This study compared state disparities in the diagnosis of students with learning disabilities. It found that state prevalence of learning disability was moderately explained by demographic and sociopolitical factors (unlike four common physical disabilities) and that these same factors strongly predicted the extent of mainstreaming and the size of…

Comparison of state graduation requirements found significant differences in the exit documents awarded to students with disabilities, with similar requirements sometimes earning different types of exit documents in different states. It was also found that 44 states use Carnegie course unit requirements and 17 states have minimum competency…

Comparison of twins (40 identical and 23 fraternal) for mathematics deficits (MD), in which at least one member had a mathematics disability, found evidence for a significant genetic etiology. However, tests for the differential etiology of MD as a function of reading performance level were nonsignificant. (Author/DB)

This study examined problem solving and number-fact skills in two subgroups of third graders, those (n=12) with difficulties only in mathematics (MD-specific) and those (n=12) with difficulties in both reading and mathematics (MD-general). On both story and number-fact problems, the MD-general group performed worse than nonimpaired students,…

Comparison of 24 elementary school-age children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 20 children with attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity (ADD/noH) on a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment found math achievement test scores for students with ADD/noH were significantly lower than those for students with…

This study investigated effects of five proofreading conditions on the spelling performance of 12 college students with learning disabilities. Conditions were handwriting with no additional assistance, with a print dictionary, and with a handheld spelling checker; and word processing with no additional assistance and with a spelling checker. All…

All available suicide notes (N=27) from 267 consecutive adolescent suicides were analyzed for spelling and handwriting errors and then dictated to adolescents with and without LD. Results indicated that 89% of the 27 adolescents who had committed suicide had significant deficits in spelling and handwriting similar to those of other adolescents…

High school students (N=26) with learning disabilities, their parents, and their special education teachers rated the students' skills in 21 specific areas such as general ability, oral language, reading, written language, and social skills. Parents' ratings were consistent with teachers' in 16 areas and lower in 5 areas. Students' ratings were…

This study compared effects of two approaches to hands-on science, supported inquiry science (SIS) and activity-based science, in six urban and two suburban fourth-grade general education classrooms involving 172 students, 33 of whom had learning disabilities (LD). The study found that students with and without LD demonstrated greater concept…

Sixteen nonretarded young adults with fetal alcohol syndrome were divided into two groups, one with average to above average IQ and one with borderline to low average IQ. Subjects in both groups manifested clear deficits on neuropsychological measures sensitive to complex attention, verbal learning, and executive function at a frequency and…

This study examined the contributions of instruction in goal setting and self-instruction on the acquisition, maintenance, and generalization of a reading comprehension strategy by 47 students (grades 4-6) with learning disabilities. Results indicate that instruction in goal setting and self-instruction did not augment the comprehension…

This study compares algebra performance tested under timed and extended-time conditions of 88 community college students with and without learning disabilities (LD). With extended time, the LD students' performance did not differ significantly from the timed or extended-time scores of the students without learning disabilities. (Author/DB)

This article explains reasons for focusing on social studies as an untapped domain in which to foster thinking and problem solving skills of students with disabilities, discusses the use of multimedia technology in supporting projects in the social studies, explores considerations in implementing multimedia design projects, and examines challenges…

Thirty secondary students with learning disabilities were given laptop computers and taught computer-based study strategies to test the efficacy of using technology to support students with learning disabilities. Results showed that students with high intelligence and reading test scores were more willing to adopt computer-based study strategies.…

The use of assistive technology for postsecondary students with learning disabilities is reviewed, focusing on ways in which the devices enhance learning, relevant legislation addressing assistive technology, assistive technology program components in colleges, and guidelines for preparing students for using assistive technology. (CR)