The impact of dyspraxia/DCD

The Impact of Dyspraxia/DCD.

In the 25 years of my own research, writing and sharing of information about dyspraxia I am still always met with the same answer when I pose the question
'What is dyspraxia?'

Parents, teachers, professionals will usually respond with 'clumsiness', or lack of coordination. 

That in itself is not incorrect but it is a terrible injustice to a condition which is both subtle and complex in its manifestations and impact.
When I first began to research the condition I came across a paper published in 1908 entitled 'Clumsy Child Syndrome' and since that time there have been a plethora of research papers emphasising the word clumsy which has become ingrained in our understanding of dyspraxia. 
Yes dyspraxic children/adults can be clumsy but often that is something that improves with time and becomes far less noticeable. Indeed adults consistently report that it is the impact of issues other than those related to co ordination that cause problems in the real world in adulthood.

As parents we can become obsessed by 'milestones' such as tying shoe laces and riding a bicycle, as if they are measures of life competence. As adults we appreciate that neither skill is essential for life, but organisation, good time keeping, quick thinking and good social skills are essential skills in a world that's increasingly competitive and judgemental. For an individual with dyspraxia these are the very skills that take effort and energy to master, and they may always be demonstrated with less finesse than that exhibited by non dyspraxics.

An  individual with dyspraxia has to practice 'doing' and 'being' over and over again if they are to reach any level of competence. New skills are not just absorbed and replicated with ease as so many children demonstrate. Life is a struggle and children need timely and sensitive support and understanding if they are to grow into confident adolescents and competent adults. Currently that very understanding and support is all too often lacking, and so adults find themselves struggling to find and keep work and relationships because they have not acquired the skills and confidence to do so . Children all too often find themselves having no option to join in with tasks that they are almost certainly not going to be successful at and this damages self esteem and makes life frustrating and unforgiving.


Dyspraxia/DCD affects thinking and movement and organisation and social understanding and competence, speech and language and perception. It is not just a matter of tripping over things and being heavy footed. The impact is far reaching, ongoing and lifelong. It affects every part of the affected person and can be seen in their responses to situations and the difficulties that they have mastering new skills. They CAN master them though but it takes time and tolerance and alas those very things can be hard to find, especially in the workplace. Everyday actions such as learning to drive, putting on makeup, managing a hairstyle, choosing clothing, catching a train, managing loose change, doing up fastenings, tying a tie, cooking, cleaning, washing up, packing a dishwasher, managing appointments, planning the day, shopping, remembering items and on and on and on are all affected by dyspraxia. It affects life.

It is though hidden so exists without obvious signs of difficulty, sympathy votes or any real desire for people to want to know more.So children and adults with dyspraxia/DCD face prejudice and usually inappropriate judgement on a daily basis.
If a child's difficulties are not recognised or are dismissed as bad behaviour  they may find themselves in a downwards spiral. These children are at real risk of behavioural difficulties, truancy and exclusion. 

So we all have a responsibility to try to understand so that we can offer at the very least empathy if not meaningful support. A child or adult who is struggling to achieve despite their very best efforts deserves to be understood and to be congratulated for the huge effort they put into everyday living.
We have a long way to go but dyspraxia is beginning to break through. Articles, characters on television and in story books now have dyspraxia. Famous personalities with the condition are beginning to talk about it and the Dyspraxia Foundation continues to fly the flag for all those affected by the condition and offers a multitude of free resources on its website www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk

On a more positive note people with dyspraxia  are individuals with seemingly undentable tenacity, courage, patience and forgiveness. When you as a parent or a teacher have felt like screaming (or indeed have screamed) and the individual with dyspraxia comes through it all with a beaming smile it takes your breath away.

I have the privilege of knowing many people with dyspraxia (and other coexisting conditions) and I beleive wholeheartedly that these are not people to be pitied, they are not heroic or  necessarily inspirational but they are exceptional because despite the fact that they live in an often confusing and unstable world, they get up each day and try again.  It is for the rest of us to put into place the reasonable adjustments that allows them to demonstrate their remarkable qualities. It is for us as a society to lessen the impact of disability by viewing every individual for the unique and valuable  qualities that they possess.

Diversity makes things better.