Past Accomplishments and Future Challenges

Three broad issues continue to dramatically impact the education of children with specific learning disabilities (SLD): (a) the development and implementation of scientifically defensible methods of identification, (b) the development and implementation of scientific interventions to ensure that children with SLD have access to and make progress in the general education curriculum, and (c) ensuring that children with SLD benefit from school improvement and accountability efforts that are underway across the country. [...]there will likely be significant innovation at the state and local level, some of which will prove to be effective and, eventually, may lead to more formalized policies and practices. In order to successfully modify the curriculum with the use of universal design or other evidence-based strategies, general education teachers will need appropriate training or, at least, access to special education teachers who have received high-quality training. The recently reauthorized IDEA strongly encourages teacher education institutions to train both general and special educators in specific support strategies for students with disabilities.