Since I first stepped into my kindergarten classroom, I have used some form of assistive technology for dysgraphia every day of my life and in every single one of my classes and jobs, from K-12 to college to graduate school. Even though my handwriting has improved over the years, it is still challenging for anyone (including myself) to read my own handwriting. Some people see my poor handwriting and assume that I have trouble writing in general or that I don’t write about anything particularly interesting, and that’s why identifying appropriate assistive technology for dysgraphia is so important to me— I have a lot to say, but my handwriting makes it challenging for me to share it all. Here is a list of assistive technology for dysgraphia that can make a huge difference for writers like me that I have used across multiple contexts.
What is dysgraphia?
Dysgraphia is defined by the National Institute of Health as “a neurological disorder characterized by writing disabilities. Specifically, the disorder causes a person’s writing to be distorted or incorrect.” Dysgraphia is no longer considered an official diagnosis according to the DSM-5, but rather the product of development coordination disorder (which covers the motor aspects of the condition) and/or specific learning disorder (which covers the cognitive aspects and written expression). However, the term dysgraphia is still used to describe impairments in written expression, and accommodations for dysgraphia can be included in an IEP, 504 Plan, Student Assistance Plan, and/or college Disability Services file.
I was diagnosed with dysgraphia at age five, which is the year I started kindergarten. My handwriting has improved over time with the help of occupational therapy and other interventions, but dysgraphia itself cannot be cured. At the time of my dysgraphia diagnosis, I also had an existing diagnosis of low vision, and years later was also diagnosed with Chiari 1 Malformation, a congenital neurological disorder.
Related links
- Dysgraphia Accommodations In The Classroom
- How I Explain My Brain With Chiari Malformation
- Introduction To Low Vision IEPs: Post Round Up
- Why You Should Get A Disability Services File
What is assistive technology?
The Technology-Related Assistance to Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 (Tech Act) defines an assistive technology device as “any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.” The Tech Act also defines an assistive technology service as “any service that directly assists an individual with a disability in selection, acquisition or use of an assistive technology device.”
When a lot of people think of the term “assistive technology”, they often imagine expensive, high-tech, or specialty devices like computers, but there is actually a huge range of assistive technology for dysgraphia that encompasses “no-tech” or “low-tech” solutions that don’t require batteries or a power source to “high-tech” tools like computers. Assistive technology strategies can also play a role in universal design for learning (UDL) or inclusive design principles that are incorporated into mainstream products and technologies.
Related links
- A to Z of Assistive Technology For Low Vision
- A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
- Five Myths About Assistive Technology
- My Talk At A Future Date: What I Wish I Learned About AT Before Starting College
- Why I Study Assistive Technology
No-tech and low-tech assistive technology for dysgraphia
Pencil grips
For students that have dysgraphia in addition to other fine motor issues, pencil grips can be a great tool for helping students to hold a pencil more naturally. Pencil grips can be something as simple as a binder clip attached to promote tripod grasp, a silicone gripping aid, or a customized solution made from moldable materials. In many situations, an occupational therapist will be the one to recommend the type of pencil grip that will work best for the user.
My first IEP accommodations listed that I could use a pencil grip in the classroom to assist with gripping pencils. I stopped using pencils in eighth grade due to reduced contrast sensitivity, but have also used grips for pens and styluses with other students that have dysgraphia.
Wide ruled notebooks
A major component of dysgraphia is difficulty with writing in a straight line, along with even spacing for words, letters, and lines. To help with this, I would use wide ruled notebooks that provide additional space to write letters, and that also make it easier to write double-spaced pages to assist with line tracking. For students with low vision, paper with high-contrast lines is ideal since white paper with blue lines may not provide enough contrast.
Line tracker or signature guide
A line tracker or typoscope is a tool that blocks out surrounding lines above and/or below an area on the page to help the user focus on visual information. This is commonly used for reading, but can also be helpful for writing in a straight line or used as a signature guide or other template for writing. Line trackers can come in many forms— I have used an index card, black plastic cutouts, and folder cutouts as a line tracker or writing guide as a student with dysgraphia.
Slanted display
Slanted displays can be used with paper materials or for screens/boards to provide an angled display for writing, which can make it easier to write legibly or read materials for students with dysgraphia and visual impairment. A tablet stand is one example of a slanted display that I use frequently as a student with low vision and dysgraphia.
White boards with dry erase markers
Instead of writing on paper, I personally find it easier to write on a slanted or vertical surface like a white board or dry-erase board with markers, because they are wider than pens or pencils and are easier/quicker to erase. I use white boards for math classes and take pictures of the whiteboard to attach to my assignments, or I copy work neatly onto a paper copy once I’ve worked everything out on the whiteboard.
Related links
- Writing Aids For Low Vision: My Personal Superlatives
- Strategies For Using Lined Paper With Low Vision
- Adapting Page Layouts: Math Problems and Low Vision
- Dry-Erase Eraser Alternatives For Low Vision
- How I Show Work For Math With Low Vision and Dysgraphia
Mid-tech assistive technology for dysgraphia
Dictation/speech-to-text
Also known as speech-to-text, dictation tools take spoken words, numbers, punctuation, and other formatting information as input, and transcribes the audio as text that can be output into a text field, word processing document, or onto a printed page. Many smartphones and tablets support dictation as part of their digital keyboard programs, and dictation can be used either alone or in conjunction with other input methods. For example, a student might write the first draft of a paper with dictation and then go back and edit it with a keyboard.
Word prediction software
Text prediction provides spelling and grammar assistance, and can also provide word or phrase suggestions while writing. It’s worth noting that text prediction can’t generate entire sentences or paragraphs or text, and does not provide recommendations for every single thing someone types, rather it provides suggestions for frequently used words or key terms. This can also be helpful for notetaking or for composing messages or emails, but may not be approved for testing or exams.
Handheld word processors/digital typewriters
Digital typewriter or handheld word processors are portable battery-powered keyboards that can be used for typing and writing documents without connecting to a computer or the internet. Users can author text by typing on the keyboard and then connect it via USB to a computer, transferring saved text to a Doc/DocX file format or other text file. While brands like AlphaSmart are no longer manufacturing new devices, they can be found on the secondhand market or through an assistive technology library or assistive technology recycling program.
Text expanders
Also called text replacement, text expanders “expand” acronyms or shortcuts into longer words, phrases, or sentences. For example, on iOS devices the default text replacement example is “omw”, which expands to “on my way!” and is not case sensitive. This automatically inserts the phrase “on my way!” whenever “omw” is typed. Text expanders may also be marketed as text replacement tools, personal dictionaries, or keyboard shortcuts.
Pen scanners
Pen scanners are a type of scanning device that allow users to scan in handwritten or typed text, which can help users with copying down information. Some pen scanners will also read text out loud, though this depends on the model. Once text is scanned in, users can copy it into a notetaking program or modify the text as needed. I personally use the ScanMarker Air, which offers cross-platform support and can be used with my computer, tablet, or phone.
Stylus
Stylus pens provide another option for text input or drawing on a touchscreen. Some users find that handwriting recognition programs can recognize their handwriting and convert it to typed text, while others may prefer to handwrite text or draw without converting information into digital text or art. I find it easier to write neatly on my iPad screen with a stylus compared to writing on paper with a pencil because I can easily undo what I am working on or adjust my screen display so I am writing in a specific area of the page, which can help with writing in a consistent font size. I also use a stylus when filling out medical forms online.
Related links
- How To Use Dictation As Assistive Technology With Mainstream Devices
- How I Manage Dysgraphia In Online Classes
- AlphaSmart For Low Vision and Dysgraphia
- How I Use The Apple Pencil With Low Vision
- ScanMarker Air: OCR Scanner Pen for Low Vision
- A to Z of Assistive Technology For Low Vision
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Keyboards
High-tech assistive technology for dysgraphia
Note taking applications
Note taking applications provide users with the option to organize text, audio, photos, videos, drawings, and more all in one dynamic application, which can make it easier for students with dysgraphia to take notes. Instead of trying to read handwritten notes (which may be copied down in a rush during lectures), students may be approved for a disability accommodation to type their own notes or receive a copy of notes from the instructor or another source, which can then be loaded into note taking applications. I personally use the OneNote application for note taking because I can use it on multiple devices and find it easier to organize my notes for all of my classes in a central location.
Use of a computer/tablet for typing
While I can write text by hand if I have to, it is challenging for myself and others to read my handwriting, especially in highly visual subjects like math and science— it’s not fun to wonder if I am looking at something that says 13x or 18y. Learning to type is absolutely critical for students with dysgraphia, though it’s important to note that dysgraphia doesn’t “go away” when someone switches to typing, and other mid-tech settings for text correction and prediction should still be used.
Word processors
I spend a lot of time using mainstream word processing applications like Microsoft Word, Pages, and Google Docs, which are used a lot in my college and graduate school classes. There are also specialty word processing applications that are designed to be used with additional accessibility settings like VDWrite, which can provide access to tools like word prediction, AutoCorrect, and a more robust editing tool that can catch more spelling and grammar mistakes.
Digital scanning applications
Digital scanning applications capture images through a phone or device camera, creating a quality digital scan that can be used to recognize text or create a digital file for annotation. For example, I would use a digital scanning application called Microsoft Lens to scan a copy of an assignment and write on top of it with a tool like Markup or Notability for my classes, or I would take a photo of a whiteboard with a math solution I wrote out and attach that as scratch work.
Related links
- Notability and Low Vision
- How I Use Microsoft OneNote With Low Vision
- How I Outline Research Papers With OneNote
- How I Use Microsoft Lens With Low Vision
- How I Take Notes During Video Lectures With Low Vision
- Tips For Using VDWrite In The Classroom With Low Vision
More resources on assistive technology for dysgraphia
- Wondering how to teach typing to someone with dysgraphia? I share several strategies in Learning To Type With Low Vision
- Dysgraphia didn’t go away when I graduated from high school, but I have to self-accommodate a lot more often now that I am in college. Learn more in How I Manage Dysgraphia In Online Classes
- To facilitate typing assignments, I had a shared folder system with my high school teachers. Learn more in Implementing Shared Folders For Accessible Materials and How I Receive Accessible Quizzes and Tests in the Classroom
Published October 8, 2020. Updated December 2024