pens/pencils for dyspraxia

SammySue

My 17 year old son is Dyspraxic and he would not have managed his secondary school years without a laptop. You have to insist and nag and be a real pain to get one but it is life changing. All that information that they need to get out or record is now a lot easier.
Lakeland do have a new type grip pen. I bought one for my son for Christmas but he hasn't let me know how he's getting on with it yet. Being typically Dyspraxic, he's probably lost it. Might be worth a try.

rev229, you probably know by now, if your son has a statement, how much you have to nag and nag to get any help. Please keep going with the OT support. Dyspraxics can get physio too and free built in shoe support or shoes. You just need to perserve. I know it's hard work and it's often a case that you just don't know what your child is entitled to.
Sorry about the ramble. Just feel passionately that SEN children do not get a fair deal.

Rachie_B

SammySue wrote:

My 17 year old son is Dyspraxic and he would not have managed his secondary school years without a laptop. You have to insist and nag and be a real pain to get one but it is life changing. All that information that they need to get out or record is now a lot easier.Lakeland do have a new type grip pen. I bought one for my son for Christmas but he hasn't let me know how he's getting on with it yet. Being typically Dyspraxic, he's probably lost it. Might be worth a try.

.

Its such a worry about any child starting secondary as the transition is so great

but i really worry for my son I hope the school are understanding / sympathetic to his needs

this is supposed to be a good forum for kids / teens
http://www.dyspraxicteens.org.uk/
http://www.matts-hideout.co.uk/dyspraxia/

magic57

Hi there
I am a Learning Support Assistant and have worked with Dyspraxic children before. He has the most important requirement which is a caring parent.

There are some triangular pencils are called Handhuggers. They also do handwriting pens so they might help. Otherwise the pens with a rubber grip seem to be good. A sloping desk would be woth a try.At my school we used a method called 'Write from the Start'. (Google it) It takes a child right back to basics but would probably be too young for a ten year old. Other things he could try are tracing, cutting out, clay etc.
We also did a bit of Brain Gym in school but I'm not totally convinced it worked. It was good fun though so worth a try.

Good luck

magic57

By the way
Tai Chi might also be worth a go. It's a slow form of martial art so might appeal to a 10 year old.

fabwitch_2

You can buy the left handed and right handed pens which have special grips which make it easier for adults and children with co ordination problems. These pens are fantastic and really help the child to improve their writing. I bought two from WHSmith for my sons. Just ask in any store for the left/right handed pens and they will be able to help you. The pens cost approx £5.00

fabwitch_2

You can buy the left handed and right handed pens which have special grips which make it easier for adults and children with co ordination problems. These pens are fantastic and really help the child to improve their writing. I bought two from WHSmith for my sons. Just ask in any store for the left/right handed pens and they will be able to help you. The pens cost approx £5.00

SammySue

Rachie_B wrote:

Its such a worry about any child starting secondary as the transition is so great

but i really worry for my son I hope the school are understanding / sympathetic to his needs

this is supposed to be a good forum for kids / teens
http://www.dyspraxicteens.org.uk/
http://www.matts-hideout.co.uk/dyspraxia/

Rachie, I know what it's feels like. I was very anxious before my son started secondary school too but he dealt with it, much better than I had anticipated.

Check out all the local secondary schools in the area if possible, as your son has a statement, he will take priority with his choice of school. Also, make an appointment to see the SENCO. You will be very surprised at the difference of outlook and teaching methods. Another good tip (sorry if you know all this already) is to find out if your son will be supported be assistants or SEN qualified teachers. You tend to find that he will get more support if it's assistants but maybe one-2-one if it's teachers.

Ask your son's SEN support as his existing school to take him around the secondary school as well as the usual class visit there. That will help him familiarise himself with the surroundings and give him a bit of an edge over his class mates. Maybe he could take a friend with him?

I don't know about the sites you suggest but finding out as much as you can about the subject is always a good idea. Please keep going with the OT consultation and ask them for the sheets of exercises that they can supply. Doing these can make a big difference. Some schools now do it at the beginning of the school day. They can also provide you with a booklet written by a Dyspraxic child, explaining things from their point of view. It's fantastic, reiterates the same point again and again, which of course is needed. Some people swear by fish oil too.

My son is 17 now, doing fantastically well at college on a computer course and had a part-time job over Christmas at M&S. I honestly thought he would never cope with these things. I obviously did not have enough faith in him as he has proved me wrong, time and time again. I'm not saying it's easy, as each age brings a new set of problems......but it's all about coping mechanisms.

Sorry for the ramble again.

Rachie_B

thank you

aww your son sounds like he is coping really well
I suppose dyspraxia is slightly more known about than it used to be ?

Thanks for the tips etc ,to be honest ive tried not to think about it TOO much yet he has been accepted into the secondary school of our choice but won't visit until May

SammySue

Anytime Rachie. Post to let us all know how your son gets on!

One more thing I've thought of. Sometimes local children's hospital run summer groups once a week for children with Dyspraxia and similar complaints. Might be worth contacting them or your GP about it. It's run by the OT's and Physios, so really good if you get your son on one of these.

Forgot to say about my son too, his fine motor skills are so poor, he can hardly write his own name. So if you can get a laptop, you could find it invaluable.

michellenealemum

hi, where are you based i work for the bradford toy library based at st lukes in bradford, and we along with ot have developed a dsypraxia writing box, i can photograph it and send you all details of the suppliers but can't do it until monday.
If you pm me i will send it on monday when i get into work if you have any specific questions i work closely with ot and physio.
Hope it helps michelle