Offers curriculum design steps and describes barriers to and solutions for infusing learning disability teacher preparation programs with assistive technology (AT), because AT devices and services have major implications for individuals with learning disabilities regarding life span issues, environmental and curricular accessibility, and…

This follow-up article outlines goals, principles, and techniques for improving curriculum and instruction for secondary students with learning disabilities so that the following affective goals are fostered: intrinsic motivation, internal locus of control, academic and social self-concept, self-esteem, a sense of competence and confidence, an…

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)

Preassessment teams are a collaborative problem-solving resource for teachers who have students with learning or behavioral problems. A survey of 48 rural preassessment team members found that they perceived themselves as a very effective support system for their colleagues, but desired more training in designing behavior management strategies…

This case study describes use of apprenticeship opportunities in a collaborative writing context with two primary grade students with multiple disabilities in an inclusive setting. Analysis of written work and verbal interactions revealed the collaborative peer approach fostered active and constructive participation by both students. (Contains…

Survey of 121 secondary teachers in 15 Montana rural school districts found that 75% of teachers had provided accommodations for students with learning disabilities in the past, teachers were willing to provide 7 of 20 suggested accommodations in the future, and most teachers felt support services were adequate. Accommodations used most often…

Describes what is known about current funding levels and funding sources for special education, projected trends of increasing demand for special education services, concerns about the current efforts to reform funding, and movements toward census-based funding. Criteria for evaluating state special education funding formulas are proposed. (GR)

This article discusses the court case of a woman with learning disabilities who applied to take the New York State Bar Examination and was denied testing accommodations. The issues in the case are examined, including the refusal of the New York State Board of Law Examiners to provide adequate accommodations. (CR)

This article reviews 27 legal decisions published between 1989 and 1998 involving students with learning disabilities and parental requests for specific methods selected and used by the school district. Rationales employed by hearing officers, judges, and federal agencies in reaching decisions related to educational methods are discussed and…

Describes some of the problems surrounding identifying a learning disabled student in an international school. States that because of the multilingual environment, common indicators may not apply. Offers suggestions for determining when a student needs help. (NB)

An analysis of data from three federal reports indicates American Indian/Alaskan Native and African American students were over represented in high-incidence disabilities (i.e., emotional and behavioral disorders, learning disabilities, and mental retardation), and significant regional variations existed in minority representation, but variations…

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…

A longitudinal study examined effects of social influences on 557 middle school students with learning disabilities and 8,392 typical students. Having a learning disability was associated with consistent, mostly negative, effects on social relations. Student perceptions of friendship groups had small, but significant, effects on their growth in…

This study examined the characteristics of 26 Asian American elementary students with learning disabilities including demographic characteristics, factors associated with referral, assessment practices, student profiles, and instructional recommendations for special education. Results suggest similarities with Mexican American students with LD and…

Using authentic materials, this study compared the oral reading miscues of 20 university students with reading related learning disabilities to 20 controls matched for age, gender, ethnicity, college GPA, reading achievement score, and college of major. All participants orally read two passages with different text structures from a college…