Dysgraphia - advice needed re assessment and statement

[justmeagain99]

We have a 10 year old son with dysgraphia and hypermobility, and am about to request a statutory assessment for him - his independent school have resisted use of a laptop and spent more than two years giving him extra handwriting lessons etc. which only serve to add to his frustration and were abandoned last year by the person providing his special lessons who said that his writing problems could not be remediated and that typing was essential for him. In addition he will be moving into the state sector for secondary school.

My question is: has anyone been given a statement for dysgraphia where the child does not also have problems with reading/spelling? DD is a fluent reader and speller but cannot write, organise or present work - I would guess he's about 3 years behind or more in this.

If so, what does the statement say?

Is there an ed psych with a special knowledge of dysgraphia that you would recommend for a private assessment?

Any advice would also be greatly appreciated. I plan to take him to intensive touch typing classes, but want to have the problem formally recognised before doing so.

[mummytime]

You should get help without a statement. Go and request a chance to talk to the SENCo of the state secondary (or secondaries) you are intending to send him to. You will probably find they are far more clued up than private schools.

He is unlikely to get a statement, unless he is really far behind.