Welcome to Hot Topics! In this episode, Gabrielle Crichlow and returning guest Lisa Parnello delve into the challenges and impact of dysgraphia, a learning disorder that affects a person's ability to write coherently. They explore the definition, symptoms, and diagnosis of dysgraphia, shedding light on the struggles individuals with this condition face in their academic and daily lives. Through Lisa's expertise, they discuss various strategies, accommodations, and interventions that can help individuals with dysgraphia overcome their writing difficulties and thrive. 

Gabrielle and Lisa emphasize the importance of early identification and intervention for dysgraphia, and they discuss the signs to look out for, such as messy handwriting that does not improve with age. Lisa recommends teaching cursive as a fresh start and suggests using specific types of paper and engaging in fine motor activities to strengthen hand muscles. She also touches upon the use of assistive technologies like speech-to-text and typing programs to support individuals with dysgraphia.

The conversation highlights the need for explicit instruction and the benefits of working with specialists such as occupational therapists or handwriting instructors. Additionally, Lisa and Gabrielle stress that dysgraphia is not simply poor handwriting but a neurological phenomenon that can have social and emotional consequences for students. They emphasize the importance of recognizing and addressing dysgraphia early on to provide the necessary support.

The discussion also addresses the challenges faced by left-handed individuals and the availability of specialized tools and resources. Lisa offers valuable resources and coaching services for parents and educators to help them support children with dysgraphia and other learning differences.

Overall, this podcast episode raises awareness about dysgraphia and emphasizes the need for proper support and understanding from teachers, parents, and society. Join Gabrielle and Lisa as they uncover the complexities of dysgraphia and provide valuable insight into supporting those with this learning disorder.

Who is Lisa Parnello?
Lisa Parnello is a dyslexia expert with over 15 years of experience, including public and private schools, primarily focusing on students with learning differences such as dyslexia and dysgraphia. She started her career teaching general education students and discovered her heart was set on helping the children who struggled the most. She earned her M.Ed. in special education and has dedicated her life to helping the most struggling learners. She is a certified Wilson Dyslexia Therapist and a Wilson Credentialed Trainer. Lisa served as the Lower School Director of Sand Hill School at CHC in Palo Alto before expanding Parnello Education Services. She trains and guides teachers as they develop into successful special education instructors, mentors teachers, and provides instructional coaching.

You can find Lisa:
On her website: https://www.parnelloeducation.com/
On Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/ParnelloEducation
On Facebook (group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/748473349564001/
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parnelloeducation/
On X: https://x.com/ParnelloEd
On Threads: https://www.threads.net/@parnelloeducation
On YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ParnelloEducation
On LinkedIn (personal): https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-parnello/
On LinkedIn (business): https://www.linkedin.com/company/parnello-education-services/

Lisa also has a podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dyslexia-devoted/id1628010878

Lisa has a course for parents: https://parnello-education.teachable.com/p/discovering-dyslexia

Lisa has a masterclass called "Three Keys to Success with Dyslexia": https://www.parnelloeducation.com/masterclass/

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/U_j0zl0GwkA
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Original date of episode: December 15, 2023