- Can you give me individual advice for my child?
- Is joining NHA and receiving the Journal useful for me as a parent?
- Can you recommend tutors?
- Do you help adults with handwriting difficulties?
- Do you know of any other people, places, web sites or organisations that might help my child?
- Is it possible to improve a secondary student's handwriting once they have established a style, or does it automatically lead to a reduction in the child's writing speed?
- Can you offer help and advice for left handers?
Please contact us if you do not find the response to your question.
1. Can you give me individual advice for my child?
We are a charity, consisting mainly of volunteers, and work primarily with teachers, schools, universities and therapists to establish good handwriting policies and practice. Our resources are limited and, unfortunately, at this time we cannot deal with individual queries regarding private tuition and help. You will find helpful information about handwriting from our publications section.
2. Is joining NHA and receiving the Journal useful for me as a parent?
While the articles and information in the journal are very clear and user friendly, you might want to encourage your child's school to join NHA. In this way we can exchange information, help to raise standards and support those who teach children with handwriting problems. The publications are written for parents as well as professionals, and are well worth buying.
See more information in Handwriting... are you concerned?
3. Can you recommend tutors?
The NHA currently holds a register of tutors available to work with individuals. At present number are limited, but the list is growing. Contact Mary Howard. The information in this Handwriting Tutor Register refers to individuals whom we believe to be properly qualified. However no responsibility whatsoever either in contract or in negligence is accepted by the National Handwriting Association for the qualification or suitability of any person in the Register. It is the responsibility of the person using the information to ensure that any particular person chosen is able to provide the service required.
Patoss (Professional Association of Teacher of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties) has the Tutor Index which is a nationwide list of suitably qualified teachers/tutors willing to carry out assessments - both for teaching and for exam special arrangements - or to give private lessons. All those on the list are Patoss members who have either the RSA/OCR Diploma or Certificate in SpLD or are AMBDA. Details include qualifications, special professional interests, and preferred age ranges. Updated annually, it is available to non-members by post. For more information contact PATOSS@sworcs.ac.uk
To order, send a cheque to Patoss for UK £5.00 (inc p&p, and also including supplements during the year) within the UK.
PO Box 10, Evesham, Worcs WR11 1ZW Telephone: 01386 712 650 Fax: 01386 712 716 email: PATOSS@sworcs.ac.uk
4. Do you help adults with handwriting?
Articles from Handwriting Review (NHA Journal now called Handwriting Today). These can be downloaded at no cost by members and purchased by non-members.
- Improving Handwriting: Remedial Therapy for Adults by Correspondence by Keith H Seddon 1997
- Dealing with Adult Handwriting Problems by Rosemary Sassoon 1997.
- Handwriting Hints by Kate Gladstone. 1995
Books for Adults:
Improve Your Handwriting: Teach Yourself [Paperback] Rosemary Sassoon
Available from: The Book Depository or Amazon
Teach Yourself Better Handwriting by Rosemary Sassoon, Gunnlaugur SE. Briem Paperback - 192 pages New Ed (5 August, 1993) Teach Yourself; ISBN: 0340592877
Available from: The Book Depository or Amazon
Synopsis: This is a practical guide to improved handwriting, which has been specially written for adults. It covers self-diagnosis, penhold, the particular problems of left-handers and the impediments caused by medical conditions. It does not attempt to impose a particular handwriting model, but offers alternatives and encourages readers to experiment and chose how best to improve their legibility and speed. Dr Sassoon is a handwriting consultant specialising in both medical and educational aspects of this skill. She is also the author of The Practical Guide to Children's Handwriting and Handwriting: A New Perspective. Dr Briem is a designer and expert in Icelandic lettering.
Rosemary Sassoon is a well known and respected writer and has written a number of articles for NHA, and Dr Briem's web site is featured on the Links page. It can be obtained from a good bookshop, or from sites such as those above.
Improving Handwriting: Remedial Therapy for Adults by Correspondence by Keith H Seddon
Dealing with Adult Handwriting Problems by Rosemary Sassoon from the 1997 Handwriting Review are the only articles specifically on adult handwriting.
One book that might be worth purchasing is; Teach Yourself Better Handwriting by Rosemary Sassoon, Gunnlaugur SE. Briem Paperback - 192 pages New Ed (5 August, 1993) Teach Yourself; ISBN: 0340592877
Synopsis: This is a practical guide to improved handwriting, which has been specially written for adults. It covers self-diagnosis, penhold, the particular problems of left-handers and the impediments caused by medical conditions. It does not attempt to impose a particular handwriting model, but offers alternatives and encourages readers to experiment and chose how best to improve their legibility and speed. Dr Sassoon is a handwriting consultant specialising in both medical and educational aspects of this skill. She is also the author of The Practical Guide to Children's Handwriting and Handwriting: A New Perspective. Dr Briem is a designer and expert in Icelandic lettering.
Rosemary Sassoon is a well known and respected writer and has written a number of articles for NHA, and Dr Briem's web site is featured on the Links page. It can be obtained from a good bookshop, or from sites such as http://www.amazon.co.uk
Handwriting Hints article (in the 1995 Handwriting Review) by Kate Gladstone.
5. Do you know of any other people, places, web sites, or organisations that might help my child?
The Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre, Frensham, Farnham, Surrey GU10 3BW Tel: 01252 792400 provides a range of services including assessment and tuition.
Paediatric Occupational Therapists at your local Child Development Centre will assess your child for any underlying motor or perceptual reasons for your child's handwriting difficulties. Referral is normally by your GP or school doctor.
Your school SENCO should have information about local help available.
The British Dyslexia Association Helpline: 0118 966 8271
The Dyspraxia Foundation
Check out our useful links page.
6. Is it possible to improve a secondary school student's handwriting once they have established a style, or does it automatically lead to a reduction in the child's writing speed?
Changing a writing style is a major undertaking and is dependent upon the student's drive and motivation to make that change. In the short term it will almost certainly lead to a reduction in the child's writing speed. Continual practice of the new style with short, frequent practice sessions will be necessary. It can then be used in situations where speed is not a requirement, only putting it into 'everyday' use when it is thoroughly learned and has become faster and automatic. You may also find the book, Handwriting in the secondary school... not a secondary skill, useful. Details can be found on the Publications: Handwriting in the secondary school page.
7. Can you offer help and advice for left-handers?
The NHA is preparing a book with advice for left handed writers. In the meantime, a collection of links for left handed people can be found here although the quality of the advice given is up to you to judge.
Teaching Left-Handers to Write by the Handedness Research Institute looks helpful.
Anything left-handed offers supplies, information on left-handedness and a club for left-handers.
Lefthand education offers advice, products and training for teachers and parents of left handed children.
Writing left-handed...write in, not left out by the NHA.