ABSTRACT
The original goal for the Learning Disabilities Initiative was to synthesize current research and make that information available to educators, parents, and policy makers to serve as a foundation for future discussions and decision making regarding the identification of children with learning disabilities (LD). Because of the large amount of information and variable opinions throughout this volume, the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) recognized the need for consensus regarding the key issues in identifying children with LD. Selected researchers in the field of LD, including authors of the white papers and response papers and members of the LD Initiative Work Group (see sidebar), reviewed the empirical evidence contained in the nine papers and synthesized the implications of this knowledge base for policy, practice, and technical assistance.
