Results of surveying of 41 teachers who had experience with learning disability preassessment teams (intended to focus on regular classroom intervention prior to comprehensive evaluation) suggested that teachers were pleased with preassessment team members but did not agree that the teams' intervention recommendations were successful in correcting…

The effects of illustrations on comprehension were investigated with 32 learning disabled elementary-aged students. Results showed significantly more correct responses to comprehension questions following the non-illustrated passages. (Author)

Results of the comparison of 34 learning disabled and 37 low achieving fifth grade students on curriculum based assessment of reading, spelling, and written expression found significant differences between the two groups suggesting that norm-referenced tests which find no differences may reflect an inefficient procedure for confirming teacher…

Demographic data, IQ, achievement, perceptual-motor, behavior ratings, and diagnostic classification (learning, mental, emotional disability or no handicap) were analyzed for all children (N=2002) referred for complete psychological evaluation during one school year in Iowa. Learning disabled children showed a distinct pattern different from…

"Teacher Net" is described as a low cost computer network to provide computer assisted and managed instruction. The system consists of one microcomputer, an interface box, and as many as 16 keypads or keyboards for data input. The system can be used for independent student practice, assessment, group instruction, and data management. (Author/DB)

Educators interested in applying technology to individualized educational program (IEP) development for handicapped children need to first, understand and explicitly state the local context in which IEP development occurs and then weigh the options in relation to criteria specifying ease of use, data features, program capabilities, and costs.…

The tendency toward overly positive self-evaluative statements of students with learning and behavior problems was analyzed with 19 such students (aged 9.6 to 15.2 years). Findings supported an interpretation of such statements as a form of self-protective behavior, rather than the inability to make accurate self-evaluative judgments. (Author/DB

The study used a battery of nine neuropsychological tests/subtests to derive patterns of cognitive style with 56 mildly handicapped and 36 non-handicapped children (ages 6-13). Three subtypes of cognitive style (dysphonetic, dyseidetic, and mixed) were identified in both groups, suggesting that cognitive style operated independently of cognitive…

Current advocacy efforts in learning disabilities (LD) are critiqued and alternatives to traditional special education such as implementing the effective schools research are reviewed. Five objectives of an advocacy blueprint for a pluralist school include increasing public awareness of the LD experience and making integration the centerpiece of…

After a response to previous papers on the future of the learning disabilities field, the paper discusses human motivation, and proposes the goal of self determination for all education. Self determination can be promoted by well trained teachers who provide experiences with optimal challenge, encourage autonomy and competence, and acknowledge…

The paper identifies areas of agreement among leaders in learning disabilities (LD) including heterogeneity of the LD population; explores the classification problem as it relates to etiology and/or treatment, and proposes a five-step plan to influence public policy concerned with differentiation and treatment of different types of learning…

The future of the learning disability field should include: an expanded focus on adolescents and adults; broader models for understanding behavior and learning; going beyond concepts of diagnosis, treatment, remediation, and individualized instruction; expansion of views of basic skills; and interventions that focus on more than changing people.…

The efficacy of a keyword mnemonic strategy to teach word meanings was evaluated with 64, 12-year-old learning disabled poor readers. Subjects were instructed via either keyword-image, picture context, sentence-experience context, or control. Results indicated that the students in the keyword condition significantly outperformed other students…

The study examined the social status of 43 elementary grade learning disabled (LD) students who, though based in special classes, joined regular classes up to 18 periods per week. Findings indicated both lower acceptance and lower rejection, suggesting that the LD students are simply not known to their regular class peers. (Author/DB)

The investigation compared the sociometric status of 37 learning disabled (LD) elementary grade boys and girls and their non-learning disabled peers. Findings indicated that the lower sociometric status of LD children was attributable to same-sex rejections of girls. LD children tended to play alone more often than non-LD children. (Author/DB)