Ten learning disabled adults offer suggestions on occupational experiences, noting successful job strategies that include selecting careers based on strengths, structuring the work environment to draw upon individual strengths, and building interpersonal skills. (CL)

The article describes a 3-year longitudinal study to examine postsecondary vocational pursuits of learning disabled high school seniors. Seven major research questions for the study are posed, including employment patterns, job-seeking techniques, and effects on transition of school performance, socioeconomic status, self-concept, and intellectual…

The author reviews software programs in creative writing for students with learning disabilities. In addition to processing programs, software that focuses on story building, revising, poetry writing, and narrative and expository writing is considered. (CL)

Suggestions to help the special education teacher communicate with the music teacher about learning disabled students center on explaining specialized words and phrases such as auditory discrimation, laterality and directionality. (Author/CL)

Based on research results on learning disabled children's spelling, it is argued that spelling errors produced by carefully selected LD elementary-school students cannot be interpreted as deviating from errors expected from younger, normally achieving children. Data are interpreted to support a cognitive-developmental model of spelling…

Following a review of influential sources in children's understanding of stories, a study is reviewed in which compositions of 27 learning disabled, 31 reading disabled, and 3 control Ss (11 years old) were evaluated. A hierarchy of adequacy of compositions was revealed, with many disabled readers and learners lacking an understanding of a story…

The article reviews published investigations of social status among learning disabled children, adolescents, and adults. Results indicate that, contrary to prevailing assumptions, not all learning disabled persons are held in low esteem by their teachers, parents, and peers. In fact, some learning disabled students are popular. (Author/CL)

Describes a study in which 20 reading-disabled children, ages 7-10, were compared with 20 nondisabled readers in the same age range as to their ability to interpret complex sentences. Results showed that the nondisabled readers performed at higher levels of grammatical development than did the reading-impaired children. (SED)

Describes a special student whose determination to succeed despite disabilities was an important lesson for an entire school. (MD)

In attempting to explain definitional problems in the field of learning disabilities, the authors review concepts from the history and philosophy of science. It is concluded that learning disability is a victim of its own history, and a breaking from the past is necessary for the definitional problem to move closer to resolution. (Author/CL)

Assessed the validity of the Woodcock Johnson Tests of Achievement for learning disabled elementary school students (N=40 and N=32). Results suggested the WJTA is technically adequate in terms of concurrent validity. However, the apparent content overlap questions the use of scores to document discrepancies in specific skill areas. (JAC)

Research has suggested that career maturity, measured by students' readiness to make sound educational and occupational choices, is deficient in learning disabled students. The Career Development Inventory focuses on five dimensions: career planning, career exploration, decision making, world-of-work information, and knowledge of preferred…

Compared the relative efficacy of externally managed and self-managed free token response-cost systems in decreasing inappropriate behavior of two learning-disabled students. Differential effects of treatment conditions were assessed using alternating treatments design. Results found both treatment conditions equally effective in decreasing…

Students with learning disabilities can prepare for the SATs (Stanford Achievement Tests) by (1) counseling sessions to discuss college prerequisites and pre-admission tests; (2) taking more academic courses or procuring necessary remedial help; (3) school personnel identifying and correcting skill weaknesses; and (4) discussing abuses and uses of…

Teacher-made tests can be adapted for learning disabled students during the process of test construction (incorporating aspects of directions, individual items, and test design) or during test administration. (CL)