Dyspraxia moneysaving and support thread.

Gingham_Ribbon

I wanted to make sure I was clear about why I felt this was a moneysaving thread, first of all.

How long are we waiting for diagnoses? Is it worth going private?

What sort of strategies have you been able to put in place to help?

What sort of equipment is making things easier for you/your child?

Have you spent endless amounts of money buying boxes/tupperware/magazine racks/even furniture, trying to get organised?

How do you deal with shocking memory and make sure you turn up for appointments on time, on the right day? Or even remember to look at the calendar you wrote the appointment on?

If our children don't get help, they are more likely to become disaffected and drop out of school, or leave without qualifications, making it difficult for them to find and keep work later in life.

I decided to start this thread after some discussion about the issue lately has prompted some pms and comments from others going through similar things.

So, in AA style:

Hello, my name's Gill and I'm a dyspraxic. Please come along in.

delain

My DD1 is being tested at the moment, my little brother was diagnosed at 4 or 5 and I was wondering how I would go about getting an assessment for myself. (at 25!) I was assessed as a young child but found to be not dyspraxic, but not by much.

Tbh, I struggle to remember much more than my name most days and I have had to give up manual driving lessons and take up auto, because I just can't manage it all at once.

Excuse the needy post

Gingham_Ribbon

Welcome, Delain! :j

Your GP should be able to refer you on for a test or you can contact DANDA for more information. It's run by a woman with dyspraxia and ADHD who wasn't diagnosed until she was in her 40s!

emsywoo123

DD was diagnosed at 4, we had to pay for private as not available on NHS in our area til approx 10, and I wanted her to have support strategy in place ASAP.

Spent a fortune on "training cutlery" but ye gods was it worth it. Someone on here sent me a trial set actually, and I bought more for school etc, then passed mine on when she had outgrown it. Well worth the money in my opinion.

She has a slope at school, and various other bits of kit and support that she would not have got without diagnosis (she is now nearly 7)

Organisation is indeed a nightmare! Both my sis (serverly) and I (less so) are dyspraxic so we have some experience within the family.

Over preparation if anything has helped DD and I

Gingham_Ribbon

Welcome, emsywoo! :j

By slope, do you mean something for leaning on when writing? (in the shape of a ring binder on its side?) Does your daughter have a chair with arms too?

How did you go through the private assessment if you don't mind me asking? Was it an ed psych? Did that entitle your daughter to support or resources at school or have you had to pay for them too?

emsywoo123

Gingham_Ribbon wrote: »

Welcome, emsywoo! :j

By slope, do you mean something for leaning on when writing? (in the shape of a ring binder on its side?) Indeed this shape, but more "slopey" than that! I think the word I am looking for is steep :rotfl::rotfl: Does your daughter have a chair with arms too? No, they do not seem to spend long in their chairs at this age.

How did you go through the private assessment if you don't mind me asking? Was it an ed psych? Did that entitle your daughter to support or resources at school or have you had to pay for them too?

Course I don't mind you asking

I was lucky, in that her Kindergarten teacher was aware of a local clinic to us in Kent that assessed for dyspraxia (amongst other things)

Small confession to make here -DD goes to a private school

BUT having said that, she does get more support e.g. the slopes, extra time for getting changed for PE etc, that I understand in most state schools (and quite probably private) would have to be paid for without the diagnosis

By far the most important thing for me was the UNDERSTANDING that the diagnosis brought for her from the teachers/staff.

I stopped being the *overprotective, fussing munchousen* (I am sure tehy thought this ) mummy and they put in place systems to help her without singling her out.

i.e.:

1) Her PE group always go back to get changed back into uniform 1st to give her extra time without any of the kids (inc DD) realising that this happens EVERY week and has done for 3 years LOL
2) She is being taught breaststroke instead of front crawl in swimming as it is easier with both sides of the body working together
3) the kids are meant to have these alce up shoe things for Rugby/Football, very strict on this. DD has velcro ones, and it is not mentioned. She has not realised that the others are lace up, nor have the kids. The PE teacher is aware and so knows not to say anything.

Ooo turned into an epic post there

Gingham_Ribbon

Hi, mspig. :j That was really helpful.

Gingham_Ribbon

Sounds like a good school, emsy. My son isn't having quite the same experience. And they seem to spend a LOT of time sitting down in their chairs, despite only being in year 1.

peachyprice

My son, now 15, was diagnosed at around 6yo.

He had OT sports therapy, which started off as a 6 week course to give dyspraxic children the confidence to actually try sports by letting them try lots of different activities without 'normal' children present, and ended up being a permanent Saturday morning club at a local special school.

He had a few courses of handwriting help, again with the OT, which helped also, again giving him confidence. But alas his handwriting is still appalling most of the time although we do have moments of lovely handwriting but the words don't make any sense, I'm sure you all know what I mean, he can either concentrate on the words, or the handwriting:D He's starting his GCSE's next week and will have a scribe for all exams.

We had the triangle pencils and gripper pens. He still hates using cutlery and will deliberately choose food that it's acceptable to eat with his hands, and definitley nothing with sauce.

He's managed to ditch the velcro shoes and now had slip on school shoes, his trainers are lace-up's but are never undone, he just slips them on an off.

One thing he has grown out of is the falling over, many a time I would be walking along talking to him only to find him on the floor several paces behind, but that doesn't happen often at all now, although he does still fall down the stairs with regularity.


But I love him and his quirky little ways and wouldn't change him for the world.:heartsmil

Gingham_Ribbon

Hi, peachyprice. :j

I'm interested in the special cutlery. Can anyone tell me more, please? I will look into whether there are any special sports clubs near us. That sounds like a lovely way to spend a Saturday morning.

Gingham_Ribbon

I found this useful thread about cutlery. It does sound like it depends where you live as to what help is available.