Living with Dyspraxia

AT SCHOOL

Although Dyspraxia is diagnosed as a physical disability, it is classified as a learning disability because it also affects a child’s academic learning. Students may show difficulty in:

Writing

Copying from the blackboard can become a laborious task. Note taking may be difficult because it requires processing verbal information and writing quickly, both at the same time. Students may find they write shorter essays or exam answers, simply because it hurts to hold a pen.

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Physical Education classes

Children with Dyspraxia often have problems with motor coordination. It is more difficult for them to run, hop, jump, catch or kick a ball and will take them longer to learn these skills.

Organisational skills

Students may frequently forget instructions or homework. They may take longer to do their work because they cannot organise their thoughts, or conversely, they may finish their work extremely fast because planning for longer answers is too difficult. This is usually evident when writing reports or essays.

Concentration

Students often have a poor attention span. They find it difficult to focus on one thing for more than a few minutes. Some students may need more personal attention to guide them through work.

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Art classes

Dyspraxic students often have difficulty with holding scissors or manipulating paintbrushes or pencils to create specific pieces of art.

Processing speed

Children with Dyspraxia are often slower to process information. It may take them longer to understand new information, or may take them longer to come to an answer, especially in exam conditions. It does not mean they do not know the work; it just takes them longer to express it.

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Sitting still

Dyspraxic children often need to move. They like to swing their arms and legs. This issue is often exacerbated if the child has a co-existing condition such as ADHD.

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Suggestions

With a formal diagnosis of Dyspraxia, schools can make accommodation for many of the above issues. For example:

Teachers can offer additional time for students to complete class work, homework and exams
Teachers can provide more worksheets to reduce the amount of writing for students
Students can be offered a keyboard to type, rather than write answers

Students can also be offered speech-to-text software for longer pieces of writing and exams
Flexi-bands can be added to chairs in classrooms to allow students to move discreetly
Standing tables can be offered to students to allow for small amounts of movement in class
Teachers can often more encouragement and repetition to help students learn

Living with Dyspraxia

AT SCHOOL

Although Dyspraxia is diagnosed as a physical disability, it is classified as a learning disability because it also affects a child’s academic learning. Students may show difficulty in:

Writing

Copying from the blackboard can become a laborious task. Note taking may be difficult because it requires processing verbal information and writing quickly, both at the same time. Students may find they write shorter essays or exam answers, simply because it hurts to hold a pen.

Physical Education classes

Children with Dyspraxia often have problems with motor coordination. It is more difficult for them to run, hop, jump, catch or kick a ball and will take them longer to learn these skills.

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Organisational skills

Concentration

Students often have a poor attention span. They find it difficult to focus on one thing for more than a few minutes. Some students may need more personal attention to guide them through work.

Art classes

Dyspraxic students often have difficulty with holding scissors or manipulating paintbrushes or pencils to create specific pieces of art.

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Processing speed

Children with Dyspraxia are often slower to process information. It may take them longer to understand new information, or may take them longer to come to an answer, especially in exam conditions. It does not mean they do not know the work; it just takes them longer to express it.

Sitting still

Dyspraxic children often need to move. They like to swing their arms and legs. This issue is often exacerbated if the child has a co-existing condition such as ADHD.

​

​

​

Suggestions

With a formal diagnosis of Dyspraxia, schools can make accommodation for many of the above issues. For example:

Teachers can offer additional time for students to complete class work, homework and exams

Teachers can provide more worksheets to reduce the amount of writing for students

Students can be offered a keyboard to type, rather than write answers

Students can also be offered speech-to-text software for longer pieces of writing and exams

Flexi-bands can be added to chairs in classrooms to allow students to move discreetly

Standing tables can be offered to students to allow for small amounts of movement in class

Teachers can often more encouragement and repetition to help students learn