Rural, poverty-level mothers: a comparative study of those with and without children who have special needs

A study of low-income rural mothers in four states investigated the differences in demographics, school experience, social support, and school involvement for mothers with children with and without special needs. Forty percent of the mothers reported having at least one child with special needs. Twice as many mothers who did not complete the eighth grade had a child with a disability. Significant differences were found in marital status, mother's retention in school, mother reporting having special needs in school and receiving services, amount of homework, and writing notes to the teacher. Almost all mothers reported being somewhat involved in school. Results suggest that poverty may be a more salient factor in educational considerations than disability. Suggestions for educators include providing special programs for female students with disabilities, considering the material and emotional hardships of poor families when designing family involvement programs, and acting as an advocate for comprehensive anti-poverty programs.