Handwriting Assessment Online Course

Description

“Finally, the handwriting assessment that tells you what to do next.”

You do a handwriting assessment, but you still don’t know how to fix the kid’s handwriting.
You look at the results.  And they tell you what you already know: the handwriting is slow and illegible.
You’re still left wondering whether the pencil grasp is in or out, how to improve their legibility, and whether you should intervene at all.

You don’t need another measure that tells you what you already know – you need one that tells you where to intervene.

You need an assessment that covers all the aspects of handwriting so you don’t have to resort to mixing and matching.

You need the everything-in-one-place handwriting assessment:

all the evidence;
all the legibility;
all the biomechanics;
all the pencil grasp and control;
and all the letter formation.

It’s the difference between knowing that handwriting is illegible and having an assessment that tells you exactly what to do about it.

Thank you so much for creating this assessment – it is detailed, and it feels as though I have a handwriting OT mentor in my computer!

Losanne V, occupational therapist, Tzaneen, South Africa

Introducing the Assessment of Handwriting Function – finally the assessment that informs treatment!

If you want your handwriting assessments to tell you exactly how to improve handwriting…
If you want an up-to-date evidence-based assessment…
If you want before-and-after scores so you can track real progress, not just hope for it…

That’s exactly what the Assessment of Handwriting Function was created to do.

I’ve done hundreds of handwriting assessments spanning more than 35 years. Handwriting has been my passion for as long as I can remember.  I’ve integrated all the research and evidence-based practice for handwriting into practice.

I developed this assessment as an on-the-ground clinician.  It is not an instrument developed by a researcher that doesn’t quite meet the needs of OTs in the field.

Handwriting is the number one reason for school-based OT referrals.  We cannot just rely on a legibility formula, a mismatch of BOTs, VMIs, and DTVPs, along with a freebie handwriting checklist we downloaded from the net.

We already know that our kiddos have slow, illegible handwriting!  We need an assessment that clearly shows us:

“These are the areas I must focus on.”

An expert assessment leads to clear treatment goals.  And clear treatment goals lead to handwriting improvements.

So if you want a handwriting assessment that tells you exactly where you need to intervene to improve handwriting, the Assessment of Handwriting Function is the one.

This is what you get:
• A copy of the Assessment of Handwriting Function (127 downloadable, printable pages)
→ so you have everything you need for a handwriting assessment at your fingertips;
• All the evidence-based handwriting background
→ so you can speak with conviction during feedbacks and IEPs;
• Reproducible response, record and scoring forms
→ so there are no ongoing expenses and administration fees;
• Clear scoring sheets
→ so you have a visual picture showing comparative before and after scores;
• Clear assessment outcomes
→ so they flow naturally into treatment goals;
• An assessment applicable for a wide range of ages
→ so you can assess kids from preschool through to Grade 8 (although not all aspects apply to the preschooler);
• An online course
→ so you can watch at a time of your choosing;
• Two-and-a-half hours of video content of online video presentation content
→ so you will have me walking you through handwriting assessment one step at a time,
• Practical examples of handwriting assessments
→ so you can be confident when you are doing your assessments;
• Editable handwriting passages
→ so you can convert them to the handwriting style in your district;
• Four months to watch the content
→ so you can check back every time you have a new assessment;
• A certificate of completion
→ so you can use it for your CPD portfolio;
• The purchase of this course is for one user only: each person is required to purchase a course, so please contact me directly for multiple course purchases.

I highly recommend this course!  I feel so much more confident in understanding the elements of handwriting now.  I have not come across any other assessment that lays the foundation for intervention as well as this one.  I’ve had this course on my wish list for a while and was hesitant because of the cost – it was worth every cent and I wish I had done it sooner!

Ciara M, occupational therapist, Scone, Australia

Handwriting is the number one reason for school-based OT referrals – but most assessments only confirm what we already know.

That’s why we need a professional, evidence-based assessment that informs treatment.

That’s where the Assessment of Handwriting Function comes in because assessing handwriting doesn’t need to leave you scratching your head!

And that’s why this course is a must for anyone working with kids’ handwriting.

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Bunty has developed the most amazing tool for assessing handwriting function and development, backed by the latest research. The course videos are very informative, and the assessment tools and forms are comprehensive, well-presented, practical, and easy to use. I have been working with handwriting difficulties for many years and am very excited to add “The Assessment of Handwriting Function” to my assessment battery.  Well done, Bunty!

Ronel M, occupational therapist, Johannesburg

You get (another!) handwriting referral.  This time, you administer the Assessment of Handwriting Function.  You do the assessment.  No clutching for a mismatch of BOTs and VMIs that don’t really assess handwriting itself!   You go straight to the handwriting assessment, which covers all 4 pillars of functional handwriting.  You administer it.  You score it.  It informs your treatment goals and planning.  Your kids improve.  It’s a no-brainer!

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I highly recommend this course!  I feel so much more confident in understanding the elements of handwriting now.  I have not come across any other assessment that lays the foundation for intervention as well as this one.  I’ve had this course on my wish list for a while and was hesitant because of the cost – it was worth every cent and I wish I had done it sooner!

Ciara M, occupational therapist, Scone, Australia

Thank you so much for creating this assessment – it is detailed and it feels as though I have a handwriting OT mentor in my computer!
The assessment layout means I can just circle a picture and add notes rather than having to write my own laborious explanation of how the child is trying to hold the pencil.  This handwriting assessment makes it possible to figure out exactly what is happening with the child’s handwriting and helps me to add where, how, and if I should work on their handwriting.  Thank you so much for the truly inspiring work that you do – not only do you help kids, you help OTs to help kids.

Losanne V, occupational therapist, Tzaneen, South Africa

Bunty’s Assessment of Handwriting Function was a pleasure to work through. She has compiled an assessment based on the latest handwriting research in an easy-to-use format. This gives a busy practice a quick and easy additional tool to add value and depth to assessments. I particularly enjoyed watching the videos and listening to the functional implications. Thank you, Bunty.

Michelle L, occupational therapist, Plettenberg Bay

Thank you very much for the development of, and your very generous sharing of your “Assessment of Handwriting Function” Tool.  I found the content most valuable.  It is a great refresher for those of us therapists who have been practising and treating handwriting difficulties for a while.  I particularly found the latest research you mentioned beneficial in updating my knowledge and understanding of what I see in the children in front of me in terms of pencil grip and control.  The adaptability of this assessment tool is particularly useful for a range of ages, as we require in the school setting.  I found it most comprehensive and easy to understand.  I look forward to using it in my practice to assess the children under my care and to more precisely and effectively measure their therapy progress in terms of function.

Theresa M, occupational therapist, Bedfordview.

FAQ

My district wants standardised assessments. Is this standardised?

It is criterion-based, not a standardised assessment. Standardised handwriting assessment usually assesses speed or legibility, as these are two areas that lend themselves to collecting the data required for standardisation. But, as I have said, they tell us what we already know.  Although we know that the Beery doesn’t inform handwriting intervention, you can always add that in to give your district a standardised score and then get on with the real handwriting assessment.

I already have the DASH. Isn’t that enough?

The DASH gives you a standardised measure of handwriting speed, but it doesn’t tell you where to direct your intervention, so you are left guessing. You are also limited to kids older than 9, and we all know that when it comes to handwriting remediation, early intervention is key. The Assessment of Handwriting Function assesses all areas that affect handwriting legibility, speed, endurance, and automaticity and can be used with preschoolers and early school-going kids. It’s the whole nine yards.

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The course was amazing.  I learnt so much, most notably that the tripod is not the “be all and end all”.  I laughed so hard because I’m from that era.  Thank you for the amazing course.  The presentation was good with your lovely teaching style, and the information was amazing.  I have never used my dynamometer for a handwriting assessment.  It makes so much sense!!!   For me, the best part was listening to your South African accent! 

Gwen Reddy, occupational therapist, Sydney, Australia

Thank you so much for this course!  I cannot wait to try this assessment on my little ones.  I feel like the course really helped me to sharpen my observations and I really found value in your practical examples, which I will definitely use in my feedbacks with parents to help them understand the impact of their child’s writing challenges on the 4 pillars of handwriting.

Your ability to make complex concepts functional and practical and your ability to convey that easily and meaningfully is inspirational!  I really hope that with what I have learnt, I can make my reports more about interpreting instead of just reporting findings and help parents see the long-lasting impacts of the interventions we have worked hard on improving.  I am excited to use the assessment before and after scores to help communicate the efficacy of what we do in OT.  We need more assessments like this one to show parents the return on their investment in OT!

Well done on an excellent assessment tool and an informative course!

I will be recommending this course to other OTs!

Lourdes Bruwer, occupational therapist, Cape Town

I loved all the practical examples and videos.  I really felt like you guided us through the what and how of the assessment process.  The biggest take home for me was narrowing down the pencil grasps to efficient, developmental or inefficient instead of giving lengthy explanations to parents in terminology that doesn’t make sense to them.  Secondly, that the emphasis with regards to an efficient grasp is whether there is finger movement or not.   I was presently surprised to learn which grasps are actually seen as efficient.

Thank you.  I really enjoyed the course!  I would LOVE a follow-up treatment course with practical therapy ideas to address all the inefficient grasps.   

Alexa Kotzé, occupational therapist, Malelane

Thank you for putting the workshop together.  I had two thoughts while watching it.  The one was: “Yay!  So much of what I have been doing and saying is still relevant and accurate,” and the other was “I’m so glad I did this course!”  It takes skill to gather all the relevant and up-to-date information and put it together in a way which is easy to learn and apply in clinical practice – and you have done this effortlessly.  Thank you!

Jacqui Jorge, Sensory Matters Occupational Therapists

I have really enjoyed the handwriting assessment course.  It was easy to access, easy to follow, and well presented.  I appreciate the detail of the assessment and look forward to using it on my clients.  Thanks for your effort, time, and expertise that went into developing this assessment and course.

P.S. I think a follow up with regards to treatment of the handwriting components will be a great next course! 🙂 🙂

Carrolien Bornman, occupational therapist, Pretoria

 

Cancellation Policy
This online course about handwriting assessment is non-refundable.
The Assessment of Handwriting Function is nonreturnable and nonrefundable.

eBook Copyright Conditions:
This virtual resource is sold as a single-user item.  This means you, and only you, may use and copy it.  You may not pass it on to colleagues.  Each person must buy their own copy, or it is a copyright violation.  The resource may not be sold onto a third party.  The copyright conditions apply equally across the spectrum from affluent to non-profits, and previously disadvantaged settings.

The Copyright Rules – Simplified Version:
This is not a freebie.  You have to pay for it.  You are not allowed to share or give a copy to anyone.  You can’t return it.  You also can’t sell it.

If you would prefer the assessment without the course, then it is here for you!

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