Provides fundamental information on learning disabilities relevant to programs preparing students for print media careers. Discusses learning disabilities specific to written expression. Examines legal issues and offers an overview of the types of appropriate accommodations that may be made in the classroom, including assistive technology and…

First this article reviews the research pertaining to treatment efficacy of sensory integration therapy for children with language-learning disorders and academic difficulties. Second, it considers the perspectives from which various researchers and clinicians view language disorders and third, it discusses parameters for evaluating efficacy…

Parents of 16 children (ages 10 to 14) with learning disabilities were interviewed about their perceptions of the quality of friendship of their children. Mothers sometimes disagreed that child-nominated friends were truly friends and often attributed their children's problems with friendships to social immaturity or social-skills deficits.…

An action research project based on the concepts of scaffolding, situated learning, and the zone of proximal development explored ways to embed basic skills development in everyday situations for people with learning difficulties. The underlying assumption was that people learn most effectively in situations meaningful to them. (SK)

Reviews the status of adults with learning disabilities. Outlines five components of self-determination that should be integrated into adult literacy programs: (1) know and value oneself; (2) plan; (3) be proactive; (4) experience outcomes and learn; and (5) find a supportive environment. Stresses the need for staff development and learner…

Examines two samples of students classified as learning disabled (LD) for evidence of the phenomenon known as the Flynn effect (FE). Results indicate that the FE does affect Wechsler IQ and component scores of students classified as LD. Suggests that LD classification may be substantially impacted by the FE over the life of an IQ test version.…

Investigated effects of video technology as a tool for facilitating vocabulary acquisition and reading comprehension skills of fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-graders with learning disabilities. Video instruction group students were taught word meanings and concepts in videodisc-based contexts; nonvideo group students were taught using printed texts.…

Reports on studies of students with severe learning difficulties and shows that they could, under appropriate conditions, display impressive concentration and curiosity, and often appeared to achieve valuable learning. Describes some of the dilemmas that may arise in developing these kinds of activities for special education. (Contains 35…

Describes results of recent research that finds ADHD is predominately a cognitive disorder rather than a behavior disorder. Draws implications for instruction of ADHD students based on answers to three key questions. (Contains 11 references.) (PKP)

Describes how one elementary school implemented a plan to involve students with moderate learning disabilities in writing their own IEP programs. Asserts that process of student self-advocacy results in more active learners. (PKP)

Discussion of self-advocacy for postsecondary students with learning disabilities considers learning characteristics, self-advocacy as a critical transition skill, identification of intrinsic processing abilities, developing a self-advocacy plan, and the increasing need for postsecondary accommodations. Insets include a sample self-advocacy plan,…

This article summarizes published research on vocabulary instruction involving students with learning disabilities. Nineteen vocabulary studies that comprised 27 investigations were located. Study interventions gleaned from the review included keyword or mnemonic approaches, cognitive strategy instruction (e.g., semantic features analysis), direct…

This article reviews the literature on peer relations and social skills of children with learning disabilities (LD). Two risk models are discussed. The single-risk model suggests that for some children with LD, social skills deficits are inherent in the disability. These deficits lead to problems with social relationships, which foster…

Learning disability label establishes accommodation eligibility and civil rights protection but provides an excuse for school officials and legislators to adopt a medical model of learning disabilities and ignore other problems in the educational and social systems. A commitment to inclusion and equality requires an acknowledgement of various…

Responsiveness to intervention (RTI) is being proposed as an alternative model for making decisions about the presence or absence of specific learning disability. We argue that many questions about RTI remain unanswered, and that radical changes in the proposed regulations are not warranted at this time. Since many fundamental issues related to…