenge faced by rural communities is creating local schooling opportunities for undereducated adults. The Darke County, Ohio, Office of Education serves many schools in a large geographic area, with only a small number of multiply disabled children. Since 1986 the Office of Education has integrated disabled students with the general student population by teaching them in the same building and by setting up interactive learning situations.
