Whatever their nature, DYS disorders have a lasting effect on the learning of the children concerned. Beyond speech therapy sessions with a speech-language therapist, certain accommodations may be recommended by an occupational therapist, such as using a computer both in class and at home. Here’s how it works.

Computers to ease the burden for children with DYS

At a time when screen time is a daily struggle for parents, occupational therapists may sometimes recommend using a computer for children with DYS.

With this tool, a child with dysgraphia no longer has to worry about the quality of their handwriting, a child with dyspraxia no longer has to think about how to hold their pen, and a child with dysorthographia no longer has to focus on how to spell words.

Of course, an occupational therapy assessment is absolutely necessary to evaluate the child’s ability to use a computer and identify the software they’ll need. For example, this could be typing software with colour-coded keys, or geometry software to free the child from the difficulty of drawing shapes by hand.

The occupational therapist’s 3 areas of computer-based work

As a specialist in workaround strategies for children with DYS, the occupational therapist aims to improve their patient’s school and family life: using a computer is a commonly suggested accommodation.

But it’s not enough to simply introduce it into the child’s daily life; the professional builds a few sessions around this tool, so the child takes ownership of it rather than having it imposed on them.

While the approach naturally adapts to each child’s age and abilities, the occupational therapist works on 3 fundamental areas:

  • Know: discovering how a computer works overall (starting it up and shutting it down, charging it, using the mouse, settings, etc.);
  • Learn: using and mastering the keyboard through activities and games;
  • Know how to use the software recommended in the assessment.

Steps to bring a computer into the school setting

Following the occupational therapy assessment recommending computer use in class, parents need to take steps with the MDPH (the French departmental disability centre).

In practice, they need to submit a “request for educational equipment” as part of a PPS (Personalised Schooling Plan). If the request is approved, parents simply need to collect the computer and the software recommended in the assessment.

Note that as part of a PAP (Personalised Support Plan), it’s worth notifying the MDPH about the tool: since this is support offered by the teaching team, the child should use their own personal computer.

 

Don’t hesitate to discuss this accommodation with your child’s speech-language therapist, who will be happy to recommend an occupational therapist to start the assessment required for computer use in class. As a starting point, you can also get in touch with a professional on the Ora-Visio platform, to kick off this change yourself under the guidance of an occupational therapist specialised in DYS disorders.