Shedding Light on a

Hidden Disability

The spring 2003 issue of Northwest Education magazine offers both scientific and human insights into students who have "hidden disabilities"—bright children who struggle to learn.

In the past few years, new brain imaging technologies have led to great strides in our understanding of the causes of such learning problems as dyslexia—the reading disorder that affects as many as 10 million students nationwide. The magazine shares the latest findings from researchers at the University of Washington and others, who have turned up evidence of significant anomalies in brain activity among children with dyslexia.

The magazine, with the theme "The Hidden Disability: When Bright Children Struggle To Learn," also explores the very human consequences of these disabilities, which can be devastating to children and their families. Profiles of five individuals—a student, a teacher, a tutor, a parent, and a researcher—provide insights into the struggles and successes experienced by those who live with learning disorders and those who work to treat and prevent them.

Finally, the magazine takes readers inside an Oregon school that is doing cutting-edge work to prevent reading problems from taking hold. A combination of curriculum reform and individual interventions is making a huge difference for first-graders at Bethel Elementary School in Eugene: only 2 percent of them are heading to second grade as nonreaders.

To request a free copy of "The Hidden Disability," phone 503-275-9515 or e-mail info@nwrel.org. The magazine is also available online at www.nwrel.org/nwedu/08-03/.