Individuals with specific learning disabilities (SLD) have unique characteristics, needs and strengths. The federal definition in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act states SLD is "a disorder involving understanding or using spoken or written language that may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculation." These characteristics typically result in an individual who demonstrates a severe discrepancy between achievement and intellectual ability. The following resources will help you explore this topic.

Books Published by Houghton Mifflin Company

• Hunt, N., & Marshall, K. (1999). Exceptional Children and Youth (2^nd ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company - Chapter 5.
• Kirk, S.A., Gallagher, J.J. & Anastasiow, N.J. (2000). Educating Exceptional Children (9^th ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company - Chapter 6.
• Lerner, J. (2000). Learning disabilities: Theories, Diagnosis, and Teaching Strategies. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
• Ysseldyke, J.E., Algozzine, B., & Thurlow, M.L. (2000) Critical issues in special education (3^rd ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, p. 76.

Books Published by Other Companies

• Bos, C. & Vaughn, S. (1998). Strategies for teaching students with learning and behavior problems (4^th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
• Deshler, D. D., Ellis, E. S., & Lenz, B. K. (1996). Teaching adolescents with learning disabilities: Strategies and methods (2^nd ed.). Denver: Love Publishing
• Lovitt, T. C. (1995). Tactics for teaching (2^nd ed.). Columbus, OH: Merrill, an imprint of Prentice-Hall.
• Lyon, G. R., Gray, D. B., Kavanagh, J. F., Krasnegor, N. A. (1993). Better understanding learning disabilities: New views from research and their implications for education and public policies. Baltimore: Brooks.
• Smith, T. E. C., Dowdy, C. A., Polloway, E. A., Blalock, G. E. (1997). Children and adults with learning disabilities. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Journals

• Annals of Dyslexia
• Journal of Learning Disabilities
• LDA
• Learning Disabilities: A Multidisciplinary Journal
• Learning Disabilities Quarterly
• Learning Disabilities: Research and Practice (CEC)

Fact Sheets

• National Information Center on Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY) Fact Sheet (learning disabilities) -- http://nichcy.org/pubs/factshe/fs7txt.htm
• Learning Disabilities Association -- http://www.ldanatl.org/factsheets/RFBD.html

Web site Resources

• Council for Learning Disabilities -- http://www.cldinternational.org/
• Division of Learning Disabilities (CEC) -- http://www.dldcec.org
• The Federal Resource Center for Special Education -- http://www.dssc.org/frc/index.htm
• International Dyslexia Association -- http://www.interdys.org
• Learning Disabilities Association of America -- http://www.ldanatl.org
• National Center for Learning Disabilities -- http://www.ncld.org
• Nonverbal Learning Disabilities -- http://www.nldontheweb.org/

Popular Movies

• The hero who couldn't read (1984). ABC-TV
• When words don't mean a thing (1987). ABC
• Read between the lines (1989). ABC Video Enterprises

Videos

• Every child is learning (National Center for Learning Disabilities
• I'm not stupid (Learning Disabilities Association of America)
• Last one picked, first one picked on (PBS Video - Rick Lavoie)
• Understanding learning disabilities: How difficult can this be (PBS Video - Rick Lavoie)
• Understanding learning disabilities (1996) http://www.aquariusproductions.com/
• We're not stupid (1998) http://www.aquariusproductions.com/

Online Resource Documents

• What are some common signs of learning disabilities? -- http://www.ldonline.org/ccldinfo/2.html
• LD basics -- http://www.schwablearning.org/main.asp?page=2.1
• Learning disabilities -- http://www.hood.edu/seri/ld.htm
• What to do if you suspect your child has a learning disability -- http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/general_info/ccld_suspect.html
• Learning disabilities: For parents -- http://www.schwablearning.org/main.asp?page=2.1.3
• Learning disabilities: Decade of the Brain -- http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/general_info/gen-nimh-booklet.html
• Learning strategies for students with learning disabilities -- http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/bibliog/bib14txt.htm
• Reading and learning disabilities: A resource guide -- http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/reading/reading-2.html
• Reading and learning disabilities: A resource guide -- http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/factshe/fs17txt.htm
• Readings about children and youth with learning disabilities -- http://ericec.org/minibibs/eb10.html