Reports the case of a 16-year-old English/Japanese bilingual boy, with reading and writing difficulties confined to English. Presents the hypothesis of granularity and transparency, postulating that any language where orthography-to-phonology mapping is transparent/opaque, or any language whose orthographic unit representing sound is coarse should…

This introductory article discusses the difficulties many children with learning disabilities have in text production skills and how these difficulties affect not only how they write but also the pace and course of their writing development. The influence of spelling miscues on perceptions of writing ability is also addressed. (CR)

This study compared 19 students with learning disabilities (LD) in grades 6 and 8 with their nondisabled peers on the free recall of science passages when differences in passage understanding and domain vocabulary were controlled. Results suggested that the poorer performance of LD students might be the result of the inability to understand and…

Description of the social skill literature strategy (SSLS), an instructional approach that involves integrating social skills intervention into the literature curriculum, focuses on its application using the study of Shakespeare to develop the social skills of secondary students with learning disabilities in an inclusive setting. (Contains…

This analysis of trends in Academy Award winning films that portray people with disabilities found that, although there has been an increase in the number of awards to "disability" films, only 2 of 35 films identified portrayed children or youth with disabilities, and none featured learning disabilities. (DB)

A study involving 18 emergency homeless shelters in Los Angeles screened 169 homeless children (ages 6-12) for behavior disorders, learning disabilities, or mental retardation. Results found almost one half of sheltered homeless children screened positive for at least one disability requiring special education services, with behavior disorders…

Reviews the efforts of Samuel Kirk, an early leader in the field of learning disabilities, to effect change in the public and political spheres related to exceptional children, children with learning disabilities, and the larger community. (DB)

The impact of eye contact by the examiner versus no eye contact during administration of the Digit Span subtest of the third edition of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III) was studied with 43 children with a range of diagnoses. Performance was not affected by eye contact, because respondents generally avoided it even when…

An ethnographic analysis of the cultural constructs of various disabilities, such as deafness, learning disabilities, and illiteracy, reveals identifications attuned to the workings of institutions serving political and economic ends through formal educational means rather than identifications of truly disabled persons. (MMU)

Describes a teacher-directed reclaiming intervention that targets the problems of a young girl who allows herself to be put down and manipulated by a boyfriend who is meeting his own needs to look good to his peers at her expense. (Author/MKA)

A review of studies of word learning by normal adults and children, neuropsychological patients, and special development populations provides evidence that the phonological loop plays a crucial role in learning the novel phonological forms of new words, suggesting that the phonological loop stores unfamiliar sound patterns while more permanent…

This study analyzed spoken narratives of 10 high-achieving and 10 under-achieving gifted adolescents. Results suggested that language problems are common in underachievers. Variables contributing most to differences were number of complete episodes produced, number of statements referring to characters' internal states, reactions of characters to…

Discusses cultural influences on the definition of disability, explaining the distinction between what is in students and what the cultural construction for them is; exploring eastern and western conceptions of people with disabilities; noting the negative consequences that the American construction of disability brings to people with…

The following principles of systemic reform can guide improved services for inmates with learning disabilities: (1) involve all stakeholders in creating a shared vision and action plan; (2) enlist administrative support; (3) provide meaningful, ongoing professional development; (4) identify resources; and (5) monitor and improve the change…

Discusses the gendered experiences and lifelong learning opportunities of people with learning difficulties (LD). Notes theories of late modernity, their use by feminist and disability studies theorists, and their relationship to a learning society. Using case studies, argues that the identities of people with LD are not chosen freely from many…