Characteristics of Children Enrolled in the Child Service Demonstration Centers

This project reports on the characteristics of over 3000 children enrolled in Child Service Demonstration Centers for Learning Disabilities in 21 states. The major results of the questionnaire study revealed that: (1) most of the children were in the lower elementary grades, (2) the sex ratio was three boys to one girl, (3) of the children enrolled, approximately two-thirds were rated as reading problems, (4) the median educational retardation was one grade below the mental age reading grade expectancy, (5) the retardation in reading and spelling was one-half grade more than the retardation in arithmetic, (6) the distribution of IQs contained a larger proportion with below average ability than is found in the general population of children, and (7) the resource room was the most commonly used method for the delivery of service. In general, children with learning disabilities are defined by most of the Child Service Demonstration Centers to be those who are below grade in educational achievement, especially in reading.