If you operate a nonprofit clinic/agency for occupational therapy please contact us or call 888-761-6268 to receive a complimentary evaluation copy of Handwriting For Heroes to see if this method is appropriate for your population of patients.
Handwriting for Heroes: Learn to Write with Your Non-Dominant Hand in Six Weeks
Kathleen Yancosek and Kristin Gulick
Loving Healing Press (2009)
ISBN 9781932690699
Reviewed by Randy A Lakin for RebeccasReads (11/09)
When I first received this book, or should I say workbook, “Handwriting for Heroes”, I was pleasantly surprised by its content. I was expecting a lot of reading to be involved as with so many books on the market. This workbook is different, it is filled with writing exercise after exercise, and that is great. This workbook is for any individual that has lost full or partial use of their dominant hand and wants to re-learn how to write. When you stop to think about it, if you want to learn how to write with your non-dominant hand you have to write. The old saying, “Practice Makes Perfect”, is what this book is based on. No matter what your injury is, amputation, stroke, or extensive soft tissue trauma, this workbook is for you.
“Handwriting for Heroes”, targets adults and helps preserves the dignity of those who must “re-learn” the basics of handwriting. Each chapter is filled with repetitive exercises that will increase one’s fine-motor skills. There are six chapters as well as a Certificate of Completion at the end of the book. In each chapter there are also tips for therapist, which include exercises and information about proper posture and lighting. The authors have provided homework assignments that are easily done in the convenience of one’s own home while watching TV or relaxing. The tasks are oriented to the adult learner no matter what your education level may be. Learning to write with the previously non-dominant hand can be a rewarding accomplishment along the path to recovery. It is an accomplishment that leads to improved self-esteem, increased work opportunities, or occupations.
This workbook is designed to help those individuals with dominant-hand problems or injuries regain their writing skills and self respect. The authors did a wonderful job with this workbook. If you have a non-dominant-hand injury or just want to learn to write with you opposite hand, look no further. I recommend this book to anyone wishing to learn how to write with their non-dominant hand.
This is from a project that we did at Walter Reed to provide the injured service members with a “survival kit” of one-handed gadgets and helpful materials (books and inspirational calendar). You may want to use this list or adapt it for your own unique client populations.
The “Self-Perception Questionnaire on Handwriting Ability” is a new instrument that can be used to track self-rating of handwriting skills as a pre-test and post-test around a program of Occupational Therapy. Please feel free to download this questionnaire and use it with any of your clients, whether you are using the Handwriting For Heroes method or any other technique. We look forward to hearing your results. The instrument is now available in the online resources section of HandwritingForHeroes.com.
You are invited to a special presentation!
Injury-induced Hand Dominance Transfer, One- Handed ADLs, and Fine Motor Control in Functional Tasks
When: May 28th, 2009
Time: 4:30 – 5:30
Where: Hardin Memorial Hospital Conference Room
913 North Dixie Avenue
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Presented by: Katie Yancosek, co-author of Handwriting for Heroes
Hosted by: Hardin Memorial Hospital and Ireland Army Community Hospital, Fort Knox, KY
For questions, please contact Lauri Duesler or Tiffany McIntyre at (502) 624-9905
Radiation-Induced Brachial Plexopathy (RIBP) is a progressive and painful paralysis of the arm and shoulder, brought on by radiation treatment for breast cancer and certain other cancers. With improvements in radiation technology, RIBP is rare these days, but can still occur when multiple overlapping radiation fields or high radiation doses are used. It most often involves lymphedema of the affected arm and, like lymphedema, RIBP can develop at any time following radiation treatment of the area. There is no cure, though interventions are possible to slow progression, optimize remaining arm and hand function, control related lymphedema, and relieve pain.
RIBP survivors are often left unable to use their dominant hand for normal function. Recently, Step-Up/Speak Out reviewed Handwriting For Heroes in the context of RIBP. Step-Up/Speak Out’s Director Bonnie Pike wrote: “We are very impressed with Handwriting For Heroes.”
Look for an article by Kristin Gulick on helping clients learn to write with the nondominant hand in the “In the Clinic” department of the June 15 issue of OT Practice. We’ll post links when the issue goes to press.
Damage to the dominant hand need not limit one’s ability. “Handwriting for Heroes,” a new workbook that teaches people to write with their non-dominant hands, offers self-esteem, hope and a return to normalcy.
Ann Arbor, MI (PRWEB) February 23, 2009 — Loss of a dominant hand can be frustrating, but life can largely return to normal by following the advice and processes presented in Katie Yancosek and Kristin Gulick’s new workbook “Handwriting for Heroes: Learn to Write with Your Non-Dominant Hand in Six Weeks” (ISBN 9781932690699, Loving Healing Press, 2009).
A person’s ability to communicate, even his identity, is largely connected to the ability to write or even just sign his name. The loss of a dominant hand can be traumatic and depressing. Until recently, learning to write with the non-dominant hand could be frustrating, and it meant studying a children’s workbook. Now “Handwriting for Heroes” targets the adult who must “re-learn” the basics of handwriting, offering dignity in the process. Read more…
Juanita Watson, host of Inside Scoop Live, interviewed Katie Yancosek and Kristen Gulick on her show recently. This 40-minute segment covered a wide range of issues about handwriting, the nature of handed-ness, and transfer of skills/rehabilitation.
You can Download the MP3 file 
and listen on your iPod
or click on the audio-player bar below to listen immediately.
Today, Tyler R. Tichelaar of Reader Views is pleased to interview Kristin Gulick and Kate Yancosek about their new book “Handwriting for Heroes: Learn to Write with Your Non-Dominant Hand in Six Weeks.”
Katie Yancosek is an officer in the Army Medical Specialist Corps. She graduated from Gannon University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in occupational therapy and from Eastern Kentucky University with a Master’s of Science degree in occupational therapy. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Kentucky. She currently lives in Kentucky with her husband and two sons.
Kristin Gulick has been enjoying her practice as an Occupational Therapist for twenty-three years. She graduated from University of Puget Sound and began her practice working with children at Shriners Hospital in Portland, OR. Kristin’s career path led her to focus on rehabilitation of the upper extremity, and she became a certified hand therapist in 1996. Currently Kristin serves as the Director of Therapy Services at Advanced Arm Dynamics where she enjoys partnering with clients with upper limb loss in their rehabilitation.
Tyler: Welcome Katie and Kristin. I’m very interested to talk to you today about your new book. To begin, would you tell us what made you decide to write a book about learning to write with your non-dominant hand?
Kristin: This project truly came out of Katie’s dream and passion. I met Katie while I was working at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as part of a contract team providing upper limb prosthetic services for warriors returning from Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Katie and I found that our approaches and energy to providing occupational therapy are very complementary. I was honored when she asked whether I would like to be involved in this very needed project. Read more…
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