Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder, DCD)/dis-PRAK-see-uh/
A motor coordination difference affecting planning and execution of movements (fine/gross), handwriting, sequencing, and self‑care tasks.
Andy says:
It’s like your body’s GPS sometimes lags or reroutes. With the right supports, you still get where you’re going.
Detailed Explanation
Dyspraxia/DCD impacts motor planning, balance, and sequencing.
Common experiences:
- Clumsiness or frequent bumping into things
- Slow/effortful handwriting; hand fatigue
- Difficulty organizing multi‑step tasks
- PE/sports challenges; coordination fatigue
It often co‑occurs with dysgraphia, SPD, ADHD, and dyslexia. Supports focus on environment, tools, and step scaffolds — not just practice.
Community Context
Strengths include persistence, creativity, and problem‑solving. Occupational therapy (OT) and accommodations (keyboards, breaks, visual steps) are pivotal in school/work.
Quick Tips
- Use keyboards or speech‑to‑text; allow extra time; reduce copying from board
- Break tasks into steps with visuals; stabilize paper and use grips
- Prefer low‑clutter, predictable layouts; seated PE options
Do / Don't
- Do: assess task demands; adapt tools/environment first
- Do: praise effort and strategy use
- Don't: equate speed with ability; avoid penalizing for handwriting
Scientific Context
Evidence supports task‑oriented interventions, environmental adaptations, and assistive tools; pure drill has limited transfer to real tasks.
Language Notes
Called Dyspraxie/DCD in DACH; overlaps with Dysgraphie.
Related Terms
Dysgraphia
A learning difference affecting handwriting, spelling in writing, and organizing thoughts on paper.
Sensory Processing Disorder
A condition where the nervous system has trouble receiving and responding to sensory information. People may be over-sensitive, under-sensitive, or both to different sensory inputs.
Accommodations
Changes to environment, tools, timing, or expectations that remove barriers so people can participate equally. Not special treatment or lowered standards—just different paths to the same destination.
Sources
Community Contributions
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