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Post by StrugglingAgain on Dec 15, 2004 19:49:39 GMT -5
Who on here has had their child recommended for OT for their penmanship? My son's teacher just called and asked if perhaps we would be interested in our ds being seen by an OT. His penmanship is horrid and as he gets older, it seems to be getting worse. Did OT help?
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Post by tridlette on Dec 15, 2004 21:25:38 GMT -5
DS 12 sees OT once a month, for all of 30 minutes. There is some barely noticeable improvement.
DS 10 has just started OT this fall, 30 minutes a week. His handwriting is still a nightmare... we call it tornado writing!
The OT who did the eval for DS 10 said that it is very difficult to make improvements in a child as old as he is, that it is best to start EARLY. She has been working more on finger agility, teaching him to type mostly. We do tiny models, legos and things, and then stuff like flipping coins over, and over and over...
We also have a lot of beads that we string, just fine motor type things to attempt to strengthen his fingers.
Since I was seeing PT and OT for my reconstructive surgery on my dominant hand, I picked their brains like crazy for ideas that would help all of us together. Pinching clothes pins is another that we try. Oh, and the fun one... peeling itty bitty stickers off a sheet of paper, and then sticking them between the lines on a piece of notebook paper. It works well for improving eye-hand coordination.
If I think of other things to try, I will let you know.
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Post by catseye on Dec 16, 2004 12:04:38 GMT -5
My sd is in ot 30 minutes a week... Did it help? Well at this point it certainly cant hurt! Her handwritting is so bad... Good luck
cat
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Post by StrugglingAgain on Dec 16, 2004 13:32:49 GMT -5
Does OT have to be requested in his IEP? We just got an IEP in place this month and I'd pull my hair out if we had to gather once again to add to it. All of his other fine motor skills are excellent...in fact above average of those in his grade.
Y'all really help me sort through things, thanks.
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Post by tridlette on Dec 16, 2004 15:44:14 GMT -5
When I signed the NOREP for the IEP, I just added on that I was requesting an OT evaluation. They did that evaluation separately, and wrote an addendum to the IEP for OT services.
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Post by Sorka on Dec 16, 2004 21:38:47 GMT -5
We did OT for handwriting every week.. for an 45min session, and a little sensory integration. It did seem to help my son.. he is 8 now. It helped to have someone else working with him I think..
But in the end they were really just doing what we were doing at homeschool.. and the van broke down.. so I quit.
Denise
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Post by eaccae on Jan 4, 2005 16:23:11 GMT -5
At least the school is offering . . . our school will NOT give DS any OT even though he does have dysgraphia. They did, however, want ME to pay over $60 a week out of my pocket and get a private tutor but we couldn't afford that. We were doing the Handwriting Without Tears program this summer which made a difference but there is no way for me to do that with DS AND get his homework done! I have to pick my battles and the homework battle is the one that unfortunately I must choose. I brought an extra book and paper for him to use at school but they didn't like that idea. The principal LOVES that program but would like me to be fully responsible. Of course now there is complaint about his handwriting, again. Hey - I would kill to have the OT or ANYONE at school work with DS even two times a week. Guess we will wait for summer again . . .
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Post by mom2tj on Jan 4, 2005 16:46:33 GMT -5
my ds was recomended to see an OT last year for that very reason....
they have diag's him with having dispraxia, and was seen by an OT for a few months, I didnt see much improvement I would like to find a private tutor or program to help I havent made much reserch on it yet.
he was re-evaluated this last October given the same diag dispraxia is a fine motor problem wich explains his dislike for any kind of sports he will always have problems in this area his drawing is awful to.
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mothercat
Member Emeritus
With a little luck and a lot of Gods help anything is possible!
Posts: 1,468
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Post by mothercat on Jan 6, 2005 17:54:47 GMT -5
I was told by a couple of spec ed teachers that when the children have dysgraphia they can get OT but usually by that age (Jared is 11 ) it isn't really gonna help all that much ..that is why we used the 504 to get him the processor and he is allowed to type....couln'd read his handwriting on a bet... she told me that it is very common and not to let it ruin my life...once he gets older then he can work on it more but right now he needs to concentrate on the other things. It is working for us to let him type and as long as he has the dysgraphia they have to let him.
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Post by eaccae on Jan 6, 2005 18:42:29 GMT -5
mothercat - I wish I could find in writing that if DS has a diagnosis of dysgraphia that they have to let him type. According to our OT her hands were tied and by policy she wasn't allowed to help him. He has an Alphasmart Dana and last year was told that he couldn't use it. Pretty much I get nothing for the Dysgraphia but then again it took 4 years to get a 504 for the adhd (and the only reason for that was that we had state testing and they knew that he would do really well if he had accomodations . . .)! I am going to have a meeting with the teacher this month and see if I can get taperecorder usage for DS for certain assignments (reading group questions). Reading group - for example - he is one of the best readers in his grade but he can't do the "writing" work - yet he knows it all verbally. Therefore he is always in one of the lower reading groups - even though on all testing and according to every teacher AND the principal he is way ahead of most kids his age and over two grade levels ahead. Go figure. That is great teaching for you!!! Last year the poor kid was reading ridiculous books and thought he was a poor reader (yet at home - at the age of 8 - he had read The Hobbit, parts of The Lord of the Rings Trilology, parts of the Simarillion . . .). But since they don't want him to "type" in school - I am hoping this teacher will let him use a tape recorder. For other assignments that he brings home - he types them all.
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mothercat
Member Emeritus
With a little luck and a lot of Gods help anything is possible!
Posts: 1,468
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Post by mothercat on Jan 6, 2005 20:17:01 GMT -5
P.S If he gets graded down for spelling or grammar then legally it is a disabilty that affects his education.. I dont see how they can possibly turn you down .. there is a small machine made for theclassroom that with an infra red light he can transfer all written work into the teachers computer and she can print it out. They are as cheap as 160.00$ They are commonly used at the high school for dysraghic children look up
quick pad infrared keyboard
QUI- 600Qpadusb
CDWG@work extranet or call then at
Jennifer Cousins 866-339-1791 fax 312-705-8203
that is the company the school is getting Jareds from. I am ordering one for at home.
There are probably many other companies but that is just the one the school here is using...the principal here told me if he had known about them before he would have already gotten some. He is also a pyschologist and has some sense. Thank God.
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Post by eaccae on Jan 7, 2005 8:01:31 GMT -5
mothercat - that is what the alpahsmart Dana is. I find it absolutely ridiculous that he can't use it. There is a printer in his classroom that he could easily hook up to and print out his work as well. Of course, the school made such a big deal about it that the little boy who was so excited to use it is now afraid to touch it. We moved to this town because of the schools and I have never been more sorry. On paper it looks great but in reality - if you don't fit the cookie cutter mold you are in for it!! Unfortunately the OT doesn't feel that dysgraphis is a "disability" that warrants accomodations and that is why she can't help DS or "approve" the school to help DS. We shall see what the 5/6 school thinks next year, I guess. I have heard they are much different - maybe becasue they are only 2 years old. But this school isn't going to give an inch and he only has a half year left so I don't want to get into a court case type of thing. I wonder what hell I will be in for with my probable OCD daughter next year?!
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mothercat
Member Emeritus
With a little luck and a lot of Gods help anything is possible!
Posts: 1,468
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Post by mothercat on Jan 7, 2005 8:39:31 GMT -5
I am not sure where you live but in the US any school that refuses a TEXT services risk losing federal funding.. They tried to tell us it was all just paperwork at first but when they realzed I knew that Jared qualified under OHI then they were real fast to accomodate him. They legally have to provide the OT cost also unless it is a private school with no government funding. Such a shame and the processor doesn't cost them a thing to use if you already have one...and I thought my sons school was a pain in the butt. It took us almost four years to make them comply and that is because they found out we knew the laws. The new principal where my son is going truly is trying to improve things now though...he honestly had no idea until i brought the benefits of the equipment up.
The past administration told me to fo f*** myself when I asked them for help. The machines are being used in all the spec ed schools and at the high school here and they are doing wanders with the kids once the pressure of getting things written down is gone. Such a shame that people refuse to do what is best sometimes.
I would question any OT that says dysgraphia is not accomadatable and get another opinion..with us it took a letter from doctor saying it would benefit Jareds life , education , and well being and when the doc puts it in writing that they be allowed to use the machine the school legally has to let him.... my doctor was VERY understanding when he heard the c*r*a*p*t the school was putting us thru and hejust said we'll see about that ...thus I got the letter.
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mothercat
Member Emeritus
With a little luck and a lot of Gods help anything is possible!
Posts: 1,468
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Post by mothercat on Jan 7, 2005 8:40:23 GMT -5
I am not sure where you live but in the US any school that refuses a TEXT services risk losing federal funding.. They tried to tell us it was all just paperwork at first but when they realzed I knew that Jared qualified under OHI then they were real fast to accomodate him. They legally have to provide the OT cost also unless it is a private school with no government funding. Such a shame and the processor doesn't cost them a thing to use if you already have one...and I thought my sons school was a pain in the butt. It took us almost four years to make them comply and that is because they found out we knew the laws. The new principal where my son is going truly is trying to improve things now though...he honestly had no idea until i brought the benefits of the equipment up.
The past administration told me to fo f*** myself when I asked them for help. The machines are being used in all the spec ed schools and at the high school here and they are doing wanders with the kids once the pressure of getting things written down is gone. Such a shame that people refuse to do what is best sometimes.
I would question any OT that says dysgraphia is not accomadatable and get another opinion..with us it took a letter from doctor saying it would benefit Jareds life , education , and well being and when the doc puts it in writing that they be allowed to use the machine the school legally has to let him.... my doctor was VERY understanding when he heard the c*r*a*p*t the school was putting us thru and hejust said we'll see about that ...thus I got the letter.
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Post by camismom on Jan 7, 2005 9:47:30 GMT -5
I think that's good news... we need more schools around that recognize this and offer to help. I'm with Cat... it certainly won't hurt to try it.
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