The author reviews software programs in creative writing for students with learning disabilities. In addition to processing programs, software that focuses on story building, revising, poetry writing, and narrative and expository writing is considered. (CL)

A teacher of learning disabled students discusses use of the computer to free students from the constraints of their disability. Recommended are learner controlled utilities including word processing, data banks, and the LOGO programming language. (DB)

The article describes an approach by which word processing helps to solve some of the writing problems of learning disabled students. Aspects considered include prewriting, drafting, revising, and completing the story. (CL)

Writing strategies encourage beginning writers to collect, explore, and focus ideas. This paper presents a rationale for fusing the word processor with the writing process and offers a series of pre-writing strategies, such as brainstorming, clustering and chunk writing, to help learning-disabled writers begin writing. (Author/PB)

Describes how all of a teacher's students diagnosed with autism (ages 5 to 21 and thought to be severely retarded in their ability to learn or communicate) not only learned to read without formal instruction but could--and did--communicate their very normal thoughts while using a computer or pencil and paper. (SR)

Points out that word processing can be integrated into special education programs and that teachers can gain confidence in their ability to teach word processing to special education students. Inservice programs and effects of word processing instruction on special education students are among the topics addressed. (DH)

Instructional strategies for teaching learning-disabled students to use word processing for writing are considered. The features of three word processing programs useful for these students are compared for usefulness in a variety of curriculum applications. (Author/DB)

Computer software that promotes creative and higher level thinking skills and develops writing ability in gifted students with learning disabilities is examined. Brief descriptions and appropriate grade levels are offered for such programs as "Science Toolkit,""Advisor,""VCR Companion,""Rocky's Boots,""Hinky/Pinky,""Story Sketches,""Author!…

Looks at the way thinking has changed regarding one specific application: using word processors to teach writing to students with learning disabilities. Reviews research done in this area. (MG)

The paper examines ways to use word processing programs to ameliorate children's writing problems. Case studies of three children contrast samples of their handwritten work and their compositions using word processing A list of word processing programs for use with children with special needs is included. (Author/DB)

A study investigated spell check programs to determine how they differ in producing target words in the first position in the replacement list for misspellings generated by 111 students with learning disabilities in grades 3-8. Overall, the spell checkers were ineffective in producing target words first in the replacement list. (Contains…

A study examined the effects of several text-entry methods, including handwriting and five computer-based approaches, in enhancing the speed of text entry for 108 students with learning disabilities. Handwriting was found to be the fastest mode of text entry, followed by word prediction. All methods improved writing accuracy. (Author/CR)

The paper describes and evaluates the use of computer instruction with three student populations: severely handicapped, severely emotionally handicapped, and learning handicapped. In the first instance, instruction was aimed at helping severely handicapped students operate software as independently as possible. Important steps in the instructional…

This article describes a highly structured approach for improving the revising skills of students with learning disabilities that combines peer response, strategy instruction, and word processing. The strategy guides students in both the social and cognitive aspects of response and revision. Two studies demonstrating the effectiveness of the…

A process approach to writing instruction for students with learning disabilities is presented. The approach involves students sharing their work with each other, receiving frequent response to their writing, using word processing to support fluent text production and ease revision, conferencing with teachers to develop writing strategies, and…