This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English EducationReport.

We continue with part six in our series about learningdisabilities. So far, we have discussed problems with skills likereading, writing, speech and mathematics. Today we examine whatschools are doing to help students with learning disabilities.

Public schools and colleges in the United States are required bylaw to provide help. Congress approved the Rehabilitation Act innineteen-seventy-three. This law requires schools to providedisabled students with opportunities equal to those for otherstudents.

A more recent law requires public schools to establish a programfor each child found to have a disability. Schools must write, andfollow, a statement called an I.E.P., an individualized educationprogram. If not, parents may take legal action. States must providespecial education services for free. Teachers with these skills arein great demand.

There are many ways to meet theneeds of a student who has disabilities. One way is to give thestudent extra time to complete work. Teachers might also permit thestudent to take tests differently from others in class. For example,the teacher might let the student speak the answers. Or anotherperson could write the answers that the student gives. Also,students who have trouble concentrating might wish to take tests ina room that is extra quiet.

Some students might want others to take notes for them duringclass. Or they might want to listen to recordings of books insteadof reading them.

Technology is one way to help. There are computer programs, forexample, designed for the needs of people with learningdisabilities.

There are some schools in the United States that teach onlystudents with learning disabilities. One is Landmark College in thenortheastern state of Vermont. Students attend for up to threeyears. It prepares them to continue their education at othercolleges. Classes at Landmark College are small. Students have theirown learning plan, and a special teacher to help them study.

Our series about learning disabilities continues next week. Youcan find all of our programs on the Internet atWWW.51VOA.COM. Included are some links to lists of schoolsfor students with learning disabilities.

This VOA Special English Education Report was written by NancySteinbach. This is Steve Ember.