Dyspraxia, also known as Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) falls under the neurodiversity umbrella, It is characterised by difficulties with co-ordination, mental manipulation and sequencing of movements.
Dyspraxia is a lifelong condition that affects how the brain processes information. It can affect children and adults of all ages and degrees of severity. This disorder is usually diagnosed in childhood but can go undiagnosed for many years.
Dyspraxia can improve with age as the brain adapts and is able to make better connections, especially with help from a physiotherapist or occupational therapist.
What are the signs and symptoms of dyspraxia?
The symptoms vary from person to person and include:
- poor balance
- problems with speech
- problems with reading
- and there may be issues with physical development that affect a person’s hand-eye coordination in everyday tasks such as catching a ball or opening a door.
It can also impact intellectual development, social abilities, and language skills. Individuals may self identify as clumsy and not sure of their own strength. Some dyspraxic individuals also experience anxiety as well as other sensory sensitivities.
What support is available for dyspraxic individuals?
Remember to work around the person’s needs, not just the task they are expected to complete.
Give the person time to adjust before adding new tasks to their workload be aware of fatigue.
Find out what accommodations they need and provide them with what is appropriate.
Make sure that they are comfortable in their workspace – they may require additional equipment such as chair support or a footrest.
Neurodivergent individuals who are dyspraxic have many strengths such as the ability to think outside the box, pay close attention to detail and have non-linear thinking skills.