Possible Dyspraxia? - 17 year old

[I8toys]

Not sure where to post this and not sure what I'm asking but just to get some advise really.

DS2 17 year 12. English teacher has raised fact that they couldn't read his writing in his mocks and are asking other teachers for evidence to support the need for a laptop in exams. I have emailed SENCO at school to follow up as have heard nothing further. We also raised this issue for GCSE's when another teacher mentioned it but nothing was done or put into place for his GCSE's. I'm not letting it go for A Levels.

I may be overthinking things and reading too much into things but I wondered if he has dyspraxia. He's only recently learned to tie his shoelaces, can't ride a bike and had a late onset stammer at 7 which he had treatment for. He struggles to open packets and tins etc. Nothing else really stands out but he can be a bit disorganised but seems to cope really well - can play bass guitar and drums so this contradicts.

Any advise on how we can get a diagnosis? Do we need a diagnosis? I know these things can take time. He is hoping to go to university after his a levels so just looking ahead.

Absolutely worth exploring and the examples would point towards Dyspraxia.

Our eldest was only diagnosed as an adult when she was unable to learn how to drive and her instructor suggested an assessment. The university actually paid for an assessment as there was a requirement for adjustments for travel to placements.

https://dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/developmental-coordination-disorder-dyspraxia/diagnosis/#:~:text=children%20with%20DCD.-,Assessment,in%20both%20diagnosis%20and%20treatment.

Definitely seek a diagnosis the pp links is a good place to start Dyspraxia or Developmental processing disorder is more than scrawny writing and shoe laces there is an emotional element to it and can affect all aspects of adult life.

You need a post 16 assessment, ideally from a educational psychologist, which will look at strengths and weaknesses and recommend adjustments(extra time, scribe etc). This would carry over to uni and dsa funding if relevant. However if it is only for laptop use in exams the school may be able to evidence it as his usual way of working to satisfy JCQ regulations.

All that sounds exactly like ds who has diagnosed dyspraxia and used a computer for exams. He played the piano and was a pretty good swimmer.

This is a starting point www.achippp.org.uk/directory

I got assessed and properly diagnosed by an educational psychologist when I was 18. It was paid for through a university hardship grant. I would definitely get it sorted sooner rather than later because he'll be eligible for lots of support if he chooses to go to uni. I got a laptop, specialist software and extra time in my exams.

Thank you so much everyone. My main issue is his A levels currently and any support he may need. He is taking 3 A levels that are very much essay based so will push this with SENCO.

Push, push, push.

My eldest was very similar. Awful writing. Took much longer than my other kids and his peers to learn to swim, ride a bike or tie his shoelaces. Very disorganised, struggles with prioritising and managing deadlines. 4 attempts to pass his driving test. All the way through school they were happy to allow him to use a laptop to type exams rather than handwriting without any specific diagnosis. As soon as he got into Uni he started hitting brick walls as their policy was that without a specific diagnosis, they could not put in any alternative arrangements for exams.

So we ended up paying about £750 for a private occupational therapist to confirm what we knew, that he was on the dyspraxic spectrum. (And probably inattentive ADHD too, which is a whole other can of worms). Having the piece of paper with a diagnosis has opened lots of doors with the university's disability and wellbeing service such as giving him access to training courses and software to help him manage his workload and organisation, appointments with advisers and so on.

I would totally push now when he's still under 18, once they are "adults" they have to organise it all for themselves which is a challenge for a young person with developmental coordination disorder.

Ah yes I meant developmental co ordination disorder not processing ! My own Dc had a diagnosis in primary school but it was still a struggle to get assistance in secondary everything seemed to be a fight and challenge!

If you possibly can, pay for a private assessment. Where I am NHS is taking years for children to be assessed and refusing for adults, so you would have no chance of getting a diagnosis at 17. With a diagnosis, he may get extra time in exams if he has slow short term processing function. I hate the term DCD as I don't want my brain to be called a disorder and it covers so much more than coordination.