THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 23, 1995 TAG: 9509230017
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
In your series on special education, the reporter attempted to define learning disabilities (Sept. 17). The definition used was nontechnical and contained the phrase ``breakdown in basic mental processes.''
This phraseology is not recognized by those of us who are professionals in this area. Several inaccurate inferences (emotionally disturbed or developmentally deficient) could be made from your definition. Each would be invalid. While learning disabilities are ``presumed to be due to central nervous system dysfunction'' (Hammill, et al., 1988), this does not equate to the definition proffered.
Your further statement: ``Some LD children . . . have average or above-average intelligence'' directly contradicts standard practice that having ``average to above-average intellectual ability'' (Mellard, 1990) is a common attribute of all people with learning disabilities.
I urge you not to perpetuate myths about people with learning disability by carelessly constructed definitions. The learning disabled have ample challenges before them without having to combat the disability of the misinformed.
NANCY OLTHOFF
Disability services
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Sept. 19, 1995 by CNB