LEARNING DISABILITIES AND PREDELINQUENT BEHAVIOR OF JUVENILES - A TREATMENT/STUDY PROJECT SPONSORED BY THE OKLAHOMA ASSOCIATION FOR CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES, SEPTEMBER 15, 1973 - MAY 15, 1974

• NCJ Number: 15889
• Author(s): D R JORDAN
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 46 pages
• Grant Number(s): 72J04/08-022
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; Oklahoma Crime Cmssn
• Corporate Author: Oklahoma Assoc for Children With Learning Disabilities
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

TREATMENT/INTERVENTION PROGRAM TO HELP STUDENTS AVOID SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC FAILURE AND AN INQUIRY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHARACTERISTICS OF OKLAHOMA YOUTH WHO COME TO THE ATTENTION OF JUVENILE AUTHORITIES.

Abstract

MORE THAN 100 ADOLESCENTS WERE SCREENED DURING IN-TAKE INTERVIEWS BY OFFICIALS OF THE CLEVELAND COUNTY YOUTH BUREAU. 81 PERCENT OF THESE STUDENTS EXHIBITED LEARNING DISABILITY SYMPTOMS ON THE SCREENING TEST. A CONTROL GROUP OF 40 STUDENTS WAS IDENTIFIED AS PROBABLY LEARNING DISABLED. THESE YOUNGSTERS RECEIVED THE USUAL COUNSELING SERVICES OFFERED BY THE YOUTH BUREAU. FORTY OTHER STUDENTS WERE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE AS THE STUDY GROUP IN EXTENSIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL, EDUCATIONAL, PERCEPTUAL, AND NEUROLOGICAL EVALUATION. MEMBERS OF THE STUDY GROUP WERE ASSIGNED TO VOLUNTEER COUNSELOR-TUTORS RECRUITED FROM UNDERGRADUATE CLASSES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA. THE COUNSELOR/TUTORS RECEIVED TRAINING IN BASIC LITERACY INSTRUCTION FOR THE JUVENILES WHO WERE ESPECIALLY WEAK IN READING AND SPELLING SKILLS. THEIR ROLE WAS TO GIVE PERSONAL ATTENTION TO THESE YOUNGSTERS, SEVERAL OF WHOM SEEM HEADED FOR DELINQUENCY UNLESS CERTAIN BEHAVIORS AND ATTITUDES WERE CHANGED. THE STUDY GROUP REMAINED INVOLVED WITH ASSIGNED COUNSELOR/TUTORS FOR SIX MONTHS FOLLOWING THEIR IN-DEPTH EVALUATION. THE STUDY CONCLUDED THAT LEARNING DISABILITIES ARE ESPECIALLY ALIVE AND ACTIVE IN ADOLESCENTS WHO HAVE TROUBLE WITH SCHOOL AND THE COMMUNITY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)