Learning Disabilities
A learning disability is a disorder that affects a person's ability to interpret what they see and hear, or to link information from different parts of the brain. The most common learning disability is difficulty with language and reading. For more detailed information, please visit our sister site, LDOnLine.org, the world's leading website on learning disabilities.
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Dyslexia and High School
A dyslexia expert observed her student trying to learn at school. She provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes description of his struggle. This article has numerous proven examples of differentiating instruction and accommodating a student to succeed.
Adolescent Literacy and Older Students with Learning Disabilities
This report describes the adolescent literacy problem (grades 4 to 12), its consequences, and contributing factors. Guiding principles for assessment, instruction, and professional development, as well as recommendations for short-term and future consideration, are also addressed.
Adolescent Literacy and Older Students with Learning Disabilities (Executive Summary)
The full report describes the adolescent literacy problem (grades 4 to 12), its consequences, and contributing factors. Guiding principles for assessment, instruction, and professional development, as well as recommendations for short-term and future consideration, are addressed.
Having Your Child Tested for Learning Disabilities Outside of School
Children who struggle with reading often need extra help. This help usually comes from the school, but some parents choose to look outside of the school for professionals who can assess, diagnose, tutor, or provide other education services. The following article provides information on how to find the right person for your child.
What Do We Know About Who Drops Out and Why?
Students decide to drop out for many reasons. This overview classifies the reasons as either status (e.g. age, socioeconomic status, geographic region or mobility) or alterable (e.g. grades, disruptive behaviors, school climate, attitude toward school). Recognizing the difference between variables is critical to designing effective interventions.
Tests and Measurements for the Parent, Teacher, Advocate, and Attorney
Learn to develop the evidence that you need to support your belief that your child is not receiving the right help in school. You need to know the facts about your child as described in tests and evaluations. Peter and Pamela Wright, from Wrightslaw, tell you how to interpret and chart your child's test scores, describe your child's progress in graphs, and successfully communicate with the educators who are making decisions about your child.
Attending Meetings to Plan Your Child's Individualized Education Program (IEP)
This checklist prepared by the PACER Center will help parents prepare for and get the most out of Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings with school staff.
Response to Intervention (RTI): A Primer for Parents
Learn what questions to ask about Response to Intervention (RTI), an approach to helping struggling learners that's gaining momentum in schools across the country. The National Association of School Psychologists tells you the most important features of the process, key terms, and its relationship to special education evaluation.
The Need for Flexible Alternatives to Print
An important change in special education law in 2004 was the inclusion of NIMAS, the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard. This new regulation requires educational publishers to provide textbooks and other print materials in a digital format, so that students who have trouble with print can access the curriculum.
Options: Turn Them On for Learning
This article provides brief research summaries on the benefits of providing students access to optional features in consumer electronics followed by practical suggestions on how to integrate these features into instruction and studying.
