Dear Colleagues / Friends:
We are pleased to announce that NIFL's Literacy and Learning Disabilities 
Special Collection web site has been revised, redesigned, and just launched 
at http://ldlink.coe.utk.edu   Changes were made with two improvements in 
mind: a more accessible site for all users and a richer collection of 
resources. Suggestions for these changes came from YOU, AE practitioners, 
some as recently as this summer's Academy. Thanks to each of you who 
commented on the site!

Accessibility.
We hope it will now be easier to find what you need. To make this possible, 
you will find pull down menus, a "Search the Site" feature, and alternate 
paths to the same information. For example, one person might click on 
"Planning" while another might need the direct question, "What helps me 
succeed if I have LD?" Both "ways in" lead to important factors for 
success: collecting information, making choices, finding out what works, 
and becoming a self advocate.

Another key step toward accessibility is soon to be placed on the Special 
collection site. Webspeakster is a user friendly browser that will make it 
possible for users to listen to anything on the site as well as the sites 
to which we link.

Richer Collection of Resources.
There are new resources throughout the site and some pages--Research, 
Teacher/Tutor, and Student/Learner have been completely redone.
* * The Research page provides access to current scientifically-based 
research in the fields of literacy and learning disabilities. Scroll down 
the Research page to find articles on the neurobiology of learning 
disabilities, current thinking on how to assess LD, results of a 20 year 
study on success attributes, and research in reading, thinking, and learning.
·** The Student/Learner page is for use by learners. Find independent 
learning activities, help with GED preparation, and true stories of other 
adults with LD.
** The Teacher/Tutor page is for use by teachers. Find teacher preparation 
for teaching basic skills and GED subjects to those with LD, learning 
activities to use with learners, stories of other teachers, and discussion 
groups related to LD.
·** A newly created page, LD and Work Issues, will be placed on the site 
before the end of September.

We hope you will explore the redesigned site and give us feedback!
We need to find out from you what works well, what can be improved, and 
what other resources you need. Because the discussion list does not accept 
attachments, please contact me personally at glindop at utk.edu to request a 
copy of the survey. I will e-mail it to you, and you can return it to us 
via email attachment or by regular mail. Please complete the user survey as 
you go through the site!

Thank you so much,
Margaret


Margaret Lindop
Coordinator, LINCS Literacy & Learning Disabilities Special Collection
http://ldlink.coe.utk.edu/

Center for Literacy Studies
The University of Tennessee
600 Henley St., Suite 312
Knoxville, TN 37996-4135

Phone  865-974-6659
FAX     865-974-3857
email    glindop at utk.edu