Dyspraxia

What is it?

Dyspraxia is an issue that can impact fine and gross motor skills, possibly resulting in poor handwriting ability.  It can also affect a person's conception of how his or her body moves in space.  

Signs

If you suspect a student has dyspraxia, some signs you may notice include the following: difficulty riding a bicycle, trouble throwing a ball, a tendency to bump into things, difficulty with pencil grip, poor letter formation, slow/messy handwriting, and difficulty using buttons, snaps, zippers, and/or utensils.  

Ways to Help

If a child has dyspraxia, occupational therapy (OT) and/or physical therapy (PT) can help to strengthen their fine and gross motor skills.  

Possible Classroom Accommodations 

If you have a student with dyspraxia in your classroom, it would be beneficial to consult with an occupational therapist or physical therapist on ways to help them in the classroom.  Some possible classroom accommodations include the following: utilizing multi-sensory instruction, text to speech, providing copies of classroom notes, extended time on tests or assignments that involve a lot of writing, and breaking writing assignments into smaller steps.  

Resource: The Difference Between Dyspraxia and Dysgraphia, by Peg Rosen from understood.org