The article examines the background and current status of attempts to define the term "learning disabilities" (LDs), and concludes that resolution of the problem by continued search for a consummate definition of LD is unrealistic. (Author)

The purpose of this study was to survey state departments of special education regarding their terminologies of behavioral disorders. The results were discussed in terms of variations, changes, and current status of state terminology. It was suggested that behavioral disorders may be the emerging state-level terminology. (Author)

Asserting that schools often label students who do not learn quickly enough as "learning disabled," this personal account of one young man's determination to overcome the label demonstrates the effect of a trusting teacher-student relationship and the need to reevaluate educational practices for these students. (SK)

Analyzed relationship between students' pre- and postprogram special education classification status and success in level-system program. Reviewed records of Severe Behavior Handicapped in special school over 11-year entrance period. Found no significant relationship between student outcomes and pre- or postclassification status. Findings suggest…

Based on the "Showcase" presentation of the Division for Physical and Health Disabilities at the 1997 Convention of the Council for Exceptional Children. Addresses the different labels of individuals with disabilities and the history and future of educating children with physical and health disabilities. (CR)

The current system of educating disabled students provides financial incentives to schools to overidentify students as disabled and underserve those that are identified. The incentive to overidentify is caused by providing schools with additional funds as more students are placed in special education categories that are ambiguous to diagnose and…

Eighteen judges with backgrounds in assessment, decision making, and learning disabilities were asked to use an array of information to differentiate learning disabled (LD) and non-learning disabled students. Each judge was provided with forms containing information on 42 test or subtest scores of 50 school-identified LD students and 49 non-LD…

Presented at the First National Conference on Learning Disabilities in Ottawa, Canada in October, 1977, the article discusses learning disabilities and their appropriate special educational services in Canada, focusing on the processes of categorization and labeling. (DLS)

This paper explores potential avenues of analysis and research useful for reconciling the concept of "learning disabilities" both as a medical and a psychological concept. Traditional perspectives are analyzed. Issues regarding the legitimacy of labeling children as learning disabled are discussed. (MT)

This essay pinpoints a personality difference between bright children, who learn in order to achieve their own goals, and gifted children, who learn in order to perform worthwhile tasks, and argues against classes segregated by ability, contending that all students' needs are best met in regular classrooms through project teaching. (MJL)

Describes the over use of classification and categorization in education. (RB)

The author criticizes the Warnock Report on special education for failing to distinguish between children whose educational handicaps are biological or social in origin, and for attempting to deal with both groups through labels and a continuum of special services. (SJL)

Results of this study indicate most child characteristics are considered by teachers to be relevant to learning disabled (LD) or emotionally disturbed (ED) labels. Teachers can treat LD and ED constructs as mutually exclusive when deciding eligibility for special services and as mutually inclusive when making program-planning decisions. (Author)

Disputes eight myths about special education relating to inclusion, including automatic individualization of instruction and negative effects of attending special classes, the potentially positive effects of eliminating labeling, and the neighborhood school's general education classroom as the least restrictive environment for all children.…

Drawing upon New Hampshire data, this article analyzes transition from early intervention to preschool programs, labels assigned to preschool children, label changes as children get older, and consequences of categorical labeling. Almost one-third of children in early intervention were not eligible for preschool services because of requirements…