Handwriting Instruction

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
​Updated May 27, 2024
Developing legible handwriting is an important skill for students with low vision, and there are various strategies and tools that can support their handwriting development. Consider using the following strategies to teach handwriting.
 
  • Individualized Instruction: Tailor handwriting instruction to meet the unique needs of each student. Some students may require minimal accommodations, while others may need more intensive support. Collaborate with occupational therapists to develop personalized strategies for handwriting development.
  • Meaningful Activities: Integrate handwriting instruction into meaningful activities that are age and developmentally-appropriate. Engage students in writing tasks that are relevant to their interests and daily life experiences. This can enhance motivation and skill acquisition.
  • Optical Devices: Consider using optical devices such as video magnifiers to assist students in completing writing assignments. Video magnifiers provide adjustable magnification and contrast options, allowing students to view information hands-free and write more comfortably.
  • Non-Optical Devices: Utilize non-optical devices like bold line paper, 20-20 pens or soft-lead artist pencils or pens that provide increased contrast, task lighting, and slant boards to support students with low vision in handwriting tasks. These tools can help improve visibility, stability, and posture while writing.
  • Braille Skills: For students with minimal or no vision, provide instruction on writing letters and signatures for quick notes. This will allow the student to write quick notes to non-braille readers.
 
By implementing individualized instruction, integrating meaningful activities, and utilizing appropriate tools and devices, students with low vision can develop legible handwriting skills that support their academic and functional independence.​
"The goal is to work toward normal line spacing because writing with normal-sized letters not only conforms to societal expectation but provides the student with a greater speed of writing." - Foundations of Low Vision (p.295),

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