But, what IS our role with handwriting programs? Where does the value of our expertise and the validity of our responsibility fit into the provision of handwriting instruction? These questions are legitimate and warrant a discussion in search for answers.ġ. (1) Occupational Therapists have designed effective handwriting programs based upon developmental principles, worked with a handwriting program publisher,* and most certainly have used handwriting programs in their therapy sessions. And rightly so, as we understand the underlying developmental skills that build handwriting mastery and our interventions in both instruction and remediation have been effective in advancing students in their handwriting mastery. Of course, Occupational Therapy has certainly made a presence in the handwriting program environment. Handwriting “instruction,” per se, is not the mission of my particular business. In both of these cases, I will address the student’s individual needs with a handwriting program that blends with his learning styles and remediation goals. For the older students, this is commonly not an issue, as they are not receiving handwriting instruction in class. If I feel it cannot, then I will speak with the teacher and parents about addressing the student’s needs with a different program.
My next step is to evaluate the capability of the classroom’s handwriting program to facilitate the student’s success with remediation. My first priority is to identify and target the underlying problems that are revealed in the student’s handwriting struggles. My business goals are to assess and remediate children’s handwriting development skills. The question inevitably arises, “Which handwriting program do you use for instruction in your specialized OT practice?” And the answer is always the same, “I have none.” I’ve actually never considered the selection of one program over another, nor have I recommended one as my “preferred,” feeling that in my practice it is not my role to do that.
I have been asked often to reveal my “favorite choice” for a handwriting program. OT and Handwriting Programs: What is our role?
#OT HANDWRITING PROGRAMS SERIES#
This first article in our “OT in the Classroom” series addresses the first of these interests – the role of OT in handwriting mastery – and brings up points that I hope will generate discussion and help us all to learn and grow within our profession. For others, it has been the role of OT in the educational system as a whole. For me, that has been handwriting mastery. Despite a certain amount of turmoil and confusion where those changes may have thrown us a curve ball, most often they have provided us with an opportunity to make a difference in an area in which we’ve longed to see an improvement. In recent years, the role of OT, in general, has been changing with the waves of healthcare and education reforms. For the month of September, the Handwriting is Fun! Blog will be sharing insights about the role of Occupational Therapy in the classroom.
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