Discusses barriers individuals face in using computers in the classroom and the importance of eliminating these barriers. The article notes that visual, mobility, and hearing impairments are the disabilities most often encountered in school labs and that numerous software and hardware tools are available to help individuals with these disabilities…

Offers suggestions for teaching dyslexic students from a graduate student who teaches composition and is himself dyslexic. Recommends the following strategies: one-on-one help, study skills assignments, individual strategies, step-by-step process, oral discussion, topics of interest to the student, and questions to build confidence. (PA)

This study investigated the incidence of learning disabilities in 105 children (ages 6-18) with neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF-1). Results found that nearly 70% of the subjects were academically deficient and 42% met the criteria for learning disabilities. A low incidence of visuospatial-constructional deficits was also found. (Author/CR)

This study examined the incidence of depression and anxiety in 184 college students with learning disabilities (LD), 57 young adults with LD receiving rehabilitation services, and 140 college students without LD. Females with LD in the rehabilitation setting showed a higher incidence of depression and college students with LD demonstrated…

School-related stress during the transition to junior high school was evaluated in 59 students with learning disabilities and 402 nondisabled students. Although the groups differed on their responses to stress, they did not differ in their perceived stressfulness of any of the 11 stressful school events examined. (Author/DB)

Interviews with 10 high school students with learning disabilities identified 3 themes concerning homework: (1) factors that make homework easy (such as assigning homework early in the class); (2) factors that make homework difficult (such as low ability); and (3) recommendations for teachers, students, and parents (for example, students should…

Reports results of a study supporting the application of the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI--a diagnostic and prescriptive instrument designed for use with college-aged students) for use with secondary students with learning disabilities. Argues that the LASSI can provide valuable diagnostic and prescriptive information to…

Outlines the classification of children who experience difficulty reading into two categories - poor readers with learning disabilities and poor readers without disabilities. Examines the validity of this form of classification and offers a new approach for dealing with children with reading problems. Explains that the proposed approach utilizes a…

This article reviews how tutoring systems have been applied across specialized subject areas (e.g., music, horticulture, health and safety, social interactions). It summarizes findings, provides an analysis of skills learned within each tutoring system, identifies the respective methodologies, and reports relevant findings, implications, and…

This overview of the second special issue on effective mathematics instruction for students with learning disabilities provides brief summaries of the issue's articles. Articles are meant to assist teachers in the design, implementation, and evaluation of mathematics programs for students with learning disabilities. (CR)

Describes and illustrates five areas of instructional design in mathematics well suited to students with learning disabilities. Suggested learning strategies for teachers to incorporate include using big ideas and conspicuous strategies; teaching efficient use of time; giving clear, explicit instruction on strategies; and taking time for…

In a speech, Boston University (Massachusetts) president Jon Westling used "Somnolent Samantha" as an example of potential for student abuse of identification as learning disabled. Because Samantha was fictitious, 10 students have sued the university, charging Westling with holding an unfair view of students with learning disabilities.…

In the general literature on low literacy, one cause that has been neglected is learning disabilities. Discusses the use of technology in related literacy programs and concludes that technology should be part of the process but cannot be expected to take the place of good teaching. Highlights LiteracyLink, a project for teaching literacy with…

Regression-based procedures were used to identify 17 phonological and 15 surface dyslexics from a sample of 68 reading-disabled third graders by comparing them to chronological age controls. Defining dyslexic subtypes by reference to reading-level controls identified the phonological dyslexics, but only one of the surface dyslexics. (SLD)

Summarizes ongoing research designed to generate new knowledge about the relative effectiveness of different approaches to the prevention and remediation of reading disabilities in children, particularly difficulties in acquiring accurate and fluent word reading skills. Preliminary results from the prevention study and the remediation study are…