This article presents an interview with Dr. Sylvia O. Richardson, a pediatrician, speech-language pathologist, researcher, scholar, teacher, and clinician, who has been involved in the field of language-learning disabilities for many years. Widely-published in the areas of language disorders and dyslexia, and a former President of the American…

High quality children's literature should be used to facilitate language-learning-disabled children's narrative abilities in the areas of structure, content, values, and aesthetic appreciation. Using the macrostructure of the story can lead to the exploration of feelings and values in real or imagined situations. (DB)

This article discusses factors that contribute to the difficulties that many postsecondary students with learning disabilities have in meeting the mathematics demands, including: characteristics of learning disabilities in math, inadequate preparation for postsecondary math demands, difficulties with assessment and identification, and…

The article describes components of writing competence for instructors of basic writers (e.g., remedial, disadvantaged, language/learning disabled) emphasizing fluency, clarity, and appropriateness. Implications of research for the teaching of writing (such as the significance of errors) and assessment of writing competence are noted. (DB)

Current thinking about language, learning, and literacy are discussed, focusing on such themes as: literacy as a part of language learning, understanding text and written language modes, the "metas" in language and cognition, and maintaining a clinical focus in classroom contexts and beyond. Four researcher-clinicians offer observations about…

This article addresses the concept of communication and social role including dimensions of speaker-listener relations, speaking options in these relations, and implications of language/learning-disabled individuals' failure to appreciate these dimensions and options. (DB)

Theories of writing development put forth by C. Bereiter (1980), B. Kroll (1981), and K. Perera (1984) are reviewed and presented as frameworks for practitioners working with students having language learning disabilities (LLD). The theories are considered with regard to the assessment of written language, and written language intervention…

Research on students with foreign language (FL) learning problems is reviewed and the Linguistic Coding Difference Hypotheses is described. The continuum of FL learning is explained and the role of linguistic variables in FL learning is supported. Recent research outcomes and a court decision regarding FL course substitutions are discussed.…

This article describes curricular accommodations in the foreign language for college students with language learning disabilities. Elements of a model program are discussed, including advising, instruction, and efficacy research. The implementation of these components is described with particular reference to modified programs in Italian, Spanish,…

This article describes language difficulties of college students with language learning disabilities and the types of accommodations that are provided to these students. It presents four language issues that affect the provision of accommodations, points out the differences across universities in the accommodations offered, and provides three case…

Drawing on transition literature of a general nature and specific to language disorders and learning disabilities, this article challenges the efficacy of the existing special education paradigm and contends that changes in institutional policies and practices are needed. The article also discusses roles played by participants in the transition…

Inexperienced writers, including both basic writers and learning disabled, commit errors that often follow a discernible pattern due to applying erroneous or incomplete rules. Techniques for teaching editing skills are described, including textual analyses of students' writing, interviews with students, structuring the editing task, and providing…

This position paper of the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities urges comprehensive transition planning for students with learning disabilities, especially as applied to their progression from secondary to postsecondary education. It outlines the roles and responsibilities of the student, parent, secondary school personnel, and…

This article addresses the definition of learning disabilities (LD), issues in identifying learning disability in young adults, the legal rights/protections for adults with LD in the workplace or higher education, and what are reasonable accommodations. Case vignettes provide examples of the issues. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)