Hello again!
As you may know, the educational researcher who formerly headed NICHD
(the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) no
longer works there. Former NICHD head Dr. G. Reid Lyon announced his
resignation in May, and finally left his position in July.
Dr. Lyon's replacement, Dr. Peggy McCardle, has stated (to me and to
others) that she plans to have NICHD address writing - including
handwriting - as a long-neglected and till now ill-researched
essential of literacy.
You may therefore want to ask her about possible NICHD supportfor
research into handwriting instruction/improvement. (Before reaching
her present position, she did approve a grant for at least one
research-project in this area, on which I consulted and with which I
remain involved.) Reach Dr. McCardle as follows:
Peggy McCardle, Ph.D., MPH
Chief, Child Development & Behavior Branch
Center for Research for Mothers & Children
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
6100 Executive Blvd., Suite 4B05
Rockville, MD 20852-7510
Phone: 301-435-6863/ Fax: 301-480-0230
Email: PM43Q@NIH.GOV
Responses may come from another NICHD staff-member, research scientist
Vinita Chhabra (M. Ed.) who specializes in literacy research. (Peggy -
she asked me to use her first name - tells me that she has asked
Vinita to take a look at some of the concerns I'd raised in my
correspondence. This correspondence had mentioned not only the
continuing need for handwriting instruction, but also the dearth of
research on unconventional yet promising methods which appear to best
meet the needs of high-speed, high-legibility handwriters.)