Pencil Grip

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A pencil grip refers to a device or technique used to hold a pencil or pen properly for writing or drawing. It can be a small accessory that slides onto the pencil to provide a more ergonomic grip, or it can refer to a specific way of holding the pencil using one's fingers to optimize control and comfort.

  • Sensory
    • Tactile
  • Academic
    • Writing

Low Tech

Considerations

Take the following considerations into account when selecting and implementing AT to ensure that the chosen tools are well-suited to the student’s needs, align with their goals, and seamlessly integrate into their educational journey. By embracing a collaborative approach and considering the specific skills, tasks, and implementation context, educators can provide students with the necessary support to thrive academically and functionally, promoting inclusivity and fostering their overall success.

Find potential contacts within your LEA and at your ESC for support.

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  • Occupational Therapist (OT): An OT may be a member of the multidisciplinary team that evaluates or reevaluates students suspected of having a disability, including dysgraphia, and participates as an Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee member in writing the Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP), drafting annual goals, and recommending assistive technology services and/or the related services of occupational therapy. An OT may provide services that are academic and/or functional in nature. Examples are graphomotor skills needed for handwriting; fine motor skills which include small, finely coordinated hand movements; visual perceptual skills which include the ability to understand and interpret what is seen; visual motor skills which include the ability to coordinate visual and motor skills; and/or self-care skills which include feeding, dressing, hygiene, and toileting skills for increasing independence in necessary life skills. The OT may be a member of the Local Education Agency (LEA) assistive technology (AT) team.

What skills or tasks will the student utilize this tool for? What areas, functional or academic, does this tool support?

Fine motor skills

In what activities, classes, or environments will the student utilize this tool?

Pencil grips are often used by children who are learning to write, as well as individuals who have difficulty with fine motor skills or grip strength. They come in various shapes, sizes, and materials to suit different needs and preferences. 

Using a pencil grip can support students to achieve better hand positioning and movement while they write, resulting in improved penmanship, and helps to give more control, and reduces hand fatigue.

Resources and Training

CFR 300.324(a)(2)(v) requires the Admission Review and Dismissal (ARD) committee to consider whether a child needs assistive technology devices and services in the development, review, and revision of their IEP. This resource is intended to serve as a repository of the most commonly used AT resources to assist users with understanding the purpose of each AT tool, aspects of use for consideration within IEP development for students, and additional AT implementation resources.

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