HELP and advice needed for my son with dyspraxia

[kel31]

we have been going through the motions concerning my son maybe having dyspraxia we have seen the ped and the salt and the educational psy just waiting on the OT now which has been well over a year we have rang a private ot up and i got on very well with her and she seem to understand what we have been going through would going to a private ot interfear with seeing a nhs ot later ? and also who can diagnose dyspraxia as we are unsure about this and what will happen after we have the diagnoses

As parent of a now 21year old at college and doing really well. I set up a parent led support group 13 years ago for families and children affected by DCD developmental Co-ordination disorders. It has a website and helpline for parents and a brilliant development officer called Arlene Maxtone. Its been completely self funded for last 13 years and costs £10 a year membership. Anyone seeking advice on Dyspraxia should check out our website or call the helpline www.HDCD.org.uk tel 01463709907. Its a small scottish based charity but has been totally parent led and is still going strong. With it Im certain my son and I would have struggled.

I agree with Indigobell that while you are waiting to see the OT you could make games for him to play at home that will strengthen his fingers such as
squeezing rubber balls
games with pegs
playing with playdoh
Lego or knex are great for developing fine motor skills
One of the best activities we found was horseriding - this really helps with co-ordination and strengthening their core stability. Try to find an instructor who is qualified in teaching the disabled as they will probably have a better understanding of your child's needs and be more patient. My son's horseriding style was very unorthadox!!
Ask the school is they have any copies of their gym trail activities as they have some good activities.
Doesn't help with your school problems but at least it might help a bit.

I also have a son of 17 with Dyspraxia and had to discover the diagnosis for myself as it was very unheard of when he was very young.
Please contact The Dyscovery Centre in Cardiff, where Dr Amanda Kirby and her colleagues are fantastically knowledgable about Dyspraxia and other associated disabilities. The website has lots of really helpful info too.
www.dyscovery.newport.ac.uk/

I trust her knowledge above most other professionals we have come across for my son and I ended up going to Cardiff to take one of the training courses in Dyspraxia so that I could educate my own paediatrician!
Most of the help you need is very practical and please don't think that any child with Dyspraxia is lazy - everything they do takes far more effort than other children which is very tiring - they will always avoid activities that they find difficult - don't we all?? Its very frustrating for them too to feel like you are doing everything with a pair of rubber gloves 2 sizes too big. Try it yourself - its really tough!

I agree that working on the childrens core stability is really important before handwriting can develop. Try swimming if you have no other OT support.
Dont get too down - it is surprising how my son suddenly managed to do things that I thought he never would - it may just take a little longer.
Good luck.

Has anyone had problems with The Dyscovery Centre ?

www.newport.ac.uk/research/researchcentres/Centres/Dyscovery%20Centre/Pages/default.aspx

hi mendip I had problems too seemed to work via google though... thanks for the info daisy

I meant problems as in unhappy in your dealings with them - the way they dealt with you. There seems to be universal praise but there are people who are not so enamoured.

different local authorities have different criteria for getting statements of SEN wirsty, so it depends where you move. Get any reports together that you have from wherever you are then ring up some LA's , talk to their senior ed psych and see what they might offer. Getting the statement won't always entitle you to better or extra help - it depends on how the LA manage their funding and the kind of provision they offer - it varies.Ask while you're on the phone for contact details of the local special needs advocacy service - these are voluntary & independent & gd to chat to. Check out local speech & language therapy services too( contact the head of local paediatric speech therapy) - these operate in different ways, some go out to schools, some are in the community & some don't offer much at all. all the best!