This book focuses on the prevention of academic failure through focus on developmental processes (especially development of essential visual skills) within the individual learner. A distinction is made between sight and vision with vision involving the entire person and his/her learning experiences The first chapter examines "The Dynamics of the Developmental Sequence from a Behavioral Perspective." It examines the relationship of visual perception and motion. The second chapter is titled, "The Stellar Elements of the Learning Process from a Developmental Perspective." It details seven levels of the learning process with varying visual, manual, and language components. Chapter 3 is "Understanding the Sight-Vision Complex from A Developmental Perspective". It considers visual aspects of learning and evaluates a 1972 policy statement by several ophthalmology and pediatrics associations. Chapter 4, "Identification of Difficulties in the Learning Process from a Developmental Perspective," looks at labels in special education and concepts necessary for success in math courses in the context of manual-visual and visual-spatial development. Chapter 5, "The Appraisals of Learning Abilities from a Developmental Perspective," offers guidelines for evaluation of visual perception skills. The final chapter, "Back to Basics," offers specific suggestions for remediating manual and visual skills. Appendices present federal definitions of learning disabilities and support for optometric visual training. (40 references) (DB)