Each type of strategy should be considered when planning instruction and support. A person with dysgraphia will benefit from help from both specialists and those who are closest to the person. Finding the most beneficial type of support is a process of trying different ideas and openly exchanging thoughts on what works best

1. ___________________________________________________________________________________
Summary:
Using Technologies to Support Dysgraphia
Dysgraphia is a learning disability that affects writing abilities. It can manifest itself as
difficulties with spelling, poor handwriting and trouble putting thoughts on paper. Because
writing requires a complex set of motor and information processing skills, saying a student has
dysgraphia is not sufficient. A student with disorders in written expression will benefit from
specific accommodations in the learning environment, as well as additional practice learning the
skills required to be an accomplished writer.
There are many ways to help a person with dysgraphia achieve success. Generally strategies fall
into three categories:
Accommodations: providing alternatives to written expression
Modifications: changing expectations or tasks to minimize or avoid the area of weakness
Remediation: providing instruction for improving handwriting and writing skills
Each type of strategy should be considered when planning instruction and support. A person with
dysgraphia will benefit from help from both specialists and those who are closest to the person.
Finding the most beneficial type of support is a process of trying different ideas and openly
exchanging thoughts on what works best
There is also a many tools that can be used in a classroom to help students with dysgraphia. Although
many tools can help students with dysgraphia, it is important to still practice handwriting. Handwriting is
a life skill that should not be avoided. Sanacore (1991) finds that students with dysgraphia are greatly
helped by seeing their writing clearly on a computer
TextExpander takes small snippets of frequently used text and expanded them. For example, type
in ;em and it will expand to your email address. This saves time typing often repeated phrases.
mag.rehab.educ.Zdenkica Stanec, prof.def.
Mirnovečka cesta 8/1- Kladje
10 430 S A M O B O R
Tel: 01 / 33 26 570
E_mail: zdenkica.stanec@zg.t-com.hr

2. There are many voice dictation program available. A few years ago, you had to buy a program
like Dragon. Now, voice dictation is built into Windows and Mac. I’m even dictating this right
now. Even cell phones are getting the ability to talk to them with Siri and Google Voice Search.
Any of these programs would allow someone with dysgraphia to talk through a paper instead of
having to write or type it out.
VoiceThread allows the user to record their voice and attach it to a slide. They can make their
slides either pictures, or videos, and other people can comment on the same slide. In addition to
not having to write or type, getting verbal feedback from anyone is great.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSESgl3gCFM
One of the newer recommendations is a calculator, but not just any calculator. MyScript
Calculator lets the user draw on the screen with their finger instead of tapping. This is a huge
benefit for a person with dysgraphia because on a screen the size of an iPad, it makes writing
more of a gross motor movement than a fine motor movement.
An app to reinforce handwriting would be iWriteWords. It is targeted more for toddlers, and I
think the childishness might be a bit too much older kids. Just like MyScript Calculator, it
focuses on large motor movements to practice drawing out letters.
Living with a learning disability can be difficult. Every learning disability is different and every
child is different. With dysgraphia, it may always take extra time to write a paper, or to do math
homework. But there are many technologies that can ease the transition to be better students.
Samobor, 14.03.2014.