NEURODIVERGENT KIDS HUB
Dysgraphia support for kids in Perth
They can tell you a brilliant story out loud. Ask them to write it down and you get three painful lines, a sore hand, and a child who now believes they’re bad at school.
Start with the Perth providers below who are taking new families. The rest of this page explains what dysgraphia is and how assessment works.
Perth providers accepting new families
These searches only show providers who are accepting new referrals right now. You can contact them directly to ask about availability.
Occupational therapists
Support with pencil grip, letter formation, posture and writing stamina.
See available OTs
Learning assessments
Psychologists who assess written expression, reading and spelling.
See assessment options
Learning difficulty support
Therapists and tutors helping with school, learning and written work.
See learning support
Not sure where to start? Read the Perth Kids Hub guide to assessments.
Greenhouse Paediatrics Karrinyup
Assessment - Autism (for child), Assessment - Dysgraphia, Assessment - Motor Dysgraphia, Assessment - Screening, Occupational Therapy, Paediatrician, Paediatrician - Developmental & Behavioural, Psychology, Psychology - Clinical, Respiratory and Sleep Paediatrician, Respiratory Paediatrician, Speech Pathology, Speech Pathology - Feeding
Paediatricians and children's therapy in Karrinyup
Therapy Inc.
Assessment - Functional Capacity, Assessments - ADHD, autism, SLDs, Assessment - ADHD (for adult), Assessment - ADHD (for child), Assessment - Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), Assessment - Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), Assessment - Dyscalculia, Assessment - Dysgraphia, Assessment - Dyslexia, Assessment - Intellectual Disability, Assessment - Language Development Centre Referrals, Assessment - Motor Dysgraphia, Assessment - Screening, Assessments - Educational and Cognitive, Coaching - ADHD, Counselling, NDIS Services, Occupational Therapy, Assessment - Assistive Technology, Physiotherapy, Play Therapy, Psychology, Speech Pathology, Assessment - Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC), Speech Pathology - Feeding, Therapy Assistant (NDIS)
Celebrating Differences / Gym Equipment
Intracare Services
Assessment - Functional Capacity, Assessment - Screening, NDIS Services, Occupational Therapy, Play Therapy, Speech Pathology, Speech Pathology - Feeding
Therapy For Kids Perth
Assessment - ADHD (for child), Assessment - Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC), Assessment - Autism (for child), Assessment - Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), Assessment - Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), Assessment - Functional Capacity, Assessment - Giftedness, Assessment - Intellectual Disability, Assessment - Language Development Centre Referrals, NDIS Services, Occupational Therapy, Parent / Carer Support, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Speech Pathology, Speech Pathology - Feeding, Therapy Assistant (NDIS)
Clinic and community sessions for children, teens and young adults
BlueRocket Therapy
Assessment - Assistive Technology, Assessment - Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC), Assessment - Functional Capacity, NDIS Services, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Play Therapy, Speech Pathology, Speech Pathology - Feeding
NEW! Accepting referrals now for OT, speech, physio, AAC and AT assessments
Milestones Clinic
Assessment - ADHD (for child), Assessment - Autism (for child), Assessment - Dyscalculia, Assessment - Dysgraphia, Assessment - Dyslexia, Assessment - Functional Capacity, Assessment - Giftedness, Assessment - Intellectual Disability, Assessment - Motor Dysgraphia, Assessment - SCSA, Assessments - Educational and Cognitive, Counselling, Learning Support, NDIS Services, Occupational Therapy, Parent / Carer Support, Psychology
Psychology & OT assessments & Counselling for Kids aged 4–18
What dysgraphia actually is
Dysgraphia is a learning difference that affects handwriting and written expression. The ideas are there. The hard part is the physical act of writing, the spelling and punctuation, or organising thoughts on paper. Often it’s all three.
Like dyslexia, it says nothing about intelligence. Some of the most articulate kids in a classroom are the ones producing the least on paper.
Messy handwriting on its own isn’t dysgraphia. What matters is a persistent difficulty that doesn’t improve with practice and stops your child showing what they know.
Signs parents often notice
Messy handwriting that doesn’t improve no matter how much they practise
An awkward, white-knuckle pencil grip and complaints of sore hands
Slow, exhausting writing, with letters floating above and below the line
Random capital letters, missing words, and punctuation that comes and goes
A big gap between the story they can tell and the story they can write
Tears, stalling or meltdowns whenever writing is involved
How dysgraphia assessment works in Perth
Dysgraphia is usually looked at from two angles. The best picture comes from both.
A psychologist looks at written expression as part of a learning assessment, often alongside reading and spelling. Dysgraphia and dyslexia frequently overlap.
An occupational therapist (OT) looks at the motor side, including pencil grip, letter formation, posture and endurance.
What actually helps
OT support can make handwriting less effortful, especially in the younger years while letter formation habits are still forming.
Typing and assistive technology aren’t giving up. For many kids they’re the difference between three lines and three paragraphs. Speech-to-text, word prediction and typing instruction all have a place alongside handwriting support.
At school, ask about less copying from the board, typed assignments, extra time, a scribe for assessments, and marking that separates ideas from mechanics. Schools can do this with or without a diagnosis.
Here’s what to do next
1. Keep a few work samples. Pages where you know what they were trying to say can show an assessor the gap.
2. Talk to the teacher about what they see in class and which adjustments can start now.
3. Book an OT assessment to look at motor coordination. No referral is required.
4. Consider a learning assessment with a psychologist if spelling, reading or written expression are part of the struggle.
Common questions from Perth parents
What’s the difference between dysgraphia and dyslexia?
Dyslexia mainly affects reading and spelling. Dysgraphia mainly affects handwriting and written output. They often occur together, which is why a good learning assessment looks at both.
Is messy handwriting always dysgraphia?
No. Plenty of kids have untidy handwriting and are doing just fine. It’s worth investigating when the difficulty is persistent, effortful, resistant to practice, and stopping your child from showing what they know.
Who assesses dysgraphia in Perth?
Psychologists assess the written expression and learning side, and OTs assess the motor side. Many families do both, and the two reports together give the school a clear picture.
Should we just switch to typing?
Both, rather than either. Typing and assistive technology let your child produce work that matches their thinking right now, while OT support keeps building handwriting for the everyday moments that still need it.
Can the school make adjustments without a diagnosis?
Yes. Schools can adjust how writing tasks are set and assessed at any time. A report helps formalise things, but you don’t need to wait for one to start the conversation.
Ready to find the right support?
Browse Perth providers who are taking new families now, or read more about assessments first.