Principals should perform functions in three major areas: (1) interpersonal relationships (leader, figurehead, liaison); (2) information processing (disseminator, spokesperson); and (3) decision making (change agent, disturbance handler, resource allocator, negotiator, and evaluator). (CL)

For learning handicapped children with impaired language associations, patterns, and expressions, this paper summarizes relevant linguistic research and instructional strategies. Linguistic auditory memory pattern exercises and examples are then presented as an integrated multisensory approach which has been found useful by special educators.…

A revision of the Reading-Free Vocational Interest to eliminate sex bias in the inventory produced a common item pool for males and females, desexed grammar and vocabulary and altered pictorial items. New norms include the learning disabled, adult mentally retarded, and younger educable mentally retarded individuals. (Author/CL)

The article notes correlations between lefthandedness and the incidence of immune disorders (such as ileitis, colitis, celiac disease, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis), with learning disorders and with early grey hair. Eventual control of the hormonal and immune environment (in addition to educational intervention) may prevent or minimize these…

Thirty academically achieving and 30 learning-disabled adolescents were examined on a battery of auditory language comprehension tests. Results indicated that 73 percent of the learning-disabled group scored lower than all of the control Ss on one or more of these tests. The importance of identifying auditory comprehension defects in the…

The Test of Sensory Integration, which measures preschoolers' ability to organize, process, and synthesize input from different sensory channels, was evaluated in terms of domain and construct validity, interobserver reliability and decision reliability, and retest stability. Results suggested that total test scores can be used reliably and…

Research is reviewed on the emotional and social needs of learning disabled students, including difficulties in understanding nonverbal communication, rejection by peers and others, impulsivity, pervasively negative moods, and difficulties in role-taking. Teacher education should increase emphasis on direct instruction of social skills and…

Increased postsecondary opportunities for learning disabled (LD) students have resulted from such factors as extension of secondary LD programs, advocates' pressure, and federal legislation. Characteristics of LD college students are summarized from the research. Steps in program development, from convincing the adminstration through funding the…

The article discusses the arithmetic achievement deficits of learning disabled students, cites research on cognitive factors involved, reviews the neurological evidence, and describes orientations focusing on cognitive psychology and the instructional context. Recent findings of an arithmetic task force from Columbia University are summarized. (CL)

Research is reviewed on language growth between 10-14 years in children with language-learning disabilities. Delays are discussed in semantic development, concept formation, syntactic development, memory, and pragmatics. A strategies-based intervention focus is described along with the need for counseling and for developing adaptive coping and…

Three significant canonical correlations were obtained from the analysis of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) and the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Ability (WJTCA) to examine test overlap with a sample of suspected learning disabled children. Results indicate a substantial portion of the variance is independent.…

Examined the effect of Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP) on the attitudes of 38 parents of learning disabled children. Results indicated that parents participating in STEP became more accepting and trusting than controls, and their children's locus of control became more internal. (JAC)

Examined the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) profiles of learning disabled children (N=46) from the Papago culture. Analysis suggested that learning disabled Papago children were not characterized by Spatial > Conceptual > Sequential pattern because WISC-R performance of these children was similar on Sequential and…

The article reviews validity and reliability studies on the informal reading inventory, a diagnostic instrument to identify reading grade-level placement and strengths and weaknesses in work recognition and comprehension. Gives suggestions to improve the validity and reliability of existing inventories and to evaluate them in newly published…

Describes the role of the Learning Needs and Evaluation Center at the University of Virginia, which provides diagnostic testing for learning disabilities as well as psychological consultation. Usage trends are discussed as well as coping patterns of LD students. (JAC)