My name is William Morris and I am a counselor in the LD program at a state university in Southern California. I am also an instructor of college writing at the same school. In my work I have noticed a slight but not pronounced number of left-handed students in our program. And of that a slightly larger number of males than females. For a research project I am intrested in hearing from current or former teachers of special education, usually referred to as RSPs who might have noticed a higher than the expected average incidence of left-handed males in primary grade special education programs. I would also like to hear from left-handed students who might have been placed in special education at some time in the lower grades. Also if you are an RSP who has not noticed this possible phenomenon I would appreciate hearing from you as well. This is my second posting on this topic. My earlier one, during December of 2001, produced several very worthwhile responses. Thank you for your input.
Re: left-handed males
I have two boys with learning differences, 1 is left handed the other is right. My son who is a lefty has always since day 1 had this preference. His brother who is right handed did not show a hand preference until the age of about 8-up until that point he used either hand. Their sister who has no identified learning differences uses her left hand for writing and drawing and her right hand for everything else. She does very well in school, she is a straight A student.
FYI
My LD son is left-handed. So is his father who actually was never identified as LD but has discovered that he had similar difficulties (actually still does). My child was 8 when he LD was identified.