LD Youth and Mathematics: A Review of Characteristics

Abstract

This represents the second in a series of three articles by John F. Cawley and his associates on mathematics and learning disabled students. Based on information gleaned from the literature as well as an extensive data pool collected by the authors, the present article includes an interpretative review of the characteristics of learning disabled youth as they relate to mathematics. The authors delineate the many facets of failure with which the learning disabled youngster is faced. A set of discriminators are specified for identification of certain subgroups of learning disabilities. Finally, the data presented are shown to provide insight into assessment procedures for youth with disabilities in mathematics. The final article in this series on mathematics will appear in the Spring issue of the Quarterly. The focus will be on problem solving and the application of mathematical skills and concepts to “real-life” situations.