Dysgraphia in HS Students

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There are many ways to help a person with dysgraphia achieve success. Generally strategies fall into three categories:

1. Accommodations: Techniques and materials that don't change the basic curriculum but do make learning a little easier or help kids communicate what they know. For example, providing alternatives to written expression is an accommodation.

2. Modifications: Changes in the delivery, content, or instructional level of a subject or test. They result in changed or lowered expectations and create a different standard for kids with disabilities than for those without disabilities, changing expectations or tasks to minimize or avoid the area of weakness. An example would be to provide pre-written notes to students who have much difficulty writing.

3. Remediation: providing instruction for improving handwriting and writing skills - This is more useful for younger students. I believe teens need to focus on work around strategies for writing.

In some cases occupational therapy could be considered to strengthen muscle tone, improve dexterity, and evaluate eye-hand coordination.

Some strategies geared more toward teenagers with dysgraphia include:

-- Classes and lectures can be recorded
--Provide personal recorders to supplement note taking and to prepare for writing assignments.
--Create a step-by-step plan that breaks writing assignments into small tasks (graphic organizers can be key)
-- Use of mind mapping programs like Inspiration or FreeMind
--When organizing writing projects, create a list of keywords that will be useful.
--Provide clear, constructive feedback on the quality of work, explaining both the strengths and weaknesses of the project, commenting on the structure as well as the information that is included.

Use assistive technology products geared to handwriting and keyboarding such as:
--Alternate programmable keyboards
--Dictionaries and spell checkers
--Grammar checking products
--Keyboard training software
--Multiple-switch programs
--Voice recognition software
--Word prediction programs
--Writing composition software

Teachers can also:
*Allow extra time for writing activities
*Remove neatness as a criteria for student work
*Avoid Critical evaluation of handwriting
*Do not ask student to write without purpose
*Give multiple choice, T/F, fill in the blank tests

I believe it is also important to empower teenagers who have dysgraphia (and other disabilities) to speak up about their disability and educate others about the challenges they face and what is helpful to them in the classroom and outside of the classroom. Self-advocacy is key for their well-being.