The paper reviews the advantages and disadvantages of using word processing programs with learning disabled students, describes some available programs, delineates criteria for selection of word processing programs, and considers expanded uses of word processing with this population. Advantages of word processing programs for learning disabled…

The study examined whether a difference existed between 10 learning disabled (LD) and 10 normally achieving (NA) high school students in terms of comprehension and production or use of pragmatic skills. The skills examined were pragmatic function (i.e., an utterance spoken in context with specific intent), and code-switching (i.e., modification of…

This study compared orthoptic vision development and balance performance of nonhandicapped and learning disabled children between the ages of 10 and 13 years of age. Each subject was individually administered two orthoptic vision screening tests (Cover Test and Biopter), a dynamic balance test using a changing consistency board, and two static…

This study sought to empirically identify subtype and severity patterns prevalent among learning-disabled adults and apply this information to strategies that rehabilitation counselors could use to improve the probability of job success of their clients. Subjects (n=219) were administered standardized measures of intelligence, achievement, and…

During 1989 more than 23,000 parents and educators representing 429 California schools returned surveys as a part of a triennial evaluation of special education. The surveys addressed three purposes: (1) overall assessment of the California Resource Specialist programs (designed to serve learning disabled students with a combination of regular…

Someone who has a learning disability has difficulty in perceiving, understanding, and using information from the environment. This disability can cause problems in reading, listening, speaking, writing, spelling, or performing mathematics. Furthermore, learning disabilities may affect motor functioning, memory, and attention. Because a growing…

The experiment reported here investigated how verbalization of subtraction with regrouping operations influenced learning disabled students' self-efficacy and skillful performance, and also explored how effort attributional feedback affected these achievement behaviors. Learning disabled students (N=90) from grades 6 through 8 received training…

Ninety males (9-12 years old) with normal intelligence who were from 2-3 years behind expected placement in at least one academic subject participated in either experimental or traditional tutorial approaches for 1 hour weekly over 6 weeks. Experimental groups focused on academic remediation, desensitization of negative emotional reactions, and…

The paper reviews the history in the United States of spelling instruction, noting the multisensory approach advocated in Colonial times, the advent of the whole-word method in the 1840's, and more recent controversies, such as the one engendered by the generalization approach. Factors involved in spelling disabilities are cited. Analysis of…

Profile analysis was performed on Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) scores of 29 learning disabled students (6-10 years old) in a Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) program, to determine whether subtest patterns for initial and re-evaluation WISC-R administrations would differ significantly. Profile analysis was applied…

The authors describe difficulties encountered by learning disabled (LD) students and summarize ways LD young adults have learned to cope with daily problems. The importance of understanding their problems, seeking out sensitive professionals, developing strategies to cope with classroom demands, and obtaining counseling are stressed. Strategies…

A review of the literature about transition from secondary to postsecondary settings for students with learning disabilities (LD) is presented. Reasons are offered for limited empirical longitudinal data about LD adolescents and adults. Studies of the impact of LD on adolescents are grouped into case studies, reports of specific materials or…

The paper reports on multisensory approaches to reading instruction of learning disabled children. G. Fernald's "tracing" method, also known as the V-A-K-T method, is described and research questioning its effectiveness is cited. Next, the Adapted Fernald Technique (AFT) which requires the student to write, illustrate, read and reread…