✨ Inspiring voices for International Dysgraphia Awareness Day ✨
Jennifer C. King, PhD is increasing awareness and catalyzing research for people impacted by dysgraphia. She is President and Founder of Dysgraphia Life, an expert speaker, a research scientist, a family member to people with learning disabilities in written expression, and a vocal advocate. She founded Dysgraphia Life to raise awareness of dysgraphia while providing information, support, and resources to people with writing difficulties and their loved ones.
Dr. King has co-authored a book on Dysgraphia IEPs along with over thirty scientific publications. She received a PhD in Biology from MIT and a BS from Duke and uses her scientific background to launch initiatives to build research capacity in the dysgraphia community, including leading two projects funded by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). Dr. King spent two decades in oncology research and advocacy where she became a sought-after expert appearing in major media outlets, presenting globally, and advising influential organizations. She is now using those skills to improve the lives of people with writing difficulties.
Contact Information
Organisation: Dysgraphia Life
Website: https://www.dysgraphia.life/
Email: [email protected]
Address: Box 8038, Vienna, VA 22183
✨ Inspiring voices for International Dysgraphia Awareness Day ✨
Maria Chivers
11th October 2025
Dr. David, Edward Cowell, and Maria L. M. Chivers wrote the first definition of dysgraphia in the World in 2008 to help people understand it.
As more research was published during the next ten years, we updated it in 2019 to reflect our understanding.
‘Dysgraphia means having severe problems with handwriting, which is associated with extreme difficulty with fine motor skills and problems with the speed of processing – despite having a normal intellectual ability.’
by Dr David Edward Cowell & Maria Chivers *2019 ©
*Updated from 2008
In 2008, Dr David Edward Cowell and I, Mrs Maria Chivers, recognised the urgent need for a clear, practical definition of dysgraphia to support those working with children facing handwriting difficulties.
At that time, despite growing awareness of the challenges some children experienced with writing, there was no universally accepted or practical definition of dysgraphia to help people with dysgraphia. Drawing on our combined experience—and after working closely with many affected children and consulting with teachers and other professionals—we created what we believe was the first working definition of dysgraphia.
Dr Cowell, whose academic and professional background is exceptional—holding a BSc, MPhil, and PhD, and being a Chartered Psychologist and Life Member of the Royal Society of Medicine—brought deep insight and expertise to our collaboration.
In 2019, a decade after we first shared our definition, we updated it to reflect further research and developments in the field. Since then, understanding of dysgraphia has continued to grow, and many knowledgeable professionals have contributed valuable perspectives of their own. Of course, definitions vary, and each brings something important to the conversation.
We’re proud to have laid an early foundation, and we are grateful to those who have expanded on it. We continue to value and learn from the collective wisdom of the wider community working to support individuals with dysgraphia.
© 2025 Maria L M Chivers &
Dr David Edward Cowell, BSc,. MPhil, PhD.
Chartered Psychologist
Life Member of the Royal Society of Medicine.
The first “Dysgraphia Awareness Day” in the World was held on Monday, 3rd October, 2022. an event by Maria Chivers of the “Dyslexia A2Z” and helped by her friend and mentor, Dr David Cowell.
We registered our day in July 2022 and had a successful day and made many new contacts on our Facebook pages for Dysgraphia Awareness and Dysgraphia Support Group for Parents UK. We have several people from other countries who wish to be involved next year.
I am already working on next year’s programme, which will be on Monday, 2 October 2023.
If you have any suggestions or ideas or if you wish to participate, please get in touch with me.
Author and researcher, Raising Awareness of all aspects of Neurodiversity, including Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Visual Stress & other Learning Difficulties.
Email: [email protected].
Maria Chivers & Dr David E Cowell – 2022
www.dyslexiaa2z.com
Exclusively Designed for us is this Dysgraphia Enamel Awareness Badge.
To purchase, please go to eBay.
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