The opportunity to travel is now a widely accepted privilege in the modern world. Thousands of young people have grasped the opportunity with both hands. Some backpackers may have been as nervous as me, some may not. We are all different. I would like to exemplify that as someone who is currently travelling the world and is neurodiverse.
I had always wanted to dance, long before Strictly was on our television screens, but I never had a chance as a child, mostly because I was considered too shy for lessons.
Starting university can be exciting. Yet, for students with dyspraxia, it often comes with extra hurdles. Dyspraxia affects movement and coordination, making everyday tasks more difficult. But with the right support and mindset, students can thrive. Understanding your condition and knowing how to adapt is key to turning challenges into opportunities for growth.
I first realised that my dyspraxia was going to come into play in motherhood before my first day as a mother. It was April 16th, 2020, and the hospital was in a frenzy surrounding COVID. Being in the hospital to give birth, particularly after having been isolated during the tense first month of COVID, didn’t feel real.
Janet Taylor has been a vital figure in raising awareness of dyspraxia, providing resources and support for the community through her writing. Her book, Dyspraxic Adults: An Empowering Guide, is an updated version of her earlier work, ensuring that dyspraxic individuals and their families continue to have access to much-needed information. As part of our Women’s History Month issue, we spoke to Janet about her work, the challenges of advocacy, and her advice for dyspraxic women and girls.
Supporting and Advocating for People with DCD/Dyspraxia
“What is up with my brain?” This is a question I wrestled with for years. When I was 5 years old, I was diagnosed with DCD or Developmental Coordination Disorder. There are many accommodations and opportunities I wish I could have accessed when I was first learning about and coming to terms with my DCD/dyspraxia. There are several types of people who play a part in the dyspraxia community, and two are discussed below.
There I was at the age of 57, having an assessment by an educational psychologist with special expertise in specific learning difficulties. She identified that I had a learning profile showing dyspraxic characteristics. At the time, I was a Head of Department and Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire, so it could be considered as a bit strange to request an assessment so late in my career.
Growing up with dyspraxia, I often felt like a lone sheep. I had a brief understanding of how it affected me and a rough idea of how to navigate the world, but being the only dyspraxic I knew, it was hard to address people's misconceptions. It wasn’t just me; even my family was learning as we went along.
I was diagnosed with Dyspraxia at the age of 4 in 2002. It all started when I was in private school and I found concentration very difficult. I also struggled with remembering to tie my shoelaces and holding scissors, which a lot of people found quite amusing and entertaining. At first,I tried to fit in, but it became apparent that I could not cope and moved to mainstream education.
I have recently started training as an ADHD coach, and I feel there are a number of lessons from my new work that I can apply to the way I view and work with my dyspraxia. With that in mind, I wanted to share some of my thoughts.
have recorded 94 answers to the prompt ‘One thing we would like you to know about dyspraxia’ from a wide range of Dyspraxia Facebook community groups and on LinkedIn. Many common elements highlight the lack of understanding and respect for dyspraxic individuals. Society needs to make more effort to understand the disability and become more tolerant and accepting.
