Child Has World's Worst Handwriting

I would love to learn more about dysgraphia. My son has the world's worst handwriting. In the past, his middle-school teachers had him use the computer for his work. I have tried to help him improve his handwriting, and it is a tad better. More improvement is needed. My son is in 10th grade, and time is running out for him. - Need Information
Answer: A student who has any type of handwriting problem is considered by some to have dysgraphia. It is a Latin word. "Dys-" means "difficulty with." "Graphia" refers to the writing process. Dysgraphia is best described as handwriting that is so illegible that it interferes with the communication of ideas in writing. Some of the signs of dysgraphia include: unfinished words or letters, a mixture of upper- and lower-case letters, irregular letter sizes, inconsistent spaces between letters and words, random or nonexistent punctuation, a cramped or unusual handwriting grip, slow writing and copying, and misuse of line and margin on the page. Students with dysgraphia do not remember and have not mastered the sequence of muscle motor movements used in handwriting. They cannot be described as lazy or sloppy handwriters.
Students with dysgraphia might or might not have other learning problems. Whether students can get special help for dysgraphia depends on where they live, as every state has its own criteria that determine if dysgraphia is a learning disability requiring special services.
With the right help, handwriting can often be improved, especially for younger students with dysgraphia. Older students more often rely on compensation strategies. At this point, the school might just suggest that your son use the computer. There are other compensations, however, that can make school much easier for him. Included in this list are: dictating ideas into a tape recorder to be written or typed later; extended time on tests; help with note-taking; the removal of neatness as part of a grade; and the reduction of copying aspects of work.
It would be a good idea for your son to work on his handwriting this summer. Practice can improve handwriting in many cases. Also, is there any possibility that he prints more legibly than he writes cursive? If so, he should print instead of using cursive handwriting.