Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia is a development co-ordination disorder (DCD) which affects movement and co-ordination. It affects the way the brain processes information and the way messages in the brain are transmitted.

Emotional problems, immaturity and/or obsessive behaviour are often associated with Dyspraxia.

The signs and symptoms

The features of DCD can be:

• Difficulties with gross and fine motor skills like climbing stairs, handwriting, using scissors, doing up buttons, etc.
• Appearing clumsy, disorientated or having difficulties with coordination
• Motor skills may be difficult to learn and retain
• Impaired or delayed speech, difficulty in planning and organising thoughts and ideas
• Difficulties with attention, concentration and memory e.g., remembering where they left their keys
• Inaccuracy when copying words and/or numbers, listening to or reading instructions, understanding or making sense of information, decoding maps and charts, spelling, cohesion when writing assignments
• Listening and taking notes at the same time
• Some people may have phobias, obsessive or immature behaviour or be sensitive to external stimulation e.g. different levels of light, sound and heat intensity and or experience extremes of emotions.

Ideas to support inclusion

• Get to know the individual’s support needs
• Give praise and avoid comparison with others
• Allow extra time to process information and complete tasks
• Prompt them to stay on track, as they may lose concentration easily
• Consider that employees may need adaptions to equipment or their working environment, e.g. pen grips, use of technology or different seating arrangements
• Focus on organisational skills like diary and folder management
• Ensure that where required assistance is given to the employee to find his/her way around as they may forget where they are supposed to be
• Allow access to word processors, laptops, voice recorders etc.