Discusses the problem of learning disabilities in the United States and describes one public library system's project to develop ways in which librarians can become more responsive to the needs of learning disabled children, their families, and the professionals who work with them. Specific member library projects are noted. (EM)

Examined how group counseling that emphasized eliminating self-defeating behavior affected self-esteem and locus of control among learning disabled children. Indicated that participants in the group counseling sessions felt better about themselves and had more internal perception of locus of control than did control group participants. (ABB)

Twelve learning-handicapped elementary students were exposed to synthetic speech. Subsequently, the children identified a higher percentage of stimulus words presented by a speech synthesizer than did children in a limited exposure group. Both groups correctly identified more words presented by a tape recording than presented by the speech…

Current school psychological services in special education are examined. Reform is recommended due to serious questions concerning the reliability, validity, efficiency, and effectiveness of the current classification system and educational programs for mildly-handicapped students. The nature/direction of reforms--toward pre-referral interventions…

The Interagency Committee on Learning Disabilities, which submitted its report to Congress in August 1987, recommended a revision in the legislative definition of learning disabilities. It also recommended funding interdisciplinary research centers "to devise broad and longitudinal multidisciplinary approaches" and a central…

Four learning-disabled students, aged 12-15, were given relaxation training exercises, after which their performance in oral reading was measured. Results indicated that, for three of the four students, the use of audiotaped relaxation exercises improved their oral reading performances. (Author/JDD)

Three ways in which cognitive psychology can apply to the study of performance discrepancies in learning disabled (LD) students are discussed: explaining variance in test performance, focusing on competence, and revealing processing discrepancies when overt performances of LD and non-LD students are similar. (Author/JW)

Reactions to H. Lee Swanson's paper "Toward a Metatheory of Learning Disabilities" are outlined, and his arguments are applied to reading disabilities, focusing on the importance of the scientific attitude, the misuse of ecological validity, interpretation of Thomas Kuhn's work, modularity and reading disability, and scientific progress…

Guidelines are presented for assisting classroom teachers in using the strengths of learning-disabled students to help them learn content area material. Specific suggestions are offered for various disabilities, including attention deficits, organizational deficits, auditory processing deficits, visual and visual-motor deficits, language…

Compared McCarthy Scale General Cognitive Index (GCI) and Stanford-Binet intelligence quotient (IQ) discrepancies for both normal and handicapped preschool children (N=10) of low socioeconomic status. Results yielded a significant positive relationship between GCI and IQ, as well as a significant discrepancy between the two scores, favoring IQ, of…

The article describes the decision making process of one British special secondary school serving students with moderate learning difficulties when choosing among the various government sponsored educational initiatives. The modular approach offered by the Technical and Vocational Educational Initiative as well as development of student Records of…

Reports on a study that investigated whether computer-assisted instruction is as effective and efficient as teacher-only instruction in helping children with severe learning difficulties master a basic sight vocabulary. Concludes that children can significantly improve their sight vocabulary with minimal daily individual instruction and that the…

Spelling problems arise due to problems with form discrimination and inadequate visualization. A child's sequence of visual development involves learning motor control and coordination, with vision directing and monitoring the movements; learning visual comparison of size, shape, directionality, and solidity; developing visual memory or recall;…

The multiple intelligence theory is based on cultural contexts, biological analysis, developmental theories, and a vertical theory of faculties. Seven intelligences are identified: linguistic, logical mathematical, musical, spatial, bodily kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. The theory's educational implications are described,…

Maintains that caring adults can intervene in many ways to help learning-disabled adolescents acquire the planning, organizational, language, and socialization skills they need to make the transition into adulthood. (BB)