<p>My 19 year old son has dysgraphia, which is essentially an inability to form letters or numbers using a pen. [Dyslexia</a> & Dysgraphia - So. Cal. Tri-Counties Branch](<a href=“http://www.dyslexia-ca.org/c-dysgdef.php]Dyslexia”>http://www.dyslexia-ca.org/c-dysgdef.php) He can use a keyboard as well as anyone else. His intellectual ability is just fine. But when he has to fill out a paper application for a job it looks like a kindergartner took a stab at it. Of course its hard for any kid to get a summer job so maybe this has nothing to do with him not getting any call-backs, even after whoever handed him the application expressed enthusiasm about his applying. </p>
<p>Were trying to figure out a way to counter this possible disadvantage. He could attach a note to each application explaining what dysgraphia is and is not and why his handwriting looks the way it does, but I know from experience that dysgraphia is not that easily explained (or believed) and Im thinking that the note itself would cause his application to be tossed in the Never Mind pile. </p>
<p>What if he were to have someone with good handwriting scribe for him? There probably isnt a requirement that applicants fill out the applications themselves, but there probably is an assumption that they do. So it could be viewed as dishonest or unethical. </p>
<p>Hes put together a bunch of informal jobs delivering lunches here, driving someone to the chiropractor there, lawn mowing and yard work but would really like a fast food or retail job. Many of those dont have online applications. </p>
<p>Why don’t you go to the places he is interested in applying and ask if you can pick up an application for your son. Then he can bring it back in himself all filled out. I have done that myself, not because my son would have problems filling out the application, but just because it was more convenient for me to do so as I was the one out and about with a car and happened to be there. You could always nonchalantly order a hamburger and say “Oh by the way, could I pick up an employment application for my son.”</p>
<p>As an employer myself, I know that I am influenced by the writing, spelling, and grammar on an application. But I would not find it deceptive to learn that someone else had filled out the application as long as all the information is true. I’m not really experienced with the hiring practices of the fast food industry but I would think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to put together a typewritten resume that can be handed in with the paper application. That way he may be able to add information about his applicable past experience, work related and otherwise, that might not be covered by the questions on the fill in the blanks application.</p>
<p>At least some employers would rather hire the kid who has enough initiative to pick up his own application, rather than having a parent do it. But there’s no reason it couldn’t be filed out at home, and there’s no “must be in your own handwriting” rule.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Fill out applications at home on the internet.</p></li>
<li><p>He can go into the store, ask for an application, and fill it out at home on a typewriter or have someone else write it.</p></li>
<li><p>I’m perplexed by the notion that having someone else fill in the application is unethical. Maybe if he’s applying to be the person writing “Happy Birthday!” on the cakes in the supermarket; otherwise, no.</p></li>
<li><p>Writing a note shows (IMHO) that he is NOT open to doing rational work-arounds, like typing on a typewriter; scanning, typing, and printing; filling it out online; or having a friend write it. Rather, he’s handing in something illegible with an excuse for it being totally illegible. Would YOU want to hire that person? An employer is going to think, “So if you had a problem with the cash register, you would just stand there? You wouldn’t, you know, ask for help or find a way to solve the problem? Next!”</p></li>
<li><p>Please, please get your son an electric typewriter and teach him how to use it. If he truly cannot write, he’ll need it.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Yikes! No, it’s okay, he can type faster than most and can use technology with the best of them. He’s the King of Compensation. The only problem is filling in paper applications with his own handwriting. I have to say I never thought of an electric typewriter-- you mean so he can loosen the whatever it is and move the application around and fill in the blanks with typewritten words? I used to be able to do that. Somebody hand me the White-Out! </p>
<p>Seriously I’m glad to hear that so far no one thinks it’s unethical or dishonest to have someone else fill out the application.</p>
<p>“Seriously I’m glad to hear that so far no one thinks it’s unethical or dishonest to have someone else fill out the application.”</p>
<p>Why would it be? The applicant needs to sign it, indicating that everything is true, but that is it. Pretty much the way most households have one tax-form completer but several tax-form signers.</p>
<p>I would probably be wary of it looking like mom-script. Otherwise I don’t see why it would matter. But a typewriter is a great idea too. Libraries might still have them if you can’t buy one anywhere - and you might not be able to.</p>
<p>If there isn’t a typewriter in your own attic, or in any of your neighbors’ attics, you can order one from Amazon - they are cheaper there than at the Staples website. But for real retro-style, I’d put a call in to the closest GoodWill or other second-hand store!</p>
<p>And now y’all have got me inspired, and I just found that I could get a Baby Hermes typewriter on Ebay! Wow! The temptation is grand!</p>
<p>There’s a manual Smith Corona in the basement but it might have suffered some damage in the Great Sewer Back-Up of '93. Aside from paper job applications or other fill in the blank forms, what else would you use an electric typewriter for?</p>
<p>I’m not clear about the suggestion to use a manual typewriter. Why not scan the application and then fill it out on the computer (using a program like Adobe Acrobat or PDF-XChange, which has a perfectly serviceable free version), and then print it out? </p>
<p>That’s what my son, who also has dysgraphia, has done. He goes to the place he wants to work, asks for an application, then brings it home to scan, fill out, and print. Then he returns it to the place of business. </p>
<p>This has never been a problem. In fact, I think businesses appreciate not having to decipher handwriting. (Even people without dysgraphia may not have the best handwriting!)</p>
<p>I was thinking there must be an app for that. I’d rather buy a scanner than a typewriter. Meanwhile, we’re going to ask the young woman next door to scribe for him (no one else in our family has good handwriting either.)</p>
I filled out various forms and applications for my S for years–in his case, not dysgraphia, but really wretched writing. I guess it would have been deceptive on an employment application if the job involved handwriting, but that was never the case (except for scrawling someone’s name on a Starbucks cup). At some point students stopped being graded on their handwriting, and I think as a result very few of them can legibly fill out a form by hand. When our generation passes, the art will be lost forever–but by then I doubt physical applications will still exist anyway.</p>
<p>My oldest is dysgraphic. She carries resumes with her. She fills out online, and when she has been given, in person, a piece of paperwork to fill out, which is not on a computer, it has only been in school. </p>
<p>But she scans those things in and fills them in on the computer. She calls it a courtesy and she leaves it at that.</p>
<p>If you were to have to fill in paperwork for him, which I think is very unlikely since every company is computerized these days, it would be fine.</p>
<p>I have dysgraphia myself. While I am normally a full-disclosure kind of person, I think disclosing it for a summer job application is probably not going to be productive and may be damaging. </p>
<p>Almost every job application I have ever filled out was online and could therefore be typed. I have had my mom fill out important forms for me before or if there was a job I was REALLY wanting. I think typing it is always a great idea, too, and I think can show you went to an extra effort-- nobody is going to look at it and think “EGADS!!! They typed this, they must be trying to hide bad handwriting!” </p>
<p>I’m a college grad now working in an office, and the running joke at work is that the only person who has worse handwriting than me is the VP who is in charge of our section. He does not have dysgraphia and thinks it’s all quite funny. I can’t say I’ve ever felt too horribly discriminated against for my bad handwriting, it’s been pretty easy to work around outside of k-12 education.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the insight; I needed some perspective on this. The kinds of places he is applying to that only have paper applications are the local garden center, sub shop, toy store and dry cleaner. The medical practice I work for only has paper applications. So it’s still an issue for the dysgraphic kid, though maybe not for much longer.</p>
<p>I fill out building department applications on the computer by scanning and then using adobe photoshop to fill in the blanks. That way I have an easy copy of everything on file. I’ve been known to address my kid’s envelope’s “Mom your handwriting is better than mine.” Unless the job is actually going to require a lot of handwriting, I’m not seeing this as an ethical issue.</p>
<p>Apparently, you can get an electric typewriter at WalMart for $84. They are useful for filling out any type of application that cannot be filled out online. It is also very useful for typing out checks.</p>