by Bernie English
WHILE awareness is increasing among teachers and other professionals about the signs of, and difficulties faced by, children on the Autism scale or with an ADHD diagnosis, there is a group who are often left behind because the signs of their condition are more difficult to spot.
A Limerick city parent – who has asked not to be named to protect his child’s privacy – is hoping to set up a group where parents can offer mutual support and lobby for resources.
“Unfortunately, many children with Development Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) are not picked up until third or fourth class in primary schools because of their slow speech and clumsiness of gait. At that stage, it may have gone too far without positive occupational and speech therapy intervention,” he explained.
“Along with a number of other concerned parents, and in association with the Dyspraxia Association of Ireland, I am attempting to resurrect The Limerick Dyspraxia Group and form a new committee. This will provide a suitable forum and platform for parents to meet and discuss various issues, ideas, problems they encounter and crucially, to tell their life experience dealing with a child who has Dyspraxia/DCD”.
The father said that too often, children with Dyspraxia are labelled ‘clumsy’ or ‘slow’ and not enough understanding and expertise is directed at an early intervention stage to help the child emotionally, physically and intellectually.
“Failure to invest heavily in resources early in the child’s social, emotional and schooling development leads to social exclusion, higher risk of bullying and poor academic performance. These problems are then compounded throughout the child’s life often into their teenage years and subsequent adulthood., ” he told the Limerick Post.
DCD is a condition which relates to children who have difficulty with balance, and physical activity, usually speech and language, emotional development, sensory stimulation issues, social integration and display extreme tantrums caused by tremendous emotional frustration.
“Remember Dyspraxia/DCD children usually know the answer to questions posed and/or possess emotions they are unable to adequately express either verbally or emotionally which is then the root cause of their frustration.
“Generally, children with DCD are incredibly bright and articulate,”the father explained.
The next meeting of the Limerick association will be on Tuesday February 17 from 7.30 to 9pm in Christ Church, Central Buildings, O’Connell Street, near the White House Pub.
