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The Frostig Center has always been strongly committed to increasing the public’s knowledge and understanding of individuals with learning disabilities. The Research Department has a long history at Frostig. Since our founding by Dr. Marianne Frostig in 1951, we have maintained a commitment to exploring the nature of learning disabilities and the ways that we can help persons with learning disabilities live satisfying and rewarding lives.
Through the years, the Research Department has:
- Developed diagnostic assessment instruments that have been used worldwide and translated into numerous foreign languages;
- Developed curriculum materials specifically designed to help in the education of children with learning disabilities;
- Undertaken numerous projects designed to improve the diagnostic, instructional, and treatment services for individuals with learning disabilities;
- Conducted in-depth follow-up studies that have identified and explored the factors that allow individuals with learning disabilities to reach their full potential;
- Conducted research on the use of technology as a means to compensate for learning disabilities.
- Conducted research on exploring the development of cognitive processes and academic growth of children with and without learning disabilities
Realizing that learning disabilities are neither “cured” nor “outgrown,” the Research Department conducts original research to identify those factors that promote success for individuals with learning disabilities, not only in childhood, but also throughout their lives, with a “success across the life span” approach.
Beginning in the 1980’s, the Research Department conducted one of the longest longitudinal research studies in the field of learning disabilities. This 20-year project explored the educational, cognitive, psychological, and social factors that played crucial roles in the attainment of success for persons with learning disabilities. Success was defined, not only in terms of career, but also with regard to education, life satisfaction, independence, interpersonal relationships, and self-esteem. The results of this project were published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at numerous conferences. To see articles related to this research, look at our Publications section.
For a number of years, Frostig researchers vigorously explored assistive technology and the ways in which it could be used to help individuals with learning disabilities compensate for their difficulties. The Trafford Center for Technology and Learning Disabilities (TCTLD) was founded in 1992, under a grant by the Febe Family Foundation. It was the nation’s first technology center devoted exclusively to persons with learning disabilities. For assistive technology-related articles, see our Publications section.
Currently, the department is conducting a longitudinal study examining the development of cognitive processes in children with learning disabilities and how they relate to children’s growth in academic areas (reading, math, and writing). We also conduct research in math development, with the focus on word problem-solving. Our researchers explore effective ways and techniques to increase conceptual understanding of word problems and to identify and promote usage of the best cognitive strategies to help our students compensate for their problems in working memory system and/or language-related difficulties.
The wealth of information that our research yields is circulated back into the other areas of the Frostig Center. The results of our research are shared through presentations at local, national, and international conferences and are published in numerous professional publications.
The Frostig Research Department is recognized and respected for its leadership in the field of learning disabilities by professionals around the world.
To contact the Research Department please e-mail: Susie Hartly
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