Dysgraphia

What Is Dysgraphia?

Dysgraphia affects a person’s ability to write, and can show up as illegible handwriting, inconsistent spacing, poor spatial planning on the page, weak spelling, or significant difficulty and fatigue with the physical act of writing itself.

How Porter Academy Addresses Dysgraphia

• Occupational Therapy, for every student, directly builds the fine motor strength and coordination that handwriting depends on (see our Occupational Therapy page for more)
• Handwriting Without Tears, taught through OT, provides explicit, multisensory instruction in both print and cursive handwriting
• Typing instruction gives students an alternative pathway to written expression as their handwriting skills continue to develop
• Limited copying, with handouts and graphic organizers provided instead, so students can focus on content rather than the mechanics of writing
• Visual and spatial supports — large print, high color contrast, and clear formatting — reduce the visual-spatial demands of written work

Learn More

For general background on dysgraphia, we recommend the International Dyslexia Association, which also covers related written-language learning differences.