Hi,
I’m new here. My son is almost 12, in 6th grade.
He has difficulty writing. His written expression is below grade level, his handwriting has always been below grade level even with “Extra practice.”
We have ruled out OT issues and vision problems.
He is on medication for ADHD and that helped somewhat. It also helps if he uses a mechanical pencil (which has been a dumb battle with the school because the teachers forbid them before jr. high)
For the last 2 years he has been allowed to type his work and that helps somewhat in that he’s willing to type at a computer, whereas writing things out by hand more than a word or 2 is very frustrating for him. He’d rather take zeroes for grades than write spelling words, rather miss recess…Until they started letting him type, then he started getting a 49 out of 50 possible!
SO the problem though he has a 504 plan (they won’t give him an IEP because they say he is “other health imparied.” It is not followed all the time,only when they notice missing work of big projects and now it’s time for him to move up to the jr. high.
I’d like him to take a laptop and type as he has done, but the school says 1. laptops are not allowed and 2. they don’t want him to look different.
Well that’s just silly because my son wants this, he knows this is how he expresses himself best, typing it, and he’s been doing this in 5th and 6th and noone has said anything…Better than failing classes I think!
He’s a really bright boy but he just doesn’t do well in written expression.
He is having trouble in math and spelling because he just won’t write it all out.
He’s not lazy or just slacking off. It’s been constant since preschool. He just finds it hard and avoids writing.
Does anyone have any advice for me? Or do you have a child like mine and have suggestions what to do to try to help him?
I feel like if my son could do it he would. He’s a good kid and tries his best. He’s bright and yet he’s making c’s, d’s, and f’s.
Dysgraphia is a legitimate reason for an IEP. From what you have indicated your son should qualify for an IEP. Dysgraphia is considered a learning disability, since it deals with written expression. I would do two things. First, asked for an independent evaluation. You have the right to an independent evaluation besides what the school is willing to do. Contact your state or local Dyslexia Association or Association for Learning Disabilities they probably have a list of people who can do an evaluation for dysgraphia. Second, contact your State Protection and Advocacy Services for Handicapped Students or I Would Contact Your State’s Association for Learning Disabilities. These two groups can provide an advocate for you with the schools. If all else fails you can pursue registering a complaint for a dispute resolution with your state Department of Education concerning an IEP. I would try the other steps first.
Keyboarding/laptops are a frequent reasonable accommodation for students with dysgraphia. Since your son has been successful with this, there is no reason that he should be denied this accommodation in school. I would keep pursuing the matter as I’ve outlined above.
Jim Nuttall — Michigan
Dictated with speech recognition software Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9.1.