Amazing diversity can be observed in mainstream classrooms among children who are learning to print or write in cursive. Ease of learning may be effected by the age, gender or physical development of the child, differences in neurological maturity and readiness, the tools available and the teaching methods that are used in the classroom.

Children with learning disabilities, developmental delays, or other special needs may show similar diversity in their ease of developing or acquiring writing skills. Some of the modifications, accommodations, support or other strategies that have been developed for students with learning challenges often benefit their mainstream peers.

Teaching strategies for mainstream classrooms often accommodate students who need extra help or more practice to develop clarity and spacing in their writing. Where students with learning disabilities may need their assignments to reflect a connection to the everyday real world outside the classroom, or imaginative connection to their favorite activities or entertainments, their mainstream peers also benefit from these connections.

As in other areas, our children with special needs are more like their mainstream peers, and the encouragement or support that we make available to them also benefits their classmates.

Children who have a strong desire to write but who are still emerging writers often benefit from using templates, stamps, keyboards, preprinted words and phrases, or other items that encourage self expression and communication.

Browse at local bookstores, teacher supply stores, or online booksellers like amazon.com for books like Handwriting Without Tears :



Teachnology Website:
Handwriting Lesson Plans
http://www.teach-nology.com/teachers/lesson_plans/language_arts/handwriting
Language Arts Based Teaching Theme Units - Handwriting
http://www.teach-nology.com/themes/lang_arts/handwriting

Using Handwriting Without Tears for Children with Disabilities
http://www.hwtears.com/therapists/hints.html#using

A to Z Home's Cool Homeschooling
Resources for Teaching Handwriting
http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/weblinks/handwriting.htm

Teaching Handwriting - Lisa Marnell, OTR MA
http://www.handwritinghelpforkids.com

Teaching Handwriting to Children with Special Needs
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art51022.asp

AshleysMom.com
Exploring and Designing Technology Solutions
for Today's Educational Needs and
Children with Learning Differences
http://www.ashleysmom.com/index.html
Transitional Fonts for Emerging Writers
http://www.ashleysmom.com/pages/transfonts.html
Inclusion at Its Best
http://www.ashleysmom.com/pages/inclusion.html
Ashley's Mom website
Tech Aides and Support
http://www.ashleysmom.com

National Center for Learning Disabilities
http://www.ncld.org
Warning Signs of Dysgraphia
Teaching Strategies, Accommodations and Modifications for Early Writers
Teaching Strategies Accommodations and Modifications for Young Students
Teaching Strategies Accommodations and Modifications for Teens and Adults

Margaret Kay on Dysgraphia:

Dysgraphia due to spelling disabilities, motor coordination, language disabilities
http://www.margaretkay.com/Dysgraphia.htm
Dysgraphia due to anatomical problems, executive dysfunction,
motor planning or visual-spatial perception
Dysgraphia due to dyslexia, motor clumsiness, or lack of understanding of spacing
Dysgraphia due to developmental disability, psychosocial deprivation,
poor school attendance or lack of direct instruction in written language
http://www.margaretkay.com/Dysgraphia.htm

Dysgraphia and Children with Aspergers Syndrome

Gentle Teaching - Teaching children and adults with developmental disabilities to feel safe, loved, loving, and engaged
http://www.gentleteaching.com
Sensory Integration as a Daily Strategy of Care Giving
http://www.gentleteaching.nl/sensory.htm

Love and Learning
http://www.loveandlearning.com