For a child, learning to write can be a daunting task. For a child with developmental challenges, that task can be even harder. But a Dallas woman has found an unconventional way that's helping kids learn to write in no time.

Seeing 7-year-old Harper read, you would never guess that just three years ago her family received a devastating diagnosis...one that may have stolen her ability to read and write.

"I didn't expect him to say Autism," Jay Espaillat said. "It was very scary. It really was."

The Dallas family went on a mission to find the very best help and found some in a most unlikely place. Marnie Danielson, a mom and occupational therapist from Dallas created an alter ego for herself several years ago. Miss Marnie, as she's called, teaches an approach to writing that is striking a cord with children on the Autism spectrum.

"I knew we were on to something when we played it the first day, and the next day we were outside on the swing and I heard her doing the song," Espaillat said. "It really got us over the hump with Harper learning her letters upper and lower case and preparing her for Kindergarten."

For Danielson, the news wasn't surprising. "I understand why because many children on the spectrum do love television," she said.

Five years ago in her private clinic, Danielson had a little boy unable to write his name. The boy's mom videotaped Danielson writing letters and singing made up chants so they could practice at home. A few days later, Danielson's phone rang.

"I get this voicemail hysterically crying 'He's writing, he's writing! We got him! We got to do it again'," she remembered.

And do it again she did! "The TV Teacher" has blossomed into a 3 DVD and workbook set with a combination of repetitive rhythmic chants, upper and lower case letter writing, as well as numbers and shapes.

"Using the television is a very novel idea to learn how to write," Danielson explained. "Not many people think 'Oh, I'm going to use TV to teach my child how to write.'"

But Danielson soon received another surprise- parents of children not diagnosed with autism buying her DVD's "The demand is to write your name, write letters, you know at 4-years-old."

At a writing workshop at Temple Emanu-El preschool, Miss Marnie works with Pre-K children to develop motor skills to help build hand muscles and dexterity necessary to write.

And for all those children, Miss Marnie is along for the ride.

To learn more about Miss Marnie click here

Courtesy: KTVT