Dysgraphia?

[onlyboys]

I've suspected for some time that my oldest son has dysgraphia. He's always struggled with fine motor skills, but never in a manner that interfered with his academic successes.

He started high school this year and immediately the issue has presented itself. He's having trouble keeping up with notes, teachers reading his work, his self-esteem as he compares himself to his peers, and a bias toward beautiful handwriting.

We're considering having him staffed or at least getting him on a 504 plan.

For contextual reasons here's some background: he's 14 years old, makes honor roll typically, and is taking all honors and one AP class this year. He goes to a high school for the performing arts and he's in the Theatre track. He adores the school, and I'm not concerned about grades as much as I am concerned about teachers making comments about his handwriting.

Any experience or thoughts?

[heatherdeg]

I had your kid (figuratively, of course) as a student. It enraged me to no end that *I* was the first person bringing this problem up. Most of the teachers were just giving him "A"s on his written work because they assumed it was right based on his test scores (not much writing on those--so it was objective).

It's really not hard to get a 504 plan in place. He just needs access to a laptop/computer with a printer for his written work. That's what we did for the student I had.

If they want to do an IEP, I'd pressure them about why: usually, IEPs come with funding where 504s don't. And although a parent can now dissolve an IEP, that's a relatively new thing (as of early 2009). 504s are much easier to deal with in that respect.