Hi,

I hope everyone is enjoying their day at home working!

Diagnosis and Intervention Strategies
for Disorders of Written Language

Margaret Kay

Writing is the 'most complex method of expression'. This may explain why identifying the cause and programming for improvement is so difficult. On my caseload are numerous students who have difficulty writing. The approach in school is remediation and compensation. Technology can be used to challenge both areas.

Dysgraphia can be classified in a number of ways: Specific and non-specific dysgraphia or dyslexic, motor clumsiness and defect in understanding space.

However it may be classified identification of the difficulty to key to programming for it.

It is interesting to read that the best way to approach remediation is to provide real life situation through the writing process.

In the Upper elementary level, Kay recommends 'bypass' strategies which often require technology (otherwise, compensatory strategies).

another interesting point is that Kay suggests using a manual keyboard for typing. She highlights that the physical process of typing a letter emphasises the process.

Some questions for discussion:

1.      At what point should alternative methods for writing be introduced? Do we do an injustice by 'bypassing' pen to paper for technology or not?

2.      Some students struggle with the mechanics of writing and benefit from typing whilst others struggle with expression and for them typing is of no advantage. I have used many methods to overcome written expression in order to develop student writing. What has worked for you?

Thanks,

Simon