Reading Differences Between Low-Achieving Students With and Without Learning Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis

In 1977, the term learning disabilities (LD) was included as a category of exceptionality in the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (P.L. 94–142). Since that time, the percentage of students with LD has increased steadily so that students with LD now comprise 7% of the school-age population and more than 50% of all children with disabilities (U.S. Department of Education, 1995).