OT: Need OT/accommodations for DS and can't get them (kinda long)

[ilandrazdsw]

I have shared before about the struggles that DS has gone through this year in school. He is 5 and in the 1st Grade in the Bahamas. He reads (with comprehension) at a US 3rd gr level. He can add and subtract, identify money and is learning to count coins, and can tell time to the 1/2 hour (learning to the 5 minutes)...he's a pretty smart kid. But lately I just want to cry!

DS has major issues with handwriting and other fine motor skills...not for lack of trying and practice. He is also pretty good at *trying* to stall and get out of doing his own work. Being a special ed teacher I see where he needs different accommodations in the class to show what he know and *can* do. If he was to be promoted on test grades alone DS would not go on to the 2nd grade.

Whenever DS has a test that involves basically any writing he freezes and looses all focus, cause he panics about the writing...if any assignments requires him to draw a picture forget about it! I have finally gotten him to be able to write all the words on his spelling test and to attempt the multiple choice questions on tests that require circling or filling in the dot. But even on the spelling tests he will make careless errors, but then spell the words correctly orally.

DS' teacher is seasoned and caring, but a general ed teacher who is very overwhelmed with basically a K & 1st class and rediculously limited budget. The school does have a "special ed" teacher, however the principal has pulled her from her students to fill in for a teacher that left at Christmas break and was not replaced...so I couldn't even get him to her if I wanted to. I do volunteer in DS' class a lot, but treat DS like any other child (no favoritism).

Today I asked the teacher if she wanted me to come to work with DS specifically with handwriting...she said she wants him to realize when he needs help and ask her. WHAT??? She can't even give enough attention to all the students in the class, but thinks she will have the time to focus on the areas he needs help!?!? All she does is write it for him and expects him to trace it...he theory is it is written so why rewrite what she has done? We both want him to succeed, just are looking at his education through completely different perspectives.

I realize that DS has to learn how to write. And I take the majority of the blame because I allowed his preschool to teach him how to write...improperly. He does write, but the letters are all over...letters are spread out in a word, while words in a sentence are smooshed together if not reminded to finger-space. The teacher does not teach penmanship, but does take a penmanship grade. And to top it off they use both the large triple-lined paper in their subject workbooks & regular ruled notebook paper...and they copy notes from the board! Recently he has begun to reverse d/b and P/9 a lot!

Fortunately we are moving and DS will be in 1st grade again next year to be with his proper age group. Maybe I am stressing over nothing, but to me it looks like the school is making DS become a student that needs special ed services (you'd think so from his test scores). There is no one here to even evaluate him or consult with. Also, the principal has told me that he doesn't see how special education helps (he's an ASSp without the p), so no help there.

Not that my rant is over (thanks for reading my same 'ol complaint) here is my question...What can I do to help DS with his handwriting? I hope that if it isn't so difficult for him to write he may not *hate* (yes, his word) school so much because he says it is because of the work. First, I give a lot of praise, but also consequences when he does not do or try something (especially when I know he can). Second, I have started using a highlighter within the lines of the paper to know the boundaries. Third, I break assignments into managable sections. Fourth, we mark off what has been accomplished! What else can I do, besides being positive? He will not be finishing out the school year here, but at this point homeschooling is not an option. I am especially interested in hearing from and OT specialists.

 

[rjthkids]

I can totally hear and relate to your frustration.

My son who is turning five next month has major issues with dysgraphia and dyslexia. Some family members harass me about having been proactive about this the past few years, but he has a genetic syndrome and we've known since he was one year old that he would struggle with dysgraphia and dyslexia so it's not like we've needed to wait in order to know what an issue it would be. (And it is an issue. He always attempts to look at letters/words from bottom to top and right to left. He likewise tries to mirror letters exactly backwards when he writes them, if he can figure out how to write them, and he has low muscle tone so writing and properly grasping a writing utensil is still very difficult....he stills uses a palmar grasp unless specifically prompted.).

So, while he's young we've been doing this a while. I would definitely want an OT consult to know *why*--- does he have muscle issues in his hands/fingers, or is it more of a motor planning issue? Does he have any visual processing issues? All of these have slightly exercises/treatments.

For building fine motor strength we do a lot of finger play/exercises. A lot of modeling clay and playdough, and we have this game that uses "clothes pins" (not real clothes pins, they're smaller and colored but still require the same dexterity). We do songs and music that use finger plays, and a lot of time to color/scribble/paint in which there is no pressure to produce something specific....just what he would like.

For motor planning--- we do a lot of dot-to-dot and mazes. He loves the wooden mazes that have the magnetic pens as well, and we do tactile mazes (borrowed from his sister who is blind) where he can use his fingers to trace on a raised maze surface. Anything to build that visual/motor plan between his brain and his fingers.


In terms of a specific writing program--- have you heard of Handwriting Without Tears? The program was created by an Occupational Therapist, and my son's O.T. uses it with all her kids with handwriting issues anyway. You can look up the whole program online--- it is VERY multi-sensory....we do clay letters, writing them on a big slate board, we use wooden pieces to make all our letters as well as using the workbook pages, (which at my son's level are very limited in usage). I can't recommend this program enough. It's been wonderful for him, and it's engaging enough he is willing to work on it without issue or complaint.

We homeschool so I don't really have any advice about the schooling issues in the Bahamas. In the States, because he is cognitively able to do work but simply needs accommodations, what you would want would be to get a clinical diagnosis and then request a 504 plan meeting. In this meeting you would give his school team a copy of his diagnostic eval along with the accommodations he would need for his classroom work. So long as he doesn't need specialized *instruction* in order to understand classwork, then he would not qualify for, or need an IEP. If you would want to pursue O.T. through the school, then he would need an IEP. If he simply needs the ability to type certain assignments for example, then a 504 would suffice.

 

[riley2008]

Our OT recommends the Handwriting Without Tears program. There are a variety of activities, including "workbooks". It can't just be a workbook that's given to the student, it requires instruction too, but many parents can be self-taught.

Our OT's also use a LOT of playdough and other things just to improve hand strengths and stamina.

How does your DS do on a computer? Would his school allow him to take his spelling tests on a computer? What about using alphabet letters for his tests? (In my boys' class they have large trays of lower case wooden letters. The students have the option of taking their spelling tests with these. This is also how they practice during the week.)

 

[Leajess99]

I would get the special lined paper from Walmart that has raised lines and has spaces for him to practice his writing when he gets back here. There will be so many better opportunities for him to include occupational therapy should he need them. I hate the way some kids are forced to do things without the proper help. I am so sorry you and he have had to go through this. When will you be back stateside?? I hope it is soon for all of your sakes.

 

[ilandrazdsw]

Thank you for all the support...I knew I could count on my DIS buddies

I will definately check out the program! And I like the ideas about the clay/pladoh.

We are supposed to be moving the begining of May. He won't be enrolled in school because they get out only a few weeks later. Summer will give us time to work with him (and DD3) and being in the states will allow availability to items that we can't get here (or are just not affordable). I am hoping a big part of his struggle is his attitude...he hates it here and wants to move worse than DH and I, so maybe if he is happier production will increase.

DS has 2 tests to make up this week (1 from being sick, 1 from getting 0%--just wouldn't do it). If he Fs with of them I am going to ask her to let him answer as much of the test as possibly orally/dictated and see how that goes. The sad part is that the sp ed teacher that is at the school also suggested having him answer the spelling test orally. The horrible thing...there is 1 computer in the classroom and they can't use it because it is jamed with a program that won't allow the computer to start and no one will come fix it...UGH!!!

It is NOT better in the Bahamas!

 

[PollyannaMom]

My neighbor has sand paper letters for her day-care students. It helps them to really feel the shape of the letter when they trace it with their fingers, then they have a better sense of it when they write it later.

For spacing issues, you can also practice writing on graph paper (or, if you can find it, Mead makes a paper with small spacing marks on the lower line.)

 

[luvmy3jewels]

My son also had a lot of issues with his fine motor skills until he turned 6. He struggled with his handwriting and even had a hard time writing his name. It was so frustrating to him that he resisted doing any work that required writing, because he just couldn't do it. He just couldn't overcome the developmental issues that were physically preventing him from writing well.

He has a late birthday anyhow (end of Sept) so we ended up holding him back and letting him start school a year late. He began K this year just before his 6th birthday and it was one of the best decisions that we could have made. When he turned 6 it was like a switch was flipped, because he suddenly developed the motor skills that allowed him to write. He does wonderfully now and his whole attitude about his work changed because he knew he could do it.

My advice is not to push your son too hard or stress him out about his writing. The more pressure he feels about it, the less he is going to want to do his work. If there is a physical issue, it's going to take time for him to develop the skills he needs. Encourage him to practice and give him another six months or so to develop his fine motor skills.

 

[debbi801]

My son also has issues with handwriting. He has Asperger's and has high anxiety in the best of circumstances. He seens an OT 2x a week and also gets help at school. We also started him on anti-anxiety drugs in the late fall which help, but he still has a fear of writing (only letters, not numbers).

Have you thought about getting him evaluated? That way, if needed, he can get an IEP and get the extra services (longer for taking tests, etc.) that he needs to succeed. Another thing that the school does with my son is for some activities (like spelling tests): instead of making him write the words, they'll give him letter blocks or magnetic letters and a board so that they can see that he knows how to spell the words and he doesn't have the anxiety that goes along with trying to write them.

GL! I know how frustrating this can be.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Your situation is similar to what I'm going through with my DS. He is 7, almost 8 and in 2nd grade. His handwriting is illegible. One problem is that he writes from bottom to top instead of top to bottom and another problem is that he learned to write using Danelian writing which is almost cursive and the teachers at this school aren't that familiar with it so they don't know what his letters are. I homeschooled him last year and used Hooked on Handwriting with him, but it didn't help. He also has very tiny hands (he's a tiny kid, 42 lbs). His teacher seemed to think that being homeschooled was the problem and has been working with him during all of his free time at school as I have been at home and still no improvement. She is able to get enough out of his writing to grade him so he's passing, he's actually above his grade level, but she has finally determined that there is a problem, it's not just my poor teaching so she discussed it with a school psychologist and found out that he can't get OT through the school because he doesn't have a learning disability, it's considered a secondary therapy.

She recommended Handwriting Without Tears, also, and alot of families in my homeschool group last year had great results with it so I ordered it online yesterday. She also suggested things like playdoh, but he does those things already. Fortunately his teacher is willing to let him do some of his work on a computer. If the paper and pencils that comes with the HWT program works for him I will be sending those into school for him to use also since I know his teacher is willing to work with him.

It's very frustrating because it takes him a very long time to write anything, he just doesn't physically seem to be able to do it.

You may want to also post on the DISabilities board, I was considering doing that as well, it just seems like the school should have to do more.

 

[wishtdream]

i may be mistaken but I thought you were moving back to the states before the start of the new school year? If so there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

My DD is six and in first grade here and has a lot of the issues you mention. They are normal for her age. You need to be aware that fine motor skills develop with time. Play dough, blocks and coloring will help that along. It is unfortunate that the school you have your son in does not offer the flexibility that he needs. I would not measure my child's worth by an inflexible system that did not leave any room for individuality. Just encourage him to do his best. If/when you do move have him evaluated by the new school district.

 

[kimmylaj]

just a quick pop in to agree with pp that handwriting without tears is really good. our preschool considers ourselves very developmentally appropriate , really working on socialization and basics like putting on your coat, recognizing your name, making a friend, that being said we know that more and more is required in kindy. so we just started using it this year. it has fun songs that the kids like, chalkboards, playdough, workbooks with a really gradual introduction and the like. my ds is in k and struggles with some handwriting issues so i am taking a step back and using a lot of these activities with him. the simplest being that all letters must start at the top. also uppercase are easier to write than lowercase is his teacher ok with him using all uppercase for now? good luck i am sure you will work this out for him , as it sounds like you are on top of it and doing all you can to help out your little guy.

 

[mrsmom]

My 11 year old son is in the 6th grade and we just found out he has dysgraphia and weak muscles in his hands after trying everything with his writing and ot.Now he works on the computer he went from Ds and F's to Straight A's. His teachers are amazed at what he can do now.
Kim

 

[ilandrazdsw]

Yes, we are moving in May (or June at the latest), so that is the only reason I am not at the school's throat demanding action. I didn't realize how pathetic the school (not the teacher) was until DS attended. They don't have a IEP's or anything formal to hold the teacher's accountable...so sad because there are other students that do need them. I guess it doesn't help be a (special ed) teacher, because I feel like he should be able to do what the other students are doing, and then immediately looks for problems when it doesn't happen. Hopefully time will help...and if it doesn't at least we will be somewhere that he can get real help and supplies to also help.

I wanted to cry for him today! The class was starting their science project and the teacher wanted them to each write a paragraph about the topic. I could tell that it was the first time the class had to write a paragraph. The teacher did plan and explain what was needed. DS just sat there. I could see his mind turning (I was cutting out letters at the teacher's desk). If he was able to have dictated the sentences and then have the time to try to write them it would have been much better. Instead he sat there and he was just looking at all the information on the board (most which didn't have to be written) and looked overwhelmed. When the teacher told him he wouldn't get recess, then he attempted to find the right information to copy off the board. UGH...there were at least 3 different ways that the lesson could have been approached to reach a broader specturm of the students. I do have to give DS a lot of credit...he has had more homework/review then should be given/needed and he hasn't complained a bit...maybe a little maturity is creeping in.

Thank you everyone for listening to me vent (DH is away at work so I don't even have him to talk to ).

 

[pyrxtc]

I can't help wiht your sons specific needs, but I can sympathize with you. My DS8 is seriously color blind. We were lucky that we worked wiht him when he was preparing for Kinder and realized it, and had it concfirmed by Dr's, before school started. We make sure all of his teachers know about this and that he is not marked off for things he doesn't make the right color. We have taught him he needs to read the crayons but before he could read, it didn't work. Plus a lot of crayons have their paper ripped off so that makes it hard too. This is somehting that will stop him from doing things he currently ants to do sicne he cannot distinguish items by color. He even has ahard time seeing the yellow slow light from the green go light. He currently wants to join the military where his job offereings will be limited by this.

In this case, there is nothing I can do to help. No cure, no amount of wokring on it will help him.

 

[dogodisney]

WOW! We are having the same issues with DGD(5) who is also in kindergarten. She is considered to have a Severe Developmental Delay. She does have an IEP. She sees an OT (only 30 mins a week) and a ST. She has come a long way with some things but the handwriting is a struggle.

It's reassuring to know that we are not alone.

OP, I hope once your son gets to school in the states that everything works out. Have a safe move.

 

[Schmeck]

I have a 17 yr old daughter whose handwriting has been classified as "hieroglyphics written using her feet", chicken scratch, etc... There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Just keep plugging away at practicing, pick one letter to focus on each day. Practice pencil marks between the lines. Get out the watercolor paint and a big pad of paper and have him make little marks all over it.

Do not let the child be 100% dependent on using a computer to get the written stuff done at school. Make sure writing is still being done in school, or there will be a battle weaning off of the computer later on. You can't walk around dragging a computer behind you all day (although my iPod has a neat scheduling/note section) as not all paperwork is found online.

My chicken scratch daughter still has poor penmanship (looks like a 5th grader's penmanship, small, hard to decipher, not spaced properly) but when she tries hard enough it can be read. They were able to read it at MIT, which is where she is going to college next fall!

 

[ilandrazdsw]

Thanks for all the suppose and stories. It is nice to hear that we are not alone and that kids can still be successful even with "chicken scratch" handwriting.