Like many other things, handwriting falls under the category of "If you don't use it, you'll lose it!" So it's important for you to continue writing. There are various pens, papers, and writing guides that may help you to write anything from shopping lists, memory joggers, notes, letters, etc.,

Pens

Pens available both at local office supply stores and also in catalogs offer a wide range of different types including those with a thick writing tip. Pens include Bic, 20/20, felt tip, Barole, Sharpie, Marvy marker, and many others. The key is to find the one that works best for you. For this reason it's important you experiment with different types, and tip thicknesses, until you find the one that meets your needs.

Some of the markers have distinct smells and may require cardboard backing under the writing paper as they may bleed through the paper. If you choose to use a larger-tip writing pen, you will need to form your letters bigger so you, or anyone else, can read them. This may take a little time and practice.

Paper Selection

There's a broad selection of writing paper. Some have bold lines and some have wider spaces between lines. You can purchase paper in loose leaf form, with or without lines. You can also select the loose format from a wide range of colors, textures, and amounts, or in pad form (usually white or yellow). It may help to choose the color of pen and paper that will give you the most contrast.

Paper can be bought at stationary stores but is also available through special catalogs, such as CAN-DO ®; low vision aids for independent living and Maxi-aids Catalog .

Writing space between lines can range from ?- inch to 1 inch. If you need more writing space than 1 inch, try using plain white paper and write as large as you need.

If you use plain paper, it can be organized and kept in a 3-ring binder. You could use a range of 3-ring binders and store papers for different purposes.

To differentiate and identify each binder, you can choose different textures, bold and contrasting colors, patterns, or size. You can also attach each blinder with a label in large print or braille, or other means of tactual or visual identification.

Commercial Writing Guides

There are several different styles of writing guides available through a wide range of catalogs (see Where to find Products for Independent Living). The guides typically use plain paper within the guide. A space within the guide frame provides tactual boundaries for the writing line. Styles vary from plastic overlays to clipboard styles.

Homemade Writing Guides

A homemade writing guide can be created by folding the paper in different ways to produce raised line paper. Here are two commonly used techniques:

Make Your Own Raised Line Paper

1. Take a plain piece of paper and a pen or pencil.

2. Roll it tightly around the pen or pencil.

3. Keep rolling until the whole paper forms a paper tube.

4. Allow the pen/pencil to drop out from the middle of the tube.

5. Lay the tube on a flat surface and press it flat.

6. Open the tube and lay the paper on the table so that it straightens out, and you will be able to feel the evenly spaced raised ridges.

Use these ridges as your writing lines.

Fold and Write as You Go

This is an easy way to make a list or write a note.

"June 26..."

1. Take a plain piece of paper, lay it flat on a table. Fold the bottom edge up ? inch or as wide a writing line as you need.

2. Write the first line of your note on the folded edge along the bottom of the paper..

"Dear Jane..."

3. Then fold the paper up and over, from the bottom again using the previous writing fold as your guide, this will give you a new, raised writing line.

4. Write the next line of your note.

"Today is rainy..."

5. Fold the paper up and over again to create another raised writing line.

6. Write the next line of your note.

"As Ever,... Nancy"

7. Continue folding the paper up from the bottom one line at a time.

8. And on each new fold, write another line of your note.

9. When you are done, unfold the paper. Your note will be in order top to bottom, and the writing will be evenly spaced.