While a lot of people associate dysgraphia with illegible or hard-to-read handwriting, dysgraphia can often extend to difficulties with typing and other types of written expression as well. Even though I type all of my notes and assignments for my online classes, my dysgraphia doesn’t “disappear” just because typing is easier than handwriting- typing with dysgraphia can still be a challenge at times. I’ve had to learn a few different strategies for managing dysgraphia in online classes, including the use of accessibility settings, assistive technology, and receiving disability accommodations in the form of an IEP or college disability services file. Here is how I manage dysgraphia in online classes, including online class accommodations for dysgraphia that I’ve used in high school, college, and in graduate school.
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
- Assistive Technology For Dysgraphia
- More About My Eyes
- Dear Elementary School Teacher
- How I Explain My Brain With Chiari Malformation
Enabling autocorrect and editing tools
Even though I know how words are spelled, I tend to make a lot of spelling mistakes when writing paragraphs or large amounts of text whether I’m writing by hand or typing with dysgraphia. For me, this can look like dropping letters in a word, omitting words from a sentence, or spelling words incorrectly. Having autocorrect and editing tools enabled while I’m writing can help with making spelling corrections in real time or highlighting words or phrases that I need to go back and edit manually.
Examples of tools that I use for autocorrect and editing include:
- Enabling autocorrect on my Android phone and iPad keyboards
- Using Microsoft Editor on my web browser and Office applications
- Search query corrections and suggestions that identify spelling errors
- Proofreading text before I submit it in another application or using a simplified reading display
Related links
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Keyboards
- Learning To Type With Low Vision
- Designing Accessible Documents With Microsoft Word
- Secret Microsoft Office Accessibility Features I Use Every Day
- Simplified Reading Displays and Low Vision
Text prediction
Text prediction provides spelling and grammar assistance, and can also provide word or phrase suggestions while writing. While I didn’t use text prediction in high school, it has helped me in college by providing word suggestions that can help me write more quickly. 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 I type, rather it provides suggestions for frequently used words or key terms.
Examples of tools that I use for text prediction include:
- Text prediction in Microsoft Word, which can auto-complete things like dates or terms that I frequently use while writing. For example, if I write the word “assistive”, Word automatically recommends the word “technology” immediately after, because I use the phrase “assistive technology” frequently in my writing.
- AutoComplete and text suggestions for computer programming, which can provide guidance on syntax and variable names that I’ve already declared, reducing errors
Related links
- How I Use Repl.it IDE With Low Vision
- How To Create A Disability Services File
- What’s In My High School Backpack As A Low Vision Student
- Seven Unexpected Disability Accommodations For Virtual Learning
Text expanders
Also called text replacement, text expanders “expand” acronyms or shortcuts into longer words, phrases, or sentences. On iOS devices, the default text replacement example given is “omw”, which expands to “on my way!” and is not case sensitive. I primarily use text expanders on mobile devices like my phone or tablet, but also enabled this feature in Microsoft Word since that’s where I type a lot of my course assignments.
Some examples of expanders or replacements I have enabled include:
- Long legal definitions that I frequently have to cite in assignments, such as the definition of assistive technology.
- Expanding acronyms, such as “atech” into “assistive technology”
- Names of disabilities/medical conditions, products, or other terms that are prone to spelling errors that I use frequently in writing
- While not an “official” example, I will often write placeholder text for parenthetical citations and use the find and replace tool once I’m done writing to add the official citations.
Examples of tools that I use for text expanders/text replacement include:
- Adding custom acronyms/words/phrases to the iPad keyboard. This can be configured in Settings by opening the Keyboard menu and then selecting Text Replacement.
- Within Microsoft Word and Microsoft OneNote, text expanders can be configured by opening the Options menu, followed by Proofing and AutoCorrect options. Text can be added within the option “Replace text as you type.”
- Espanso is a free and open source text expander tool available across multiple platforms, including MacOS, Windows, and Linux.
- On an Android phone, the personal dictionary can be configured in GBoard settings under the Dictionary option, which includes an option for indicating a text shortcut
Related links
- How To Make iPad Accessible for Low Vision
- How I Use Microsoft OneNote With Low Vision
- How I Create Citations For Research Papers
- How I Use Espanso Text Expander With Dysgraphia
Writing on my iPad
When it comes to math classes, I find it more natural to use my iPad when working on assignments compared to my computer and keyboard, because I can hold the display closer to my face and adjust the display angle. I write with an Apple Pencil and have noticed my handwriting is neater/easier to read when I write on a tablet compared to on paper, though I still have to read very carefully and ensure that I didn’t miss a number or write it incorrectly. However, it is easy enough for me to erase something if needed.
In the math classes I’ve taken, my professors either required all students to write out problems by hand or use a document markup language like LaTeX. For the classes that required writing text by hand, I was approved to use my iPad and stylus in lieu of paper and pencil. I didn’t learn to use LaTeX and didn’t know it existed until a professor required it, but using LaTeX made it a lot easier for me to write out math symbols and organize equations.
Examples of tools that I’ve used for writing on my iPad include:
- Notability for annotating and writing on top of assignments/exams. If I used my personal iPad for an exam, the proctor would enable Guided Access
- Apple Pencil, which can be adapted to include additional grips or writing aids to assist with grasp
Related links
- Notability and Low Vision
- How I Use The Apple Pencil With Low Vision
- How I Show Work For Math With Low Vision and Dysgraphia
- Adapting Math Symbols: Math Problems and Low Vision
- Choosing An iPad Keyboard For Low Vision
- How To Use Guided Access For Testing And Exams
Extended time for timed assessments
I don’t have timed assessments or exams in my graduate school program, but I encountered them somewhat frequently in undergrad and more frequently in high school. Before I had this accommodation approved in high school, I would rush to write down everything I could think of and not really pay attention to any errors or legibility, because I didn’t want to leave anything unanswered. Having the extra time to go back and make edits, or write more deliberately and carefully the first time has helped a lot- even if I don’t use the extended time, I know it’s there if I need it. This was especially helpful for programming exams where having extra or missing spacing in words/lines or missing words could dramatically impact how something works.
Examples of tools (and strategies) that I’ve used for getting extended time include:
- Taking timed assessments in the Disability Services testing center or setting up remote proctoring
- Getting approved for 150% extended time, also known as time-and-a-half, which provides extra “buffer time” for reading and writing
- Working ahead on assignments or starting them early
Related links
- All About Extended Time Accommodations
- Remote Testing Accommodations For Low Vision
- Testing Accommodations For Low Vision Students
- How To Come Up With Sample Accommodations
More resources on how I manage dysgraphia in online classes
- I use dictation for writing on my phone and when writing initial drafts and have found it helpful- learn more in How To Use Dictation As Assistive Technology With Mainstream Devices
- Looking for more resources related to online learning? Read Virtual Education Archives | Veronica With Four Eyes (veroniiiica.com)
- I shared some of the strategies I used to improve the legibility of my handwriting in the post How I Use Technology To Improve Handwriting, though the most significant strategy that has helped is taking the time to write every day and incorporating writing practice into my routine.
Published October 4, 2023. Updated December 2024