Learning disabilities are the most common eligibility category in which children qualify for special education services. Despite this, there is surprisingly little current information on the prevalence and needs of children with math disabilities, and even less information on interventions to support children in schools. This dissertation aimed to…

English Language Learners (ELLs) are one of the fastest growing student populations throughout the country. With ELLs come unique challenges schools must navigate to best serve these students. One challenge is the identification of these students and proper placement and service within ELL programs offered by schools. Another challenge is…

While special education law has been amended several times since the statutory definition of a Specific Learning Disability (SLD) was created in 1968, there continues to be ambiguity within the field regarding the definition as well as the diagnostic criteria. This inevitably leads to a lack of consistency in diagnosis within states and among…

According to the 23rd Annual Report to Congress, U.S. Department of Education, one out of every five people in the United States has a learning disability (LD). The dropout rate among these students is high, and students with learning disabilities are also less likely to attend 4-year colleges and universities. Although a majority of students with…

As a diagnostician, my primary responsibility is to conduct psychoeducational evaluations to determine the existence of a learning disability. Such a determination results in either the provisions for or the denial of special education services. In a quest to further understand my position within the schools, I conducted a deep study into this…