Adrienne Edwards of Dyslexia Tutor: News-Resources posted an entry about the potential influence of head trauma on learning and behavior.
According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, by Thomas M Burton, researchers at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York believe they have found a common thread running through many cases of seemingly unrelated social problems: a long- forgotten blow to the head.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 5.3 million Americans suffer from mental or physical disability due to brain injury.
But what is new in this research is the contention that there are many other cases where a severe past blow to the head, resulting in unconsciousness or confusion, is the unrecognized source of such problems.
Link to Ms. Edwards’ post.
The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) has scheduled a panel discussion about prevention of Learning Disabilities. Entitled “RTI Goes to Pre-K: A Comprehensive System for Early Intervention to Promote School Readiness,” the discussion is slated for 11-noon on Wed. 30 January 2008 in HC-6 U.S. Capitol Building, Washington (DC, US).
Participants will discuss the most recent data that supports [sic] the need for universal early literacy screening and supportive services before children enter kindergarten and will specifically discuss the impact of a new program — Recognition and Response — on students in preschool and will highlight key policy recommendations.
Continue reading ‘NCLD panel on early early intervening services’
Last weekend on behalf of the Division for Learning Disabilities, I attended the semi-annual meeting of the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities (NJCLD). The NJCLD has a long and distinguished history, one that I ought to describe in a page or post, but that’s the basis for another post, but not this one.
The basis for this post is to alert folks that NJCLD will soon publish new papers that discuss important topics about Learning Disabilities. One of them is the long-in-development treatment of adolescent literacy. Watch for it. It should appear in the summer of 2008.
Another is a very brief paper about the construct of Learning Disabilities. It also should appear in the summer (I hope), in time to be in the portfolios of people who will be discussing special education issues in the next US Congress and presidential administration.
Brain-based learning
At lunch the other day, my friend Dan and I agreed that there really had to be something to brain-based learning…as in, try learning without a brain. But, the readers of Teach Effectively! surely seem to consider brain-based learning as the most bogus of the four reform movements that are compared in the current Bogus Bowl at that site.
Dan also noted that there really has to be something to inclusion, too.