SINCE THE PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISORDERS FELT ISOLATED FROM THEIR CHILDREN, THE PSYCHIATRIST IN CHARGE OF THE NORTH SHORE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION DECIDED GROUP WORK WITH THESE PARENTS WAS NEEDED. FROM THE EXPERIENCES OF WORKING WITH SEVERAL SUCH GROUPS IT HAS BEEN DECIDED THAT (1) A GROUP SHOULD BE COMPOSED ONLY OF PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN PROFESSIONALLY DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A PERCEPTUAL PROBLEM, (2) THE GROUP SHOULD MEET EVERY OTHER WEEK FOR 8 SESSIONS FOR A PERIOD OF 1-1/2 HOURS, (3) A FEE OF $10 SHOULD BE CHARGED, ALTHOUGH NO ONE WOULD BE DENIED ADMISSION BECAUSE OF INABILITY TO PAY, (4) GROUP SIZE SHOULD BE FROM 10 TO 12, (5) THE CHILDREN REPRESENTED SHOULD RANGE NO MORE THAN 4 YEARS IN GRADE LEVEL, AND (6) A GROUP SHOULD BE COMPOSED OF PARENTS AT THE SAME LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE OR LACK OF IT CONCERNING PERCEPTUAL HANDICAPPING. THE GOALS OF THESE GROUPS HAVE BEEN (1) TO GIVE FACTUAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT A KIND OF DIFFICULTY WHICH IS LITTLE UNDERSTOOD, (2) TO PROVIDE A PLACE FOR DISCUSSION OF FEELINGS CONCERNING THE CHILD, AND (3) TO PROVIDE A CLEARINGHOUSE WHERE USEFUL TECHNIQUES OF MANAGEMENT CAN BE SHARED. EVALUATIONS MADE BY MOST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GROUPS HAVE INDICATED THAT THESE GOALS HAVE BEEN MET WITH SOME DEGREE OF SUCCESS IN ALL AREAS. ALSO, IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT NO PATTERN OF PERCEPTUAL DIFFICULTY IS LIKE THE NEXT, CERTAIN GUIDEPOSTS TO HELP PARENTS HAVE BEEN FORMED BY THESE GROUPS. INCLUDED ALSO ARE QUOTATIONS TAKEN FROM A PARENT'S EVALUATION SHEET TELLING WHY THE GROUP WAS BENEFICIAL. (CO)