Reports on a task force convention in the U.S. that discussed updating the legislation known as Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA '97). Analyzes the implications that its deliberations will have for English-language international schools throughout the world. (Contains 14 references.) (NB)

A dual-task paradigm involving concurrent finger tapping and line orientation judgment was used to investigate brain processing differences in 12 early adolescent good readers/poor spellers, poor readers/poor spellers, and controls. In the right-hand tapping condition, the good spelling group displayed significantly less tapping disruption than…

A replication study compared 86 petition students who received course substitutions for the college foreign language (FL) requirement with 40 nonpetition students who fulfilled the requirement by passing FL courses. Findings indicate more than half of all the students did not meet criteria for learning disability classification. (Contains…

This overview of articles in this special issue introduces the constructivist approach to educating students with learning disabilities. Catalysts for constructivism, the constructivist philosophy, and the whole language approach are discussed. The need for coherent integrated instruction in learning communities that is educationally purposeful,…

Introduces the focus of articles that follow in the special issue, the education of minority or culturally diverse students with learning disabilities. Discusses the importance of examining the role of sociocultural variables in research on learning disabilities and what practitioners can do to incorporate sociocultural perspectives. Summaries of…

Describes development and testing of maze-like semantic maps for assessing reading comprehension of content-area information. Results involving 144 students (38 with learning disabilities) showed that maps could be produced and scored with high reliability. Criterion-related validity based on a standardized test was weak, but moderate-to-strong…

A parent intervention using the "Copy, Cover, and Compare" method of teaching multiplication facts to an 8-year-old with learning disabilities was examined. Results indicated that repeated use of the 16-minute procedure was successful in increasing percent correct for the targeted multiplication facts. (Author/DB)

Discusses the cognitive characteristics, neurobiological bases, and language and reading abilities of individuals with hyperlexia. A study of 12 children (ages 7-13) with hyperlexia is summarized that illustrates the dissociation between decoding and comprehension and the limited use of meaningful context to aid decoding. (Author/CR)

Describes the ways available multimedia and videodisc technologies can be integrated into the classroom to support instruction for students with learning disabilities. Three basic modes for instructional use of videodisc players are discussed: the watch-it mode, watch-relevant-screens mode, and the computer-assisted instruction mode. An annotated…

Discusses the accommodation of college students with learning disabilities, focusing on the increasing incidence (or overdiagnosis) of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, applicable federal legislation, and leveling the academic playing field for students with learning disabilities. Argues that professors should provide recommended…

Learning-disabled college graduates' entry into professional schools has raised numerous legal issues concerning their matriculation qualifications, need for accommodations, and eventual ability to practice successfully. Discusses each issue in a legal education context, following an explanation of learning disabilities and the federal statutes…

Spoken word recognition was compared in 39 reading-disabled and 61 normally achieving elementary school students on a speech gaiting task, and relationships among speech recognition, phonemic awareness, and reading were examined. Results support the argument that spoken word recognition may be developmentally delayed in those with reading…

Describes the five learning disability research centers that make up the collaborative research network of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Highlights the teams and focus of the centers, and identifies the findings of the centers and issues that need to be examined. (CR)

A review of research on teaching students with learning disabilities about history first identifies principles of effective instruction (e.g., instruction that is direct, explicit and visible) and then reports on the development and evaluation of an 8-week unit on immigration for students working cooperatively in heterogeneous groups. Evaluation…

A study involving 147 clinicians found while they agreed on certain points regarding documentation requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, they substantially disagreed on several fundamental issues. Consensus was lowest on the basic intent of the law, the metrics for assessing impairment, and criteria for assessing adult…