Becoming a Handwriting OT

Description

“A handwriting OT?” you ask, “I’ve never heard of that.  Is that even a thing?”

You feel stressed and burnt out in the public sector, and you’re looking for the right fit for independent work.

You’ve worked in schools, but you’re frustrated that time never seems to allow for comprehensive treatment that brings about changes.

You’re a newly qualified OT who hasn’t been able to find a position, so you’re exploring independent work but need specialist skills.

How is this different to my OT training?

Your undergrad training took you through so many different diagnoses, populations and frameworks.  It gave you the foundations, but it didn’t make you an expert in anything.

Becoming a handwriting OT expert can take years and years.

Unless you learn directly from someone who has already walked the long road, and just as importantly, knows how to share that knowledge with you in an accessible format.

This course takes you on a deep dive from assessment to report writing to goal setting to treatment in the one occupation that every school-going kid needs.

While this isn’t a theory course, everything is grounded in evidence-based practice.

If you want to be an independent handwriting OT expert, you need to learn from someone who is.

This is the course where you can learn to become a handwriting OT expert from an on-the-ground OT handwriting expert who has learnt the hard way what works, and what doesn’t.

You’re already an OT.  What you need is a deep dive into a specific area of speciality that will ensure you are an expert in assessing and treating handwriting, so you can be empowered to use your OT skills in the way they should be: to change children’s lives.

Now, as you know, I have long been a big fan of your work and have implemented so many of your recommendations and trainings into my daily therapy sessions as well as in discussions with parents and trainings with teachers – it will therefore come as no surprise that I absolutely loved every second of it.

Overall, Bunty, I would 100% recommend this course and cannot wait for it to launch!  Thank you for your amazing work and knowledge.  Because of you, handwriting and fine motor skills are my absolute favourite skills to work on.

Manja O, occupational therapist, Cape Town, South Africa.

A Handwriting OT?

Right now, you may be thinking: “I’m not sure you’ve answered my question”.

“A handwriting OT?  I’ve never heard of that.  Is that even a thing?”

You’re right.  There aren’t many exclusively handwriting OTs.  Fine motor skills and handwriting usually fall under the umbrella of Children’s OTs.

But becoming an absolute expert in one of the primary occupations of school-going children is simply the bee’s knees!

That’s where Becoming a (Highly-Specialist) Handwriting OT comes in.

I can help you become that expert.

If you want to be an expert handwriting OT, but you have no idea how or where to start…

If you want to work with kids’ handwriting and truly make a difference…

If you want to apply your OT skills in a setting that can change a child’s destiny…

It all starts with Becoming a Handwriting OT because this in-depth course walks you step by step through assessment, report writing, goal setting and treatment, so you know exactly what to do each step of the way, so your children will start improving from day one.

Let me tell you about Joe.  He is 11 years old and this was his writing 5 weeks ago.

And this is what it looks like now.

After only 5 weeks, his handwriting has been transformed.  Not by chance, not through wishful thinking, but because I followed the process:

• An in-depth OT handwriting assessment;
• A report that linked up my findings with the presenting difficulties;
• Specific goals because my assessment findings fed directly into treatment
  goals;
• Twice weekly specific treatment sessions where I wasn’t always sure if he or I were having more fun;
• Ongoing tweaking and adjusting to ensure the just-right challenge every time.

Becoming a Handwriting OT will empower you to use your OT skills in the way they should be: to transform children’s lives.

What makes you qualified to offer this programme?

I’ve had a passion for fine motor skills and handwriting since before I graduated.  I even did my final year research module on handwriting.  I knew nothing then, but I have come a long way over the past 35+ years!

I have attended all the courses, followed all the research, integrated my Sensory Integration and Bobath Neuro-Developmental Therapy training, developed and published all about handwriting, trained hundreds of OTs in handwriting assessment and intervention, and helped countless numbers of children transform their handwriting.

I am known for my ability to synthesise and package all the latest handwriting research into a practical, usable format that can inform your intervention.

I am at the cutting edge of handwriting intervention and can’t wait to share my passion with you!

This is what you get:

• A 127-page downloadable evidence-based handwriting assessment that covers all the aspects of functional handwriting, including legibility, speed, endurance and automaticity, so you can perform an expert assessment.
• A 3-hour course that walks you step-by-step through the assessment so you know exactly how to get started, and how to administer and score your assessment so you don’t end up feeling overwhelmed about where to start.
• A handwriting parent interview structure with the exact questions to ask, so you know you will get the background you need to support the child.
• A module on handwriting assessment report writing that will enable you to know exactly how to structure your report, what to include, what to leave out, and how to make recommendations, so you can write professional reports with assurance and confidence.
• Examples of handwriting reports so you can have real-life examples to refer to for those times when you are feeling like you need a little extra help.
• A review and feedback of your first report so you aren’t left wondering if you are on the right track.
• Different options on how to structure handwriting assessment parent feedbacks, so you can select the appropriate approach for each child, so their parents can be absolutely certain what you have identified and how you plan to intervene and support their child.
• Three 50-minute one-on-one online supervision sessions so you can have 3 hours of individual input for your first child to take you through the assessment, interpretation, the report, and your first treatment sessions, so you can hit the ground running, confident that you are giving your child the best from day one.
• 4 months of access to the content, so you don’t need to race through it all on day one, and there is time to review sections that apply to each new child you see.
• 90 minutes of video content on scissor skills for writing muscles, because nothing develops the pencil grasp and pencil control muscles like scissor skills do.
• 140 pages of graded scissor skills, ready-to-use printables, so you don’t need to spend hours scouring the net and making your own.
• One hour of video content on treatment intervention for supporting the development of pencil control, so you can help those kiddos who lack pencil control to form their letters and numbers.
• 92 printable pages directly related to supporting the motor components for developing pencil control.
• One hour of video content on pencil grasps and grips because knowing exactly when to intervene with grasp, how to change it and which grips can help will enable you to be an authority on the subject, so you are never caught on the back foot when someone takes you on about grasp.
• One hour of video content on left handers, what they need and how you can help so you can speak with confidence when you get faced with lefty questions like: “is it OK for my lefty to write left and cut right” or, ”why is my lefty struggling with letter and number reversals”, and “how I can I stop my lefty from hooking their hand when they write?”
• The ultimate guide to cursive handwriting video presentation that will empower you to know when cursive handwriting is your secret weapon and when it absolutely isn’t, all the current evidence-based research as to why it is beneficial, why it may not have worked in the past, how to teach it so it sticks, how to use it to transform a child’s handwriting from a complete mess to a legible script, so your cursive kiddos can master a functional script they can take with them through the rest of their lives.
• 231 printable cursive handwriting pages, including the eBook version of Cursive Book 1 and 2, so you are never at a loss for cursive handwriting resources.
• 105 minutes on Handwriting in the Classroom so you can feel confident speaking to teachers and SENCOs about kids’ handwriting and are not left floundering, feeling like you came up wanting.
• 106 pages of printable fine motor for handwriting resources, so you’ve always got something new to try with the kids.
• 64 printable pages of pre-writing shape builder activities so your children can master the pre-writing shapes, before you begin with letters.
• 62 pages of downloadable multi-sensory Build-a-Letter and Number resources to ensure your handwriting intervention is developmentally appropriate and you aren’t requiring your younger kids to do “Big School” writing activities before they are ready.
• Two Muscle Mania handwriting group programmes consisting of 112 group lesson plans, including 560 printable pages worth £1200, so you can supplement your handwriting practice with classroom groups, pull-out groups, and holiday handwriting groups without sweating what to include.*
• 90 minutes of online video content on running handwriting groups so you don’t need to feel terrified by the thought of more than one child in front of you.

And here are the Bonuses, because after all, who doesn’t like a little bit extra?!

• A module on structuring your offer, costing of assessments and treatment.
• How to name and market your handwriting OT practice, along with tips on how to secure your first clients, so you can get it right from the start.
• An income calculator spreadsheet so you can estimate the number of sessions you need to achieve a specific level of income each month.
• An income and expenditure spreadsheet to keep track of your monthly income for tax purposes.
• A module on the set-up resources you need to get started, so you don’t waste your money on buying things that seem nice to have but that you don’t end up really using.

This course provided an excellent and comprehensive overview of assessing handwriting and school function. I appreciated how the material brought together the many components occupational therapists consider during evaluation and presented them in a clear, easy-to-follow format. The course effectively explained what we should be looking for, why those factors matter, and how to use the information gathered to guide intervention. It was also a valuable refresher on foundational OT concepts that are easy to forget over time, such as tenodesis and the importance of wrist and paper positioning during writing tasks. Revisiting these principles helped reinforce how small factors can significantly impact student performance. The pictures and videos included throughout the course were thoughtfully chosen and very helpful in illustrating key concepts. Each video was rich with practical knowledge and real-world application, making the content engaging and meaningful.

Jennifer M, occupational therapist, Goldsboro, USA

£ 2,500.00Add to basket

I know what you *might* be thinking:

You’d love to do this, but you’re worried about the cost.

Being a handwriting OT is an exciting, fulfilling, and highly specialised area of practice where you can change children’s destinies.

You can do what I did and take 35 years to develop my level of expertise, or you can fast-track your learning so that not only are you not left shooting in the dark, but your children start improving from day one.

Do the maths: by the time you have assessed 9 children (just the assessments, no treatment), you have the potential to have exceeded your financial investment in Becoming a Handwriting OT.

I loved the cues Bunty explained to help children with challenges, as well as the practical guides and solutions.  Packaged in a clear and accessible format, each section gives valuable nuggets by unpacking the intricacies of handwriting.  Having learned about the scientific data that informs many of the principles I have always used in practice,  I now have more confidence to guide teachers and schools in what is most beneficial for learners today, which will allow bigger impact for our children.

Jess R, occupational therapist, Zambia

You get a handwriting referral.  You assess the child.  You write the report and establish your goals.  And then you have fun, fun, fun!

Fun because handwriting intervention with kids is just that.

Fun because you are doing what you dreamed you would be when you first decided to be an OT.

And fun because your children improve, which makes everyone, from the child to the parents to the teacher, happy.  And you know you have played a part in setting them on the path for success in the future.

£ 2,500.00Add to basket

I found the Course extremely helpful and relevant to School based paediatric OT.  This course is comprehensive, in highlighting “why”we need to prioritize Handwriting in todays’ world, and the impact it has on a child’s learning journey. I loved the cues Bunty explained to assist children who have challenges, as well as the practical guides and solutions. Packaged in a clear and accessible format, each section gives valuable nuggets by unpacking the intricacies of handwriting. Having learned about the scientific data that informs many of the principles I have always used in practice,  I now have more confidence to guide teachers and schools in what is most beneficial for learners today, which will allow bigger impact for our children.

Jess R, occupational therapist, Zambia

Thank you for the privilege of this course – what an evening well spent!

Now, as you know, I have long been a big fan of your work and have implemented so many of your recommendations and trainings into my daily therapy sessions as well as in discussions with parents and trainings with teachers – it will therefore come as no surprise that I absolutely loved every second of it.

Overall, Bunty, I would 100% recommend this course and cannot wait for it to launch!  Thank you for your amazing work and knowledge, because of you, handwriting and fine motor skills are my absolute favourite skills to work on.

Manja O, occupational therapist, Cape Town, South Africa.

This course provided an excellent and comprehensive overview of assessing handwriting and school function. I appreciated how the material brought together the many components occupational therapists consider during evaluation and presented them in a clear, easy-to-follow format. The course effectively explained what we should be looking for, why those factors matter, and how to use the information gathered to guide intervention. It was also a valuable refresher on foundational OT concepts that are easy to forget over time, such as tenodesis and the importance of wrist and paper positioning during writing tasks. Revisiting these principles helped reinforce how small factors can significantly impact student performance. The pictures and videos included throughout the course were thoughtfully chosen and very helpful in illustrating key concepts. Each video was rich with practical knowledge and real-world application, making the content engaging and meaningful. Overall, this course was both informative and practical, and the knowledge gained will serve me well in my practice as a school-based occupational therapist.

Jennifer M, occupational therapist, Goldsboro, USA

FAQ

Is there really a need for this?

Absolutely, without question. Different studies cite different percentages, but it is agreed that between 10 and 30% of children experience handwriting difficulties, with some studies reporting numbers as high as 44%.

Is this just a theoretical info-dump, leaving me floundering and grasping as to how to intervene with a child?

I can absolutely 100% guarantee this is a practical approach that will empower you to administer an expert assessment, write brilliant handwriting assessment reports, establish your treatment goals, and then identify the exact treatment principles and activities you will need on the ground.  I can assure you, you won’t be grasping for treatment ideas.

Is this evidence-based?

This approach is evidence-based practice meets practice-based evidence.  You get all the evidence, but you also get how that translates into on-the-ground practice.

Will I get all the assessments I need?

You will get your own downloadable copy of the Assessment of Handwriting Function.  You may wish to add the DASH (Detailed Assessment of Speed of Handwriting) for the 9+ years kids, so you have a standardised assessment as part of your assessment battery.  Many people add the Beery as it is so popular with OTs, although the research indicates it may not be an effective measure for handwriting interventions.  The DASH and Beery are commercially available assessments and are not included as part of this course.

What else will I need to get?

You will need a dynamometer, stationery, and specific toys and games you will use during treatment.  You will get a starter list of toys and materials.

Will I need a big clinic space to be a handwriting OT?

While you will need a space, unlike a children’s OT covering all aspects of treatment, you won’t need a huge space.  Many schools provide a space for you to work when seeing children during the school day.

Can I see children remotely?

While I see children remotely, I wouldn’t recommend it when you are starting out.  It brings its own set of challenges, which can be difficult to navigate when you are new to the field.

Do I need years of experience as an OT for this to work?

Not at all.  Whether you’re newly qualified or already have paeds experience, this course builds an area of expertise on the foundation of your OT qualification.

Will this enable me to help children with written expression?

This is a course about fine motor skills and handwriting.  Handwriting is the ability to form letters (and numbers), to put them together to form words, and words to form sentences; while writing is the ability to take those words and sentences to generate written content.  If a child is making up a story, they are writing.  This course focuses solely on fine motor skills and handwriting and does not extend to writing.

Will this enable me to be a Dysgraphia expert?

Dysgraphia falls under the DSM V Specific Learning Disorder: Impairment in Written Expression.  Handwriting is only a part of the disorder of written expression, which also includes writing.  While you will be able to identify the red flags for Dysgraphia and the Impairment in Written Expression, you will not be developing expertise in the writing aspect of it.

Will I get access to all of this immediately?

Experience has taught me that getting it all at once is overwhelming, and people jump in all over the place, which means they don’t get the best out of the course.  We start with the Assessment, because in the words of The Sound of Music, we start at the very beginning, a very good place to start.  Once you are on top of the assessment, you are ready to dive into treatment, and you get access to the rest of the modules.

£ 2,500.00Add to basket

From what you get above:

• Two Muscle Mania handwriting group programmes consisting of 112 group lesson plans, including 560 printable pages worth £1200, so you can supplement your handwriting practice with classroom groups, pull-out groups, and holiday handwriting groups without sweating what to include.*

*This includes reproducible rights for life for all the Muscle Mania activity sheets.  In keeping with our multiple-user policy, replacement workbooks need to be purchased annually.

Because of the extensive access to downloadable resources, the Becoming a Handwriting OT course is non-returnable and non-refundable.

£ 2,500.00Add to basket