The author cites S. Sarason's book "Psychology Misdirected" and applies Sarason's views to the field of learning disabilities. A shift toward understanding individual behavior in terms of the larger society is suggested. (SB)

The author addresses the issue of teachers' dissatisfaction with inservice education. Sections consider what teachers need to know, the inservice system, and the role of schools of education. (SBH)

Researchers, policymakers, and teacher trainers, identified as being on the "cutting edge" of research and programing in learning disabilities, responded to surveys in 1975 and 1981. The "experts" generally endorsed learning disabilities as viable classifications and asserted that they are identifiable by specific symptoms or syndrome of symptoms.…

The two "unmailed" letters present a controversial perspective to the current popularity of the classification of learning disabilities. (SBH)

The final segment in a series of three articles on the federal procurement process and service delivery to the handicapped focuses on the appeal-of-award supposition, with particular emphasis on the General Accounting Office's decision regarding the National Instructional Materials Information System contract at Ohio State University. See EC 115…

The author considers problems with the current advocacy movement for handicapped children. Among the problems pointed out is inability to deal effectively with the children once they are in the schools. (SBH)

Opposing views regarding the connection between lead exposure and cognitive impairment are presented. C. B. Ernhart states that no study has yet proved that low-level lead exposure is detrimental to child development, while H. L. Needleman asserts that previous research studies have proven conclusively that such a connection exists. (CB)

The paper identifies areas of agreement among leaders in learning disabilities (LD) including heterogeneity of the LD population; explores the classification problem as it relates to etiology and/or treatment, and proposes a five-step plan to influence public policy concerned with differentiation and treatment of different types of learning…

Sections address the RFP/IFB (Request for Proposals/Invitation for Bids) process and procedures for selecting the "best" contract. In reviewing the federal procurement code, and the recent decision of the Government Accounting Office, particularly regarding the NIMIS (National Instructional Materials Information System contract), inconsistencies…

Part I of a three-part series examines the federal procurement process, particularly in relation to the contract award to the National Instructional Materials Information System, with reference to delivery of special education services to the handicapped. (Author/SBH)

The article critiques some of the flaws of mainstreaming, such as grade-level curriculum demands, reporting systems, standardized tests, teacher training, and the individualization of instruction. (Author/SBH)

This introductory article to a series focusing on voices other than those usually heard in professional discussions of learning disabilities emphasizes the importance of examining current assumptions--theoretical, practical, and legal--and paying attention to the actual experiences of students. (DB)

The author argues against the accepted symptom of learning disabilities--a discrepancy between measured intelligence and measured educational achievement scores; and demonstrates that it is feasible to produce a quantitative definition of educational underachievement, and therefore to identify learning disabled students. (SBH)

In the article the author refutes J. Fletcher and P. Satz's analysis of the etiology of reading disability on logical, theoretical, and empirical grounds. (Author/PHR)

In the rejoinder the authors describe the methodological and interpretive factors in the Vellutino et al, experiments which limited the degree to which the studies refuted perceptual deficit hypotheses of reading disability. Note: for more of the interchange see EC 114 687-688. (Author/PHR)