Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), more commonly known as Dyspraxia in the UK, is a lifelong neurological condition affecting motor coordination skills. This includes movement, perception of sensory information, and body awareness. Its presentation can change over time depending on the environment, experiences, and available support.
Difficulties are most commonly observed in motor coordination, planning, organisation (including time management), and physical movements. Clumsiness is often noticeable, such as bumping into objects, dropping things, or struggling to reach developmental milestones like sitting, crawling, and walking.
In school, challenges may appear in PE, including difficulties with throwing, catching, skipping, and hopping, as well as general classroom tasks like cutting, colouring, writing, and accurately using tools such as rulers. Sometimes people have difficulties with forming speech sounds (known as Verbal Dyspraxia or Apraxia of Speech.
With recognition and appropriate support, individuals with DCD can achieve great success—even mastering instruments that require complex finger movements.
Although DCD can be diagnosed as a standalone condition, it often co-occurs with other neurodevelopmental disorders—particularly autism and ADHD, but also hypermobility, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and Tourette Syndrome.
What We Offer
- Awareness training and support for staff, parents, and students to help manage the impact of DCD and develop skills that minimise its effects.
- Written information to support referrals to identify this and co-occurring conditions.
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