Writing skills and Down Syndrome

[Dingle]

DD has been at a SN school since Sept last year after a long battle for statementing and support at mainstream. She is now in Y4 and her teacher this term has shown concerns with her handwriting!

Although it states on her statement that she has sensory needs, gross motor and fine motor delays and that programmes must be devised and implemented to develop these it seems she has had no real input in Y3.

The in school appointment we had from the OT and Physio earlier in the year was as good as useless and this afternoon I am off to the school to see them again.

Has anyone got any advice, information regarding writing programmes, fine motor skills etc so I can go in "armed" with a little more knowledge.

hi, i dont know if it is a bit late but my ds two worksheet booklets to help with his writing skills

they are called "The Teoddorescu Perceptuo-Motor programme" and "Harlequin prewriting skills funsheets 1". not sure where he got them now. they go back to the basics and i would be happy to scan and email then to you ( i dont have all the worksheets for the harlequinn book )

Thank you, I would be very interested in seeing what these are like- I have wasted most of the afternoon looking online for resources with very little success.

I have found the Write from the start books online but if it is at all possible I would love to see some examples before I pay out over £20 for the set. My email addy is dingle.del at hotmail dot co dot uk.

I am also having a look around at various pencils and grips or even a writing slope.I thought Ikea did a good alternative somewhere in the past!

OT has mentioned about trying body brushing and joint compression which I am keen to try but now waiting for further feedback and hopefuly another appointment.

Thank you.x

The Teoddorescu Perceptuo-Motor programme I think is Write From The Start which can easily be bought from Amazon.

I would definately take a three pronged approach

1. Do Write from the start, which is about 'making marks' in variety of ways rather than forming letters. Do it 10 minutes each day

2. Do OT to strengthen her hands. Hopefully your OT has given her exercises for this. We play with Rainbow Putty every night

3. Do OT exercises to strengthen her core muscles (Tummy etc) ( We have now just started doing 2 pilates exercises a day)

Not sure if this stuff will apply to your DD - but it is what we have done / are doing with my dyspraxic 10 year old who has handwriting like a 5 year old.

HTH