Disorder of written expression

[Anonymous]

OP,

I would not discount OT if your son has problems with the mechanics of writing. 11:53 also gave a good description of what it might look like if it's on the organizing side of things. The LD online article also gives suggestions for strategies for both.

(It's good he likes writing even if it takes a long time.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. DS2 has dysgraphia, dsylexia, ADHD. He also scored 140 on the WISC. His working memory is in the lowest quartile.

Our psychologist specializes in gifted/LD students. She suggested that we seek accommodations for him including the use of an Ipad for typing and dictating. After dictating his work, he can edit it manually.

What app does he use for dictation on the iPad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks. SO, PP, what do I do if not OT? Please advise.

Weird thing is if you ask DS if he likes writing he will tell you he LOVES it. He loves seeing the words go across his mind he says the words are stored in a file in his head and he takes them out (figuratively) to use when he is writing. However, this process takes a long time, or so it seems. I plan to drop off the DX from the Dev. Ped for an evaluations for Did. or WE. Thanks all for your replies.

You can try to train the skill or you can accommodate or both. We skipped OT for retraining. Our psychologist advised allowing him to use typing or dictation for most homework and classwork. He use Dragon Dictation (Dragon Naturally Speaking) for the Ipad and then edits his answers.

[Anonymous]

Hi as a mother of a teenager with dx of written expression the use of an I pad has been essential for my son who attended a advance math and science school public school. Your public school has to test in all areas of concerns including AT Assitive technology. It's always very difficult to get the school on board but it is the law and the evaluator must be an AT specilist. When he was younger it was so painful to see his written work we had another parent say at a open house say "I did not know something was wrong" when she saw his writing displayed on the wall. little did she know he rewrote it several times already. He is now very proficient with his I pad and present to educatures the Apps he uses to increase his access to course work. Sound notes, I annote, Dragon, are just a few he uses apps for math his notes are provided via power point and he adds on to them. He uses a lap top only for test and quizzes and he uses kurzwill (reading & editing software for this). We scan his books and book share which helps him keep up with the reading he has a very slow reading speed (fluency) despite years of Wilson, Orten Gillingham along with speech tx. I am an OT who worked for a public school for over ten years OT may help make thing a little better with children with written expression but it's not a cureall. However as for OT testing if you have not had it and look at test that specifically look at written expression. SAVE work samples so we they say he test fine he's very bright you can indicate that he will need written out put! Scribe is not the answer as who walking around with you child after high school to write for them how will they student and express themselves. AT has been a our son's way of staying in school feeling good about himself not being put in a special class or school. He will be 15 this month just attended his own IEP meeting yesterday he has been at them since he was 10 years old and discussed his plan for collge which would be easy for him but defiantly a goal he can and I am sure he will accomplish. He still needs support
With Eassys and the increased written output and word problem in math. Glad to help ask questions if you have any.

[Anonymous]

What app does he use for Math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi as a mother of a teenager with dx of written expression the use of an I pad has been essential for my son who attended a advance math and science school public school. Your public school has to test in all areas of concerns including AT Assitive technology. It's always very difficult to get the school on board but it is the law and the evaluator must be an AT specilist. When he was younger it was so painful to see his written work we had another parent say at a open house say "I did not know something was wrong" when she saw his writing displayed on the wall. little did she know he rewrote it several times already. He is now very proficient with his I pad and present to educatures the Apps he uses to increase his access to course work. Sound notes, I annote, Dragon, are just a few he uses apps for math his notes are provided via power point and he adds on to them. He uses a lap top only for test and quizzes and he uses kurzwill (reading & editing software for this). We scan his books and book share which helps him keep up with the reading he has a very slow reading speed (fluency) despite years of Wilson, Orten Gillingham along with speech tx. I am an OT who worked for a public school for over ten years OT may help make thing a little better with children with written expression but it's not a cureall. However as for OT testing if you have not had it and look at test that specifically look at written expression. SAVE work samples so we they say he test fine he's very bright you can indicate that he will need written out put! Scribe is not the answer as who walking around with you child after high school to write for them how will they student and express themselves. AT has been a our son's way of staying in school feeling good about himself not being put in a special class or school. He will be 15 this month just attended his own IEP meeting yesterday he has been at them since he was 10 years old and discussed his plan for collge which would be easy for him but defiantly a goal he can and I am sure he will accomplish. He still needs support
With Eassys and the increased written output and word problem in math. Glad to help ask questions if you have any.

just wanted to say that for us, in the early years (at least thru 4th gr), scribe is an important accommodation for our DC. Agree that it is not a long-term solution. But, until DC's typing is a LOT better and DC's spelling improves (enough so that assistive word technology is helpful), scribe is important. Also, at younger age, DC doesn't have patience nor clear enough speech for useful Dragon Dictation.

On Assistive Technology -- so important! -- in MCPS, parents can ask/demand that the HIAT unit do a technology assessment. They are good/helpful. I think HIAT stands for "high incidence assistive technology" or smthg like that. That office also has useful info about AT on the MCPS website.

[Anonymous]

Hi

I checked in with my son on his I pad he uses noteability App. For math. My son did not start with AT until 4-5th grade and did use a scribe for testing prior to that. He found it frustrating having to dictate to someone. He is more organized with having gotten rid of paper and keeping all work on his IPad. Making sure notes are provided in a digital format has been great techers email power and Sam can add on he now has something to study he uses I annote App for this. He also uses it to annote his books while his peers have to hand write within the text. I love the independence and self confidence he has gotten from uses of AT not to mention better grades.

[Anonymous]

My son had trouble getting anything written through 4th grade. I tried and tried to get him and IEP and the school would not even test him. They told me that writing is not essential and if he could get by with verbal or dictation he was fine.

In 4th grade I finally got him into a psychiatrist who prescribed Adderall even though DS didn't quite pass the ADD test.

DS started taking Adderall, and now DS can write! Amazing.