A Few Learning Disability Statistics:
- Less than 2% of first graders have an organic eye problem (Getman in the PHYSIOLOGY OF READINESS)
- 25% of first graders have a functional visual problem of some sort (estimated by Spache; same percentage as in Harmon’s study in Houston, Texas. W=160,000) (Peoria, Illinois, study indicated 23.8%)
- 40% of fifth graders have a visual problem of some sort (Harmon)
- 67% of eighth graders have some sort of functional visual problem (Harmon) (Peoria study indicated 53.4%) percentages are somewhat higher in high school, college, graduate schools) (Harmon stated that 100% of all military academy graduates were physiologically myopic (nearsighted).
- Informal study of 135 high school boys labeled as remedial readers by their high school in Chicago: out of 7 professionally given tests:
one passed all seven
10% failed one test
30% failed two tests
12% failed six or all seven tests
40% failed the visual pursuits
20% failed near-far-near saccadics
(Illinois English-Reading Newsletter, OSPI)
- 25% of all first graders will end up in a remedial reading program (Spache)
- 40% of all fifth graders will become high school drop-outs with reading and reading associated problems as a prime cause (Kennedy’s 1963 State of the Union Message)
- 25% of all eighth graders will be non-readers upon graduation
- one third of our high school population drops out each year due to reading and reading associated problems being a prime factor (Vice President Humphrey)
- Cost of ignorance yearly is 37 billion dollars (Gardner)
- There are one million or more drop-outs each year
- There were 11-18 million drop-outs during the decade of the 1960’s
- There are 30 million adult illiterates
- Various studies predict higher percentages and numbers for the decade of the 1970’s
- Visual screening devices: (in terms of effectiveness) nellen Chart – 25%
Keystone Telebinocular – 57% (most effective one) Crinda Study, 1958) - Getman Foundation found 40% of first graders in Districts 122, 123, had some sort of functional visual problem
- Two-thirds of visual problems of boys and girls in school are caused by schools: flat top, non-adjustable desk tops, double sources of classroom light, insufficient light (Harmon)