As I tucked my son into bed tonight the reality of summer coming to a close hit me. In two weeks he will begin 3rd grade and I am petrified that the sparkle in his eye will again fade away. By the end of 2nd grade, school was exhausting and getting him there was an Olympic event. I am building my arsenal of facts on dysgraphia, the specifics as they relate to my guy, and most importantly have begun to discuss this with him, so he can find his voice for when Mom is not there.
I looked at licensed periodical databases like EBSCO and GALE; finding some information on what dysgraphia is and the background information, but little on how to foster growth and confidence in the child who has it. I did find one article found in American Journal of Occupational Therapy that discussed handwriting performance, self-reports, and perceived self-efficacy among students with dysgraphia. The article nicely blended the scientific, the academic, and the emotional sectors impacted by dysgraphia. The final conclusion was the children with dysgraphia are aware of their handwriting deficits and are able to report them. That being said this awareness can bring interventions and accommodations, but with it comes guilt and shame. I would have liked this article to focus more on the emotional end of dysgraphia and offer ways to help children find ways to cope, while fostering their strengths to a level of comfort and pride for the student.
My next thought was, "I wonder if children's books are available that help to explain what is going on, for the child as well as to share with a class or family and friends. I am heading to the World Wide Web to do some searching and will report later or tomorrow as to what I have found. Who knows, maybe I just found my calling; writing children's books about disabilities and what you want your friends/teachers to know about you.
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