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Implementation of an adapted Handwriting Without Tears® programme for children with developmental disabilities in a special education setting

Goyen, E; Grindle, C; Totsika, V; Sapiets, SJ; (2024) Implementation of an adapted Handwriting Without Tears® programme for children with developmental disabilities in a special education setting. Tizard Learning Disability Review 10.1108/TLDR-07-2023-0015. (In press). Green open access

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Abstract

Purpose: Children with developmental disabilities (e.g. learning disability and autism) often struggle with handwriting skills. This study aims to implement an adapted handwriting programme for children with developmental disabilities to improve their handwriting skills. / Design/methodology/approach: Six children with developmental disabilities aged 9–15 years received an adapted Handwriting Without Tears® (HWT) programme in small groups over eight weeks. The programme was delivered by typical teaching staff (i.e. paraprofessionals) at a special education school following a brief training session and with ongoing supervision. A range of measures assessed the children’s handwriting and related skills. Social validity interviews were conducted with school staff following the intervention to evaluate the programme’s acceptability. / Findings: Typical teaching staff implemented the handwriting programme with 92.3% average fidelity and delivered a minimum of three sessions per week. Social validity interviews demonstrated the acceptability of the intervention to school staff. After eight weeks of intervention, all children improved their handwriting on various assessments. Improvements were only partially maintained at follow-up. / Originality/value: This study supports the feasibility of using an adapted HWT programme to teach handwriting to children with developmental disabilities in special education settings. Typical teaching staff can be trained to support the delivery of the programme to children in small groups.

Type: Article
Title: Implementation of an adapted Handwriting Without Tears® programme for children with developmental disabilities in a special education setting
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1108/TLDR-07-2023-0015
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1108/TLDR-07-2023-0015
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Fine Motor Skills, Developmental disabilities; Learning disabilities; Intellectual disabilities; Handwriting
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Division of Psychiatry
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Division of Psychiatry > Epidemiology and Applied Clinical Research
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10190615
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