53 upvotes, 2 direct replies (showing 2)
So, dysgraphia is a neurological disorder that affects fine motor functions and motor planning. OT helps and should absolutely be done early and often. However, severe dysgraphia is always better off accommodated bc the amount of work you have to do in OT and outside of it to see any difference is never worth the payoff.
If he's in 6th grade he's already missed the years that will be most helpful as far as intensive therapy to help it get better.
If the child's handwriting is that bad, no- you absolutely do not just mark the answers wrong- you refer him for evaluation. Situations like this is exactly what Child Find is for. He is suspected of having a disability that hinders his access to FAPE. That doesn't mean you mark it wrong, that means you refer.
The ball has been dropped, though. It's almost the end of the year and he's going to 7th next year. Middle school. This should have been done years ago.
You're going to have to tell the mom that she needs to have a serious talk with this child because he has to pick an accommodation. He doesn't have a choice. If he needs therapy, then the mother needs to get him into that.
Another thing- this child isn't shy, he has debilitating anxiety. Refer him for that, too, when you refer him for the dysgraphia. His anxiety is what is causing him to not want to appear different in any way and why he won't accept any accommodations. I'm willing to bet that he is usually very quiet, too.
His anxiety is also a disability hindering his access to FAPE.
We know we can't dx, obviously, but it's easier to say "dysgraphia and anxiety" in casual peer conversation than to write out "the behaviors that are indicative of..." every single time.
Comment by cinnamonspice6671 at 10/03/2025 at 03:13 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
This is the BEST answer I've read. My mother of a child with dyslexia and dysgraphia. His handwriting has improved phenomenally over the years, because of all the OT he had. It's so unfortunate at this child is not receiving the services he deserves. In fact, not sure what state he's in, but if you are a taxpayer in your public school district and the private school is within the district lines, the child make qualify for receiving OT even at the private school. It may be a stretch, but it's worth looking into. The mother is failing to consider what her child needs. Has she never seen his handwriting?
Comment by LAH-di-lah at 10/03/2025 at 10:58 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I was diagnosed with dysgraphia and have lived with it my entire life. I agree with everything you said. Do not mark down his answers. Refer him. The anxiety comes from knowing that you can't do something everyone else can. The anxiety comes from thinking all the other kids know something is wrong with me. I know this because I live it. Can you send him to an alternative testing location? Maybe the library or the school office? Or another place? This way he can do the test on the computer but be away from his classmates. This is what my teachers did for me. The other kids really did notice i "got to" use the computer and it caused a great deal of bullying or at the very least a lot of questions I didn't know how to answer. Honestly being in a quiet place next to an adult for supervision was the best thing for me. In OT I eventually learned to type and it opened the world to me. Suddenly writing wasn't awful and everything locked in my brain could finally come out. Please get this child evaluated!!!