Its always interesting to hear what people outside the OT community think about the H4H method:
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (12/08)
The authors have written a very exceptional workbook to help those individuals with dominant-hand problems regain their writing skills. Both authors state that this gives adults the opportunity to make positive changes in their life by utilizing well-designed, adult material and not children’s coloring books.
Each chapter is filled with repetitive exercises that will increase one’s fine-motor control and wrist stabilization. There are six chapters as well as a Certificate of Completion. In each chapter there are therapist tips, which include exercises, information about posture, utilizing scissors and the necessity of having good lighting. The authors have provided homework assignments that are easily done in the convenience of one’s home while watching TV, reading or visiting.
I believe as the authors do, it is important that individuals utilizing this workbook experience positive outcomes. Each chapter is built off the previous one. If a person doesn’t understand something, or needs additional help, it is suggested that they go to the website and speak to a therapist. I found the exercises and lessons interesting, easy to understand and use. There are many people who cannot afford therapy for extended periods of time or are embarrassed about the limited use of their dominant hand. This excellent workbook, “Handwriting for Heroes, by Yancosek and Gulick, is for them.
I am a occupational therapist in South Africa. Last year (2009) in my final year of studying, a patient was assigned to me who lost their dominant arm. It was the first time i was faced with having to do dominance training. i was able to teach the person how to tie his shoe, prepare food, dress, etc. using one handed techniques and assistive devices. The dilema however was that the hospital where i did my practical had no resources to teach a patient how to write again… i searched the internet endlessly for exercises and guideline on how to teach an adult how to write again. finally i found the answer and was blessed by being sponsered with “Handwriting For Heroes”.
This book is really a wonderful resource and so easy to use. The author was able to compile a book that is even easy to use for people who are not therapeutically trained. the exercises are simply arranged into weekly exercise sections that is furhter devided into daily exercises. these exercises are easy to follow and takes up little time to complete. I have also found it easy to use in outpatient situations where i can only see a patient once a week. i would do the first day’s exercises with the patient to make sure that he understands what to do in each exercise and that he is using the correct movements and flow of his hand.
down falls to the product is that they mainly focus on cursive writing and not block writing as well as that some patients find the example and writing space to be a little small.
in regards to the first down fall: the cursive writing does teach the client how to let his/her writing flow. With regards to the second down fall: what I do is enlarging the exercises to make it easier for the person to read and copy. otherwise i give the patient a book where i copied the exercises in.
in all and all i would recommend this book to anyone and everyone!!!
Thanks for your kind words, Deonet! Is it possible for you to send us before-and-after writing samples either scanned on the computer or by post? We’re always looking for success stories
Regards
Victor R. Volkman