Informal assessment can make a valuable contribution to the assessment process in special education. Informal procedures are characterized by their ability to be tailored to the needs of specific assessment situations and are especially useful in student evaluation for this reason. (Author)

The author describes the tests he uses in evaluating students for learning disabilities, his reasons for using them, and results and interpretations based on those tests. (CL)

An economical procedure for identifying the dyslexic child is described using a parent questionnaire, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (particularly noting behavioral idiosyncrasies), a brief sentence reading test, a brief spelling test, and lateralty tests. Procedures for synthesizing the evaluation information are considered.…

A direct assessment analyzes the task to be learned in such a way that the steps required to learn the skills are specified and the child's level within the task is determined. This assessment takes into consideration that the child's immediate environment can make a difference in performance. (Author/SBH)

This article describes school-based assessment procedures related to attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, including teacher rating measures, direct observations in classrooms and on playgrounds, peer ratings and sociometric measures, and permanent product measures such as academic performance. Components of a comprehensive assessment and…

Advantages of computer based evaluation approaches for handicapped students are noted and implementation factors are discussed. The computer network for special education at the DuPage/West Cook Regional Special Education Association in Lombard, Illinois is described. (CL)

The role of "cookbooks" in the learning disabilities program is compared to that of kitchen cookbooks, and reviewed is one example of the "cookbook" approach to remedial activities. (DB)

The article examines the available means of determining the readability of written materials and reviews the empirical evidence that indicates consideration of syntactic complexity in determining readability. Problems with readability formulas are pointed out. Guidelines for using readability formulas that take syntactic complexity into account…

Reviewed are four tests which classroom teachers can use to assess language performance of learning disabled students, and described are three language programs. (CL)

The article summarizes a series of articles concerning acquired cerebral trauma. Reviewed are technological advances, treatment, assessment, potential innovative therapies, long-term outcome, family impact of chronic brain injury, and prevention. (DB)

Neuropsychological assessment of cognitive and behavioral sequelae of pediatric closed head injury involves identification of manifest disabilities and relationships between these disabilities and core skills. Assessment of moderator variables is crucial for development of appropriate intervention strategies. Advocacy may be necessary to establish…

The article explains the Grunes interview procedure, in which drawings of people significant to the interviewee are used, along with a series of 91 questions which all begin "Which one...", to facilitate conventional diagnostic interviews with children who cannot communicate verbally. (PHR)

These concluding comments on the series of articles introduced by Linda Siegel's paper (EC221505) summarize the bases for disputing the utility of intelligence tests. The learning disabilities field's resistance to abandoning use of Intelligence Quotient tests is also acknowledged, and improved assessment measures and further research are called…

This article presents recommendations for transition planning assessment for secondary students with learning disabilities. It proposes redirecting assessment practices to obtain present-level-of-functioning information for Individualized Education Program planning that extends beyond high school graduation. Current assessment procedures that…