Struggling with Dysgraphia Assessment for My Daughter: Need Advice and Support

[jillionfish]

Hello to the biggest group. Can you please help a mama out.
Hi I am not sure if this is the right group, however I would’ve grateful if you anyone could direct me. As I am at my wits end. I am not sure if you’ve heard of the term dysgraphia. It’s the inability to write. I have been going back and forth since my daughter was 3 years old for an assessment. However no one seems to want to help as it’s not your typical dyslexia,dyscalculia, dyspraxia ect. She is currently in year 8 and I have been pushing and I feel as though I am constantly getting push backs.The last email I received, says she should practice her hand writing skills at home. I am annoyed with school’s response as they would never ask a child who has dyslexia to ensure they do a lot of reading at home. Thanks in advance, I just need someone help. Thanks for reading this far.

 

[godfearsu]

I am a dyslexia / SpLD assessor. There is a lot of controversy about the term dysgraphia - it literally translates as a "difficulty with writing". This in itself is meaningless as you need to work out what is causing the difficulty with writing. Is it a physical difficulty - in which case dyspraxia needs to be investigated. Is it coming up with ideas and getting them onto paper - in which case is it is a processing difficulty? Or a language difficulty where the child can't find the vocabulary to say what they want to say, or a good way to put their ideas into coherent sentences? Or is it a memory problem - can they come up with a sentence in their head and then not remember the words when they come to write them down. Or is it a spelling difficulty and the child just doesn't know how to tackle writing down a word they don't know how to spell. So you can see why dysgraphia on its own is a useless term as you need to unpick why the child can't write. (And yes you would ask a dyslexic child to read alot at home!!) So I would recommend a full dyslexia / SpLD assessment to unpick everything.

 

[jillionfish]

@godfearsu thank you so much for your response. I totally agree with you I I think she’s also got underlying adhd however. She’s not been diagnosed, girls tend to hide it very well, she also complains that holding the pen to write, hurts her hand. I don’t know the route to take and as she outgoing and friendly everyone thinks she’s fine

 

[sgtmattkind]

@jillionfish sounds like your daughter does have another underlying, potentially masked condition, possibly dyspraxia and we know that it is rare for a child to have just one condition. The best route for a full assessment imo is an educational psychologist. Good luck x

 

[jillionfish]

Thank you.

 

[sgtmattkind]

Hi, I am assuming your daughter has a formal diagnosis of dysgraphia. Often they is something else going on. You could do a parent request for EHCP if school are not helpful. You could also supply school with all information regarding dysgraphia, they may not have a full idea. Your other option is to go private for OT. Also I would recommend touch typing. Good luck. It is a nightmare getting the help our kids need.

 

[jillionfish]

@sgtmattkind I’ve not anything hun, I’ve been trying to get her diagnosed but every direction I go, I keep getting push backs, I’ve been trying since she was in primary school. Due to her handwriting she got incomplete work and whenever she ask the teachers to wait on the white board for her to complete. They tell her she need write faster, the faster she writes her words become illegible. She either get told she has to stay in a break to complete it or detention. I have uploaded a copy of her writing

 

[sgtmattkind]

@jillionfish it is so sad that our kids don't get the help and support needed. See my other comment x

 

[cutiger1903]

No advice I'm afraid than probably your vest bet is to go private and get a full diagnosis report and a private OT to do an assessment at school and see what reasonable adjustments can be made. Also schools would and do in my experience absolutely tell a child to practise reading/writing/number work at home even with a diagnosis in that area.

 

[mgunn0103]

My friend paid for private writing lessons with an online specialist occupational therapist. Really helped her son. Unfortunately it's not the kind of training most occupational therapists get. If you have a formal diagnosis you could push for adjustments under special needs provision. You need to see the senco. I assume you don't have an EHCP. I think you would struggle to get one at this stage if dysgraphia is her only issue. The school can apply for extra time or a scribe for exams.

 

[igivemylife2jesus]

Can she use a laptop instead of writing? A friends son was diagnosed with dysgraphia when he was about 11, and was able to have a laptop for school. Have a look at touch type read spell - it’s a really good touch typing programme, that is also dyslexia friendly. The other thing to look at is visual stress to make sure this isn’t part of the issue. But realistically, typing is a useful skill for anyone to have!

 

[jillionfish]

@igivemylife2jesus she’s was given a laptop in school a few days ago and she was able to complete all her work as I’ve pushed for some sort of support. However without a diagnosis this is only a temporary solution.

 

[igivemylife2jesus]

I’m no expert, but I’m fairly sure they don’t need a formal diagnosis to be given support. I’d be pushing for use of the laptop and backing it up with the fact that she is learning to touch type (I have done this with left handed dyslexic son, who uses a laptop for extended writing tasks in school now, because his writing is fairly illegible).

 

[jazzy_j]

My son has dysgraphia as a part of autism. His TA did some exercises with him like writing on tissue paper and foil to stop him pushing so hard on the paper. He used a Yoropencil to help his grip and he said it really helped him to be able to form the letters. He is n secondary school now and uses a normal pen because he doesn't want to appear 'weird' (his words) and his writing is terrible but readable.