Agreements on Disability

In February and June of this year, representatives from ten educational and advocacy organizations met to discuss specific learning disabilities (SLD). They reached conclusions on identification, eligibility, intervention and professional development. The conclusions they reached were recently published in a resource called Specific Learning Disabilities: Finding Common Ground.

Representatives of the organizations agreed that:

• Individuals with SLD have difference in skills and abilities and may have other disabling conditions;
• Specific learning disabilities can occur in any ethnic, cultural, language, or economic group;
• Specific learning disabilities should be identified through a complete, student-centered evaluation;
• Regular education professionals should work closely with special education professionals to provide the most appropriate, research-based services; and,
• Identification of disabilities and intervention for disabilities should be carried out in a timely manner.

To view the entire report and read the group's other recommendations, visit www.ncld.org/advocacy/CommonGround.pdf.

Division of Research to Practice, Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202, 202.205.5507 (voice), www.ed.gov/index.jhtml (website).