New Here ! Disgraphia (writing) issues !

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Hi
My name is kimberly shaler I have a 12 yr old Aspergers boy with Disgraphia he is an awesome child but we are having troubles in class because of this . the Tech's are writing his assignments in a planner which means some times it doesent happen and if he were to write them we would not be able to understand it . He has a net book at school to use if he chooses. eventually we need to get past other people doing it for him so he can rely on himself ! I would love to hear how you out there have over come this type of issue . even for things a simple as your journal is due on this date! I am frustrated one teacher dropped his grade all the way from an A to a D for not turning in a journal ! any help would be greatly appreciated .

i have dysgraphia. my printing is much better than my cursive. if that doesn't work for him, can he do his journal via word processing?

Very similar situation here, although my son (11) isn't using any kind of technology yet. We have a lot of accommodations which we've had to write into his school IEP. He has a scribe for tests and any composition, he can finish written work at home, decrease in written work (I'm not crazy about this one, but after one of the teachers let him sit in class, "You just HAVE to write....."). Our teachers are supposed to write/make sure he writes down every assignment sent home, but they're very resistant to doing this. On top of the dysgraphia, my guy has memory deficits as well, so he might remember the homework page but would forget the book that he needed to do the homework, so I asked for extended time on assignments as well - especially in light of them not being written down.

We have a great inclusion teacher who documented this issue for us - when Julian was left on his own, with a writing prompt, he could get out about 10-12 words in 30-40 minutes. When she scribed for him, he produced 200-300 words. Even with typing, he just can't put his thoughts in writing. Our school system has no idea how to help with this, so we just accommodate, accommodate, accommodate, which doesn't really address the underlying problem.

Processing based dysgraphia is difficult. Another member DW_A_Mom has posted a lot of great information on dysgraphia - you can search for her posts here on Wrong Planet.

he has so many accommodations ! He has a net book to type on if he chooses (the problem is he has to want to ) and they will let him dictate if he will ! its not really fisable for the writing down the home work I thought of maybe asking him to try using a micro recorder ! LOl cursive we will worry about that when we can read the words I feel like we have tried everything and we are banging our heads against a wall now . I was so happy to find this community today I used to belong to another when he was first diagnosed they helped me allot

Hi Kimberly! Welcome to Wrong Planet! Check out the forums here. They are interesting and helpful.

I don't have the problem your son has, but I know others here do. Just keep checking the posts, and also post requests for info yourself.

And remember, you are among friends here!

My son either has dysgraphia or dyslexia but he is beginning to write and read. I got him a slanted (raised) board to write on and these cool pens that sort of look like sissors but you put your finger through the middle and it feels better to write....also triangular pencils help. Go to abilitations.....it is a HUGE site but you should be able to find the pens and pencils Im talking about....Im going to send you a link so you can see what they look like but it is from France. This is an adult one but the pics show how the finger fits http://www.hoptoys.fr/PENAGAIN-p-4668-c-326_327.html#FP I can send you a pic of the slanted board to if you like, just let me know. Since we also think he has dyslexia we got him a yellow pointer.....you put it across the text of what you are reading this way you dont loose your spot and it is also easier for people with dyslexia to read through colored paper especially yellow.

My son's schools gave my son scribe accommodations and reduced workload through 5th grade, and taught him to type in OT in 6th. Because he still had speed issues, he was given extra editing time and assistance in 7th and 8th. In a way, learning to type was THE task for middle school, and a huge amount of resource went into it. Now, in high school, he has perfect touch type and types absolutely everything.

I think you need to find out why your son doesn't use his net book. At 12, typing is THE way to go, unless the problems in his hands are so severe that he can't learn that comfortably, either. He needs to understand this isn't a choice; he cannot scribe forever, and he is going to have to type or close some doors move to assistive voice technology. If he needs that, he needs that, but it is time to pick the path, in my opinion. I feel really good about the way it all timed out for my son; he got the skills he needed most by the time he needed them most.

Note that some of what you describe is related to executive function and developmental maturity. Organizational skills and assignment tracking are huge problems for many middle schoolers, especially boys and especially ASD kids. Many schools now have homework hotlines, school loop, or other postings so that parents can help their kids stay on top of it all. If your school doesn't offer any of these things, push for it. Your son will eventually grow into those skills, or at least improve, but he needs time and support.

I agree with DW!

She is a guru of pretty much everything!

Wow Thanks guys DW Your story sounds so close to mine I also have a non as daughter and I am pretty sure I had dysgraphia they had no Idea what that was when I was young so I just delt with them telling me I was lazy it was not as bad as my sons ! I bought him a typing program have yet to make him try it I never got fast at typing and I took it 3 times I wish he would have taken keyboarding for an elective hope they offer it again next year I guess I need to just buckle down and maybe just try making him use the program a few minutes a day. and thanks for the other sujestions as well liloleme I will check it out

My DS - age 11 is also learning to type. We are struggling with anxiety associated with writing - still don't know if it is truly dysgraphia. We have to work on typing without the time factors or with making the time factors increased for him to be able to succeed. He has anxiety about being timed and a slow processing speed. He has done better with self-paced computer typing programs that move forward with the child rather than a set external expectation. Our school district requires all student to take "technology" which is basically a keyboarding class. He was having constant meltdowns due to the clicking of the keys and the timing expectations. I guess, what I am trying to say is if one program doesn't work, find another. It may take a different approach to help him learn to type.

Thanks Eureka-c I will keep that in mind the one I got him has games and he loves games so I hope it works . He also works way better for me than any teacher so we will try home first !

we had to change keyboards-- I bought a cheap $10 keyboard with old fashioned clunky keys (think of the old IBM computers with the 100 pound screens) that have space between them so my son could really feel the keys and have to press on them -- with our old (better) keyboard, the keys were slick and flat and slidy, which is great for myself, but hard for him as a new learner-- these are the same as the laptop keyboards-- we have typing instructor and it is like old fashioned typing class, where a few keys at a time are introduced-- it does have an option for kid instruction available in the adult version of the program, so I am guessing the lessons would be shorter (we have not used them)

another thing I have done is rewarding him for typing-correctly-- to do an internet search for his favorite subject-(Batman) or for a toy he wants on Amazon for his wish list or for a song he wants to download on i-tunes--

i have also used the search browser to teach him spelling and vocabulary (although this can be a little dangerous in today's world, so I try to sit next to him and help him sound out whatever he wants to look at/needs to look up- vs just typing it for him)-- he is only 6 so this works for him, not sure about an older kid

I have the same issue--my handwriting is naturally terrible. But I found a site with advice for improving handwriting that actually worked pretty well for me. It's http://paperpenalia.com/handwriting.html

In a nutshell, it advises that you write by holding your fingers still and moving your wrist (rather than holding your wrist still and moving your fingers like most people normally do.) My handwriting is still not perfect, but it's moved from catastrophe level to being reasonably legible, which is a big step up.

You may have something there with the keyboard thing. I know that I cannot type well at all on a cheap laptop keyboard. Sometimes, I think that you can get a different keyboard that plugs into whatever device that you already have.

He also may be embarrassed about using the recorder in class.

I think that it needs to be in his IEP that the teacher gives him a written copy of all homework assignments or at least checks to see that his scribe has written down the assignment. If the teachers have to submit written copies of their lesson plans anyway, I do not think that it would be too horribly inconvenient to write down the assignments. If the teacher has the assignments or lessons on his or her computer, I do not understand why he/she cannot supply a copy of the assignments to your son to take home. (I shudder to think that some of the teachers are making up lessons as they go along instead of working from a written plan.)

I would also place your son in a typing class at school or over the summer and purchase several online computerized typing tutorials to use at home. If you have the time and resources, you can also hire a private OT to work with your son or you can try doing occupational therapy exercises with him at home if he is cooperative in order to strengthen his grip.

My son was actually able to overcome his grip problems via hours and hours of OT (some with an occupational therapist and some with an ABA therapist--it is not rocket science, really) and use of the grip device below:

http://www.edmegastore.com/handiwriter.html

Also, you or others out there with kids with dysgraphia might check out the following page on my website:

http://www.freevideosforautistickids.co ... _XNF6.html

My son had severe dysgraphia, lots of anxiety surrounding therapy, and I was already overwhelmed by his other needs and care requirements for his younger brother. Therefore, I went with extensive professional help. However, these exercises could very well be beneficial for some people in other situations.

Thanks guys ! I have started him on typing instructor for kids it has lots of games for rewards in it ! I think he is comfortable with his laptop key board! thanks blondeambition for the links I have been to your site already the pencil interesting I tried to go to the site liloleme sugested but I cant read the language there . Our wonderful inclusion teacher is going to get with the ot about helping with the typing