Graduation Year

2017

Document Type

Capstone

Degree Type

Open Access Capstone

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

Abstract

There is extensive research on the evolution of handwriting instruction, programs, the neuromotor components, the complexity of performance, and the long term effects of both adequate and inferior performance to occupational performance. The research supports occupational therapy intervention as effective for remediation of poor handwriting. With occupational therapy services limited to only those who receive special education services in schools, supplemental handwriting instruction and remediation responsibilities fall to the teachers and parents. This also creates a large unserved segment of children who struggle under traditional instructional approaches. Parents and teachers have instructional support needs related to current evidence based practice handwriting methods.

What has not been explored or researched, is the effect or role home programs can potentially play in improving skill mastery, with parents as the primary supplemental educators. Occupational performance coaching is a recognized and effective intervention, due to the emphasis on therapist and parent collaboration to improve student achievement. Despite extensive literature review, there are no current research studies that evaluate the effectiveness of parent coaching to improve kindergarten student’s alphabet letter formation.

The purpose of this quasi-experimental research is to measure two preselected group pretest-posttest outcome measures of the effectiveness of an occupational therapist guided, home handwriting instruction program of student performance, with legible alphabet letter formation. This research is a significant first step in the attempt to improve student performance through the exploration of innovative service delivery models, parent involvement, team collaboration, and improved educational outcomes for the children, through legible handwriting.

Faculty Mentor

Colleen M. Schneck

Department Affiliation

Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

Committee Member

Julie Baltisberger

Department Affiliation

Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

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