To not tell instructor about Dyspraxia?

[MrsSnape]

My son (9) has mild dyspraxia. It obviously affects his balance and co-ordination.

Anyway so far we have ignored the fact that he has it, he knows he's not great at sports but is gifted in other things.

BUT...he does karate and so far has gone through 3 gradings in the space of a year. He is due to take a more difficult grade next week (orange belt) and is having problems with the neatness and balance required to pass.

With lots of practice in the past few weeks but at class and at home, this has greatly improved so I feel it CAN be overcome.

But instructor is not aware of his condition so no allowances will be made for his rather 'scruffy' movements.

DS wants me to tell him before the grading but I don't want him to start using at as an excuse for not doing his best (because when he REALLY tries, you wouldn't know there was anything wrong so I know he's capable).

Plus, if I were to bring it up with instructor now, it would look like I'm trying to gain favours before the grading and he's already doing me a huge favour at the moment for something else, I don't want to push it.

But mainly, I don't want to allow Dyspraxia to become an obstacle for DS.

AIBU to expect him to ignore it?

Anyone?

oooh don't know! I can see both points of view really.

My son does Karate and is dyspraxic. It sometimes takes him longer to move through the belts, but we all just ignore this. His instructor doesn't know.

oooh. what a dilemma. well done your ds for getting so far.

Is there any scope for having a quiet word in the instructor's ear without telling your ds that he's been told so doesn't use it as a prop -so to speak?
I don't think you would sound like you're giving excuses / trying to get favours if you put it in the way that you've done here. Maybe even write it, but say that you don't want the instructor to let on to your ds that he knows because it's important that he isn't treated differently?

Tricky one. If he was dyslexic, would you mention it to his school teacher? Do you know the instructor well enough to have a friendly chat with him about this...? Tell him that your son wanted you to mention it, but you weren't sure and ask the instructors advice - does he think that it should be taken into account, and would that be the best thing for your son? Tell him you weren't sure about mentioning it to him but just would appreciate his advice. The thing is, when it comes to grading, aren't there strict guidelines that need to be followed in order to pass, regardless of any personal difficulties?

It is a problem isn't it.

I think if your DS is getting to grips with the grade and can pass without concessions then you should keep quiet about it.

I have a DS with Mild AS/dyspraxia and he is barely aware himself that he has a problem. I try not to mention it too much as I don't want him to use it as an excuse or to avoid putting in the effort. But on the other hand he knows he struggles and has extra help from the school so I do understand your difficulty.

I think I would keep quiet and not mention it until after this exam. He will get no favours this time but the instructor is aware in time for the next grading. I think if you tell the instructor before it sounds like you are trying to get some leniency for your DS and then when he does pass it will be tainted a bit because he hasn't done it all off his own bat.

If he is doing well, don't bring it up....to be honest, he has dyspraxia and suceeding well. Fair play! He is loving it....and doing well. He has dyspraxia, to be honest, he is working harder than the others, as you said his balance is slightly off, but he is still suceeding. Tell the instructer, he is not cheeting. If you tell the instructer, if HEis good he will undertand how hard he worked. Good luck!

I have Dyspraxia and so do all my sons, Where it could cause safety issues to them I generally advise of the problem but I do make it clear it is as a precaution only and that my son wants to be judged the same as everyone else. Dont know if that helps you, its not like you want special treatment but should something happen you would want them to know whats going on.

I posted a similar thread yesterday - but mine was along the lines of "is it interfering to let the instructor know" !
My dd has dyslexia and mild dyspraxia - but she DOES find it difficult to do the moves (Tae Kwon Do) and gets very discouraged as she finds it very difficult to follow a sequence of moves shown to her unless it is broken down clearly move by mmove.
I think I would be inclined to have a quiet chat to the instructor to see what he thinks.

Agree you should tell. Not to get concessions but to gain more understanding from the instructor. If ds1 isn't tidy and precise enough to make the grade fair enough, it wouldn't be fair on others to pass him otherwise, but he really needs a specific methodology to enable him to grasp what he needs to do and practice to achieve it.