In 1959 the New Jersey State Legislature enacted a law establishing the position of learning disabilities specialist (LDS) in order to provide services to aid the classroom teacher's work with pupils who have handicaps or learning disabilities. The innovation of new instructional methods, the adaptation of new educational materials, and the planning of new instructional experiences are among the chief objectives. The focus is on basic physiological, psychological, environmental, and academic causes for learning disability. The efforts of the LDS are also directed to the prevention of learning disabilities in those children who give early evidence of such development. The local school superintendent is responsible for the selection of the LDS; however, the state will reimburse the school for the cost of the specialist. The functions of the learning disabilities specialist can be summarized as follows: (1) educational diagnostician, (2) consultant to the classroom teacher and the school administration, (3) teacher for small groups of handicapped children or for the individual handicapped child, and (4) member of the team for continued child study. (WL)