A survey of service providers for people with learning disabilities in the Manchester (England) region identified a total of 174 people with either a confirmed or a suspected autistic spectrum disorder. Discussion of current and historical factors in estimating incidence suggests that the usual 10% of service users represents the lowest estimate…

Offers principals some suggestions to help middle school teachers increase the success of students with learning disabilities. For example, discuss and implement grading policies that recognize and reward effort and achievement. (PKP)

This paper summarizes research currently being conducted on the biologic underpinnings of learning disorders, particularly dyslexia. The research findings discussed are derived from studying neuroanatomic, neurophysiologic, neurogenetic, neuroimaging, and behavioral characteristics in animal models that exhibit developmental brain anomalies and…

To increase access to higher education for adults with learning difficulties, they are paired with nondisabled students in a personal portfolio program. They prepare and give multimedia presentations on selected themes. (SK)

This study compared level of agreement among four models used to diagnose learning disabilities (LD), including the simple discrepancy, intraindividual, intellectual ability-achievement, and underachievement models. The simple discrepancy model diagnosed significantly more college students with LD than the others. The highest agreement was between…

College students with learning disabilities (n=153) and without (n=595) completed the Career Thoughts Inventory. The learning disabilities group had fewer dysfunctional career thoughts, less career decision-making confusion, and less commitment anxiety, but more dysfunctional thoughts related to external conflict. As dysfunctional thoughts…

Word boxes and word sorts are two word study phonics approaches that involve teaching phonemic awareness, making letter-sound associations, and teaching spelling through the use of well-established behavioral principles. The current study examines the effectiveness of word boxes and word sorts. Findings revealed that word boxes and word sort…

Discusses advantages and disadvantages of audioconferencing for professional development; recommends basing technology choice on curriculum and provides a checklist of criteria. Describes an audio workshop on learning disabilities, outlining principles of good practice, guidelines for site coordinators, and participant handouts. (SK)

Discusses the usefulness of psychoeducational evaluation in providing career counseling for students with learning disabilities. Describes processes for psychological testing and diagnosis of learning disabilities and the use of results in career planning. (JOW)

Examined the ability of the Learning Disabilities Diagnostic Inventory (LDDI) to differentiate between postsecondary populations with and without learning disabilities. Found that the LDDI is a reliable method for identifying the possibility of a learning disability in postsecondary students. (EV)

Explores policies and practices that support the creation of a successful learning environment for postsecondary students with learning disabilities. Outlines the learning challenges that learning-disabled students face and discusses the legal mandate for accommodating students with learning disabilities. Outlines the pedagogical rationale for…

The study validated a method of identifying children (in grades four-six) with specific reading disabilities by identifying discrepancies between their reading and listening comprehension abilities. The test requires children to listen to or read alternate sentences. The method may be more appropriate than measures which examine discrepancies…

Spelling performance by learning-disabled sixth-grade students (n=21) was compared with that of age-matched normally achieving students and younger, normally achieving students. Learning-disabled students scored significantly lower on all tasks. Results indicated differences in mastery of the past tense spelling rule "-ed," and in some subskills…

The overview to the special issue on adults with learning disabilities introduces the five articles and notes the trend during the 1980s of increasing understanding of learning-disabled adults. Articles address postsecondary education, eligibility for services, adult outcomes, spelling, and the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational battery. (DB)

The study compared the temporal organization of motor speech in dyslexic adolescents and adults without overt speech difficulties (N=91), matched normal readers, and learning-disabled adolescents (N=50) without reading difficulties. Dyslexic subjects showed more evidence of motor speech deficits than did subjects in either control group. (DB)