Write Like Zella: An Evidence-Informed Approach for Teaching Handwriting to Children with Autism

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2026

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Course Description

Handwriting remains a foundational skill for participation in school, communication, and daily activities, yet many children with autism struggle to acquire it through traditional methods. Inspired by one child’s experience, this session introduces Write Like Zella–an evidence-informed, structured framework that was developed in response to the need to pivot toward a method of handwriting instruction that addressed the unique motor, visual–perceptual, cognitive, and sensory needs of a neurodivergent learner. What began as a necessary shift for one child became a turning point that now informs a scalable approach for many.

Participants will explore the functional and academic importance of handwriting for children with autism and examine the underlying performance components that influence handwriting success. The course presents clear, practical principles for explicit handwriting instruction and provides a systematic framework for teaching letter formation and written output using modeling, prompting hierarchies, and strategic fading. Through adaptable strategies learned through repeated case studies, attendees will learn how to modify this framework to meet the diverse sensory, motor, and communication profiles seen in clinical and classroom settings. This course equips occupational therapists with actionable tools to confidently support handwriting development in children with autism in a way that is structured, effective, and responsive to individual needs.

Speakers

Content Level

Intermediate: This level assumes the audience has general familiarity with the literature and professional practice. The focus of the presentation is on increased understanding and application by the participants.

Practice Areas

Children and Youth