I was diagnosed with dyspraxia when I was in primary school.
Dyspraxia is an immaturity of the brain which means messages sent
by the brain are not fully transmitted. I was diagnosed after doing
tests such as threading beads on string and fitting shapes into
holes. I am now 15 years old and have learned to cope with it.
The only trouble I have really is with spelling and writing.
Reading to myself is fine and I read a lot at home but when I read
out loud it is as if my mind goes too fast for my body. The problem
with my writing is that other people are not able to read it. I
have no trouble reading it myself but only I, and a few of my close
friends, can really understand it. Luckily, for my GCSE exams
I’m allowed to word process the work after I have hand
written it.
Dyspraxia also affects my memory. Everyday things are easy to
remember but my real stumbling block is remembering spellings and
times tables.
Thankfully I’ve never been bullied because of my condition
but I’ve always found it hard when in class we get told to
"mark each others’ work". Some people can’t be bothered
to attempt to read my writing and I have often been given a cross
when the answer is right. I also used to find it patronising when I
was younger because I was withdrawn from lessons to have booster
classes in every subject. Dyspraxia doesn’t affect my
intelligence and I often felt hurt and frustrated when I was
studying maths at a very low level when I didn’t have any
difficulty with the subject. Grouping together people with
different weaknesses is definitely not the way forward. More care
and consideration should be taken when teaching special needs at
school.
Secondary school has been better. Teachers are more
understanding about my writing and spelling and realise I
don’t need any special dispensation in class.
I am now on course to get 11 good GCSEs and go to college.
Dyspraxia may have hindered my past but I am not going to let it
affect my future.
As told to Sean Maher.