Does your child hate to write or struggle with language processing? These could be
signs that your child has dysgraphia. Learn more about this common learning
challenge—including ways to help your child overcome it—on this week’s
Homeschool Heartbeat with special needs consultant Kristy Horner.
Diane Kummer: My guest today is Kristy Horner. Kristy is a
homeschooling mom and one of HSLDA’s special needs consultants. Kristy, it’s
a pleasure to work with you here at HSLDA. Welcome to the program!
Kristy Horner: Thanks for having me, Diane. It is a true
blessing to be part of the HSLDA family and share these tips with you today.
Diane: Well, great. We’re glad you’re here.
What is dysgraphia? [0:40]
Diane: Kristy, this week we’re going to talk about dysgraphia.
So let’s define this term. What exactly is dysgraphia and what causes it?
Kristy: Dysgraphia is defined as a specific learning disorder
in the DSM-5 which affects how easily children acquire written language and how well
they use written language to express their thoughts. Students might have impairment in
written expression as a result of poor fine motor skills, visual-spatial struggles, or
handwriting issues. They also have trouble with word retrieval and verbal fluency.
Language processing came to attribute quite a bit to dysgraphia, so it’s important
to understand that it is more than just poor handwriting.
Diane: Well, what are some signs a parent can be aware of that
may signal a child could possibly have dysgraphia?
Kristy: That’s a great question, Diane. A few signs you
might want to keep an eye on are bright kids that hate to write. Struggling to organize
sentences and paragraphs and get it on paper despite vivid oral detail, difficulty
listening and writing at the same time, messy handwriting, incorrect pencil grip, poor
spacing when writing, or when lining up their math problems, or resentment of fine motor
Testing your child for dysgraphia [1:55]
Diane: Kristy, let’s say a parent thinks her child may
have dysgraphia. Does the child need to be tested for it?
Kristy: Well, as with any type of learning disability, testing
can sometimes be a touchy subject. In a world where labels are increasing, I think
it’s important to note that awareness, identification, and specialization are also
on the rise. And while it could be premature to draw directly into a diagnosis, it would
be wise to do an informal assessment or screening if you’re concerned. Because
dysgraphia can occur alongside other learning disabilities including but not limited to
dyspraxia or dyslexia, early intervention is most helpful.
Post-screening, if you’re still concerned, you may wish to seek professional
help for a formal assessment.
Diane: So how does the testing process work?
Kristy: Well, if and when you’re ready to look at testing
you would consult a learning disability specialist that is qualified to administer a
full evaluation. Typically, this would be a licensed educational psychologist. Tests
might vary in this evaluation but could include an IQ test, overall academic assessment
of writing, reading, math and language skills. It would also measure fine motor skills
involved in writing and the quality of ideas are expressed. An occupational therapist
can evaluate and discuss intervention for fine motor issues—but as I mentioned
earlier, there is more to dysgraphia, so don’t stop there.
Helping your child succeed [3:24]
Diane: Kristy, what are some strategies or tools that would be
helpful for parents who are homeschooling a child with dysgraphia?
Kristy: If you have a child with dysgraphia, you can cut down
the amount of writing that is required of your child, to reduce fatigue and anxiety that
can arise. Make sure that they have the right tangible items to work with, like pointed
writing board, [a] pencil grip, graphic organizers, raised-line writing or graph paper.
It’s also a good idea to do hand of finger exercises like squeezing tweezers or
picking things up with clothespins for a minute or two prior to a writing activity. All
of these can help with spacing and hand positioning and are very affordable, effective
You could consider occupational therapy, professional handwriting camp, or a tutor in
specific areas. If you need help finding a homeschool-friendly service provider, we can
help members locate one in their area if they give us a call or by checking under the
“Find Help” tab on [HSLDA’s] special needs website.
The last thing I want to mention is a very popular option these days: assistive
technology. Tech devices can be a huge help. Things like word processors,
speech-to-text, text-to-speech apps, or smart pens have really modernized the ability to
accommodate kids with dysgraphia. Audiobooks and recordings can provide a replay option
so that they can decrease the stress of not being able to write fast enough and keep up.
If you can get kids to think about what they want to say and record and listen to
themselves, they hear what they need or want to write before they actually do it. Not
only will this help them organize thought, but it can be a great way to cut anxiety and
increase confidence so they can be successful.
What dysgraphia looks like [5:13]
Diane: Kristy, does dysgraphia look different for children at
different ages—and if so, how should that effect a parent’s approach to
teaching a child with dysgraphia?
Kristy: It can vary due to developmental differences. Younger
children may struggle with a pincer grasp, holding a spoon to eat, or buttoning shirts.
They may need extra excitement to follow through with tasks like cutting, coloring,
tracing or drawing shapes. The lack of developing a dominant hand or the inability to
use two hands during an activity can also be a red flag. You may see a lower tolerance
or a flat out avoidance of these fine motor issues or activities.
Middle and high schoolers might have a hard time taking notes because of the
difficulty in organizing the information and actually getting it onto the paper. They
may complain of their hands being tired or have poor spelling or grammar. They also have
the tendency to avoid writing assignments, and when they do attempt them you might find
that it’s not just cohesive.
Diane: What happens if a parent doesn’t catch dysgraphia
early on? Can her child still be helped?
Kristy: Absolutely. Early identification and intervention is
optimal when it comes to development, but it’s so important to know that
it’s never too late to address learning disabilities and the root causes. There is
no cure and no medication for dysgraphia, but through the use of educational therapy,
tech tools, and patience, you will see progress.
Curriculum options for dysgraphia [6:42]
Diane: Kristy, are there specific curricula for homeschooling a
child with dysgraphia and are there ways for parents to determine which of these
programs will work for them and which ones won’t?
Kristy: Well, here are a few general things to keep in mind
when looking for a program or curriculum.
You would want to look for a program with a multi-sensory approach—and know
that all curriculum may be modified to fit your students’ needs, such as
alternative assignments that are oral or visual in nature instead of written. You would
want to seek structured approaches to writing—think of graphic organizers and
charts; those are a great way to do this. Make sure expectations and assessments are
identified, modeled, and specific— think check lists, rubrics, and charts and
build language. Try to incorporate as much language as possible when brainstorming and
So while curriculum alone cannot fix dysgraphia, our special needs department is
always willing to privately consult with members to help find the right fit.
Diane: If there’s one thing that parents of children with
dysgraphia need to remember what would it be?
Kristy: Well, to recap, there is no lack of strategies for
addressing dysgraphia, Diane. Most importantly, I want to remind parents not to forget
to stay positive about what their child can do while working through this process.
Self-esteem is precious and an important part of a child’s foundation for
learning. Open communication and working together can change the course of
Diane: Kristy, it’s been a pleasure having you on the show
this week. Thanks so much for joining us to shed some light on an issue that many
children struggle with. And thanks for tuning in, everyone. I’m Diane Kummer, and
I’m cheering you on.