A Review of the Federal Government's Interagency Committee on Learning Disabilities Report to the U.S. Congress

Abstract

In November of 1985 Congress passed legislation requiring the National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies to establish an Interagency Committee on Learning Disabilities to “review and assess Federal research priorities, activities, and findings regarding learning disabilities.” In August of 1987, this committee submitted its Report to the U.S. Congress. This document reviews current research issues in learning disabilities, the current status of research, and the critical needs of the present and future. The committee recommended a revision in the legislative definition of learning disabilities. Further recommendations Included funding of interdisciplinary research centers “to devise broad and longitudinal multidisciplinary approaches” and a central clearinghouse to provide “a formal system of Information dissemination.” This article is a review of the committee's work, conclusions, and recommendations.