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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

Fine motor/ Writing - solutions?

11 replies

madwomanintheattic · 07/12/2009 01:23

what do your dc's use?

dd2 has cp but no ld's and needs to be able to keep up with 'writing' in class.

her teacher says laptop - and has a very keen preference for a mac (old ot said 'keyboard'), but new ot has suggested alphasmart?

dd2 is still doing writing exercises with pencil etc, and we are tinkering with 'write from the start', but long term a keyboard of some sort is going to be the only route realistically...

ideas?

due to our circs we are likely to have to self fund in the first instance - just want to get it right!

OP posts:

Davros · 07/12/2009 08:05

There are two well known programs called Sensible Pencil and Handwriting Without Tears. Not sure if they'd fit the bill but worth checking. HTH

DottyWot · 07/12/2009 09:47

DS is in Yr1 and after a year of trying lots of other things, he now uses a computer for all of his written work which has made a huge difference. He knows what he wants to write, but he isn't able to write letters that are readable.

I did initially think of an Alphasmart, but it only has 6 lines of text, and as DS has minor vision issues and needs larger text it would have reduced the 6 lines to much lower. Also they have recommended that DS should use Clicker 5, which needs a computer. So at the moment DS uses one of the class computers which has the benefit of being connected to a printer (instant results!) and he uses it for everything -spellings etc. At a later date he may need a laptop, but the class computer seems to be working well at the moment.

If you are self-funding, then you might get some ideas from a thread I started in SK which had quite a lot of different products.

Original poster

madwomanintheattic · 07/12/2009 16:15

thanks both - dotty, will see if i can find the thread... unfortunately the class computer is only wired to the whiteboard, which is in pretty much constant use - originally that was the plan, but they hadn't quite worked out that it wouldn't do both... dd2's lovely teacher was going to bring in her own laptop, as she's getting a bit frustrated with the 'yes/ no' funding situation...

OP posts:

DottyWot · 07/12/2009 18:11

Did you find the thread Madwomanintheattic? The thread was started in SEN at the end of sept and my user name is an old children's tv show -probably too cryptic!

Original poster

madwomanintheattic · 07/12/2009 21:40

oh. i think i know who you are . and i think we pmed a few times, if i'm right - dd2 started school at the same time...

did your wee man spend a lot of time with extra metalwork a year or so ago?

going to go back and look now i've got more info though lol - i spent about two hours trawling threads that looked hopeful!

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Original poster

madwomanintheattic · 08/12/2009 02:38

i was right!

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DottyWot · 08/12/2009 13:13

anonandlikeit · 08/12/2009 16:19

DS2 has CP & ASD (yr 2), we are just waiting for an IT assessment from the local SN school to see what best suits him.
Has your dd had the opportunity to try different options or have an assessment?

Our SN outreach also loans the IT equipment to the child at ms school, do you have anything similar?

Original poster

madwomanintheattic · 08/12/2009 16:30

anon - we did in the uk, but we moved o'seas 3 months ago for two years with work... so we've gone from having a full statement (which included transition to keyboard specificed by ot lol, as well as 1-1), to still really being under assessment to get set up. they don't have a statement equivalent system, but kids do get 'coded' which basically entitles a level of funding... the school in conjunction with therapists then sorts out what they need - 1-1/ eqpt etc...

the new ot has suggested an alphasmart (and i remember they were used in the uk, which might be useful lol) but basically gave me the web address... it's tricky to work out the new system lol - there were all sorts discussions as to whether the ot and physio could visit the school, whereas in the uk ours did all the time... we had a different ss ot for home, but here i'm finding it a bit tricky to work out who is supposed to do what - and they don't really know themselves lol, when i ask...

we'll get there in the end, but as it's a new team (we see the paed for the first time on thurs - hoping that will make sense of things a bit more!) they seem to be relying on me to do a bit more - the system seems a bit more parent driven - what we all want in the uk, obv but actually, really quite odd in practise! parent referral for ot, slt, physio... totally open referral system...

i'd love to be able to try out different stuff, but we're sort of in the middle of nowhere and there doesn't seem to be anywhere... i might have to see if there is anything in the nearest 'big' city lol - we have to go there for the sn dentist - a 3 hour drive

OP posts:

anonandlikeit · 08/12/2009 16:39

Poor you, i have enough of a struggle trying to work out the UK system, i hope that you are somewhere warm & sunny whilst surfing the net.
Until ds2 is assessed I'm not sure what is out there & what would suit.

Original poster

madwomanintheattic · 08/12/2009 18:15

it's minus 38 today and we've got bucketloads of snow lol... but it is sunny! my car won't start though - it's frozen solid!

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