Argues that gender bias among referring agents is a major factor in the unequal distribution of males and females in learning disabilities programs. Discusses the role of male hyperactive or disruptive classroom behavior in the disproportionately large number of males referred to learning disabilities programs. (Author/CR)

Generalizations gleaned from 25 years of research are presented, including: change is difficult and more political than data based; expectations drive the assessment process and those expectations are far too low; purpose is critical; the link between referral and eligibility is too strong; and current classification practices are problematic.…

This article introduces a special issue dealing with selected aspects of writing disorders. It provides an overview of following articles and issues confronting the written language field, including definitional issues, assessment issues, neurodevelopment components, brain-behavior linkages, lifespan issues, and interventions. Recommendations are…

This article is the second in a 2-part synthesis of an international comparative seminar on the classification of children with disabilities. In this article, the authors discuss classification frameworks used in identifying children for the purpose of providing special education and related services. The authors summarize 7 papers that addressed…

Newborn screening is considered a highly successful public health program that has resulted in the reduction of mortality, mental retardation, and other serious disabilities in thousands of children since the introduction of screening for phenylketonuria (PKU) in the 1960s. Programs are based in state public health departments such that each state…

This policy brief describes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as involving three characteristics: inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. The brief reviews the causes of ADHD, including the belief that it is primarily an inherited, neurobiological disorder. The effects of ADHD on children are discussed and may include: other…

This report reviews and compares the legal rights of students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The first and second sections detail the statutory framework of the laws and legal requirements pertaining to eligibility, identification, and local and…

This book presents nine papers that focus on the identification, behavior, intervention, and inclusion of children with learning and behavior disabilities in general education classrooms. The papers include "Effectiveness of Social Skills Training for Students with Behavior Disorders: A Meta-Analysis" (Kenneth A. Kavale and others);…

This report is designed to facilitate efforts to develop and implement equitable educational policies and procedures, and remedy discriminatory practices that lead to disproportionate representation of students from racial and ethnic minority groups in special education. It aims to enable technical assistance providers to provide more effective…

With the enactment of the "Education for All Handicapped Children Act" of 1975, all children are entitled to appropriate free education and related services regardless of disabilities. As a result, major strides have been made toward providing services for developmentally delayed children. To gain access to these services, children who…

This study sought to determine whether state special education aid in New Jersey influences the number or types of pupils referred to special education services, the designation of their specific disability, and the setting in which special education services are provided. Analysis of data in state education agency reports and interviews with…

This paper represents the perspectives of 25 special education teacher scholarship students from 13 Caribbean and Central American countries (Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nevis, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica, Grenada, and Antigua) on the status of special education in their…

This paper reports on the design, purpose, implementation, and outcomes of a policy forum on disproportionate representation of students from minority ethnic/racial groups in special education. The purpose of this policy forum was to develop an action agenda for implementation of two recommendations assigned a high priority by a group of…

In response to increasing demands that Canadian school boards provide behavior adaptation programs to counter the effects of disruptive home environments, school violence, and victimization, this paper explores definitions and diagnostic criteria for the following behavior disorders: attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant…

This report summarizes activities and findings of a federally funded center at the University of Miami (Florida) which reviewed and disseminated literature on the identification and assessment of children with attention deficit disorders (ADD). The review covers the literature published between 1980 and 1992 and is organized topically. In addition…