Dyspraxic, But Also Fantastic
Dyspraxia is a form of Developmental Coordination
Disorder which affects fine and/or gross motor coordination in children and
adults. It can also have an impact on speech. There is no cure at present. It
can have a serious impact on the individual’s life and can cause great hardship
for all those involved.
On my last article titled ‘Diving into Dyspraxia’ I
ended with the statement that those with the condition are ‘not only Dyspraxic
but they can also be fantastic’. With the right support and love those with the
serious condition can reach their full potential, thrive in society and leave
behind amazing legacies.
I have lived with Dyspraxia since childhood and
have found this statement to be extremely positive in the sense it gives the
motivation to overcome any obstacle that may come my way.
As ‘Dyspraxia Awareness Week’ takes place between
Sunday 12th October and Saturday 18th October 2014, I
thought it was only right to talk about the incredible things people with
Dyspraxia have done and the abundance of talent they have shown.
The Dyspraxia Mind-Map
On the ‘Dyspraxia Foundation’ Facebook page I came across this
encouraging mind-map which demonstrates the positive attributes whose with
Dyspraxia often display.
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Copyright © 2014- Dyspraxia Foundation. All rights reserved. |
It would seem that those
impacted can be empathetic; can be forgiving; and can be sensitive. In this
article I will be focusing on how inspiring and courageous these individuals
can be, as despite the pain they may be going through they are still simply
incredible.
Inspiring
There
is no doubt that those with Dyspraxia are inspirational individuals. They may
have difficulties, for example when it comes to coordination and speech, but
they are so determined that they aim to achieve great heights.
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Copyright © 2014- Mikey. All rights reserved. |
This
beautiful poem titled ‘I am the Boy’ is written by Mikey, a thirteen year old
boy with Verbal Dyspraxia. He has written an incredibly powerful piece
expressing his thoughts on a condition that impacts him daily. His wonderful
mother said that this is something he would find very challenging to do
verbally. His family are so proud of him and they should be. Coming from
someone who lives with Dyspraxia, I thoroughly applaud you Mikey. You are a
true inspiration.
Mikey
is just one example of how motivating people with Dyspraxia can be. It is the
love and support from family, close friends and supporters which gives them the
determination to move millions.
Courageous
It
is hard to admit but like many others I was bullied at school. This was mainly
due to the ‘differences’ which Dyspraxia often presents. I was often laughed at
when I played sport or when my handwriting looked like barbed wire.
Despite
these times I will never forget what one of my friends told me.
They
said “Jake, you are the most courageous person I’ve ever known.”
I
thanked them, not truly knowing what they meant by this.
Over
the last few years, as I have understood my conditions more, I realise that
perhaps what they were trying to say is that in spite of the suffering I faced
I was not going to let those few negative people destroy my life. Instead I tried
very hard to focus on those who made a positive difference. Of course this took
time, but I still built up the courage to walk away from all those bad
influences.
Stories
like this are surprisingly common with those living with Dyspraxia. It takes
real courage to live with any learning condition, especially if it is one where
you are prone to be attacked by horrible people. Ignoring them and their mean
comments does take a lot of bravery.
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No
matter who you may be, just remember this. Every single individual who is
fighting against a condition like Dyspraxia is a real person. Just like many
others, life throws them difficult challenges which they have to face.
Overcoming these obstacles takes real guts, persistence and dedication. They
are also fantastic individuals who have demonstrated and will continue to demonstrate
how courageous and inspirational they can be to all those who are willing to
listen.
Thanks
everyone for the brilliant support and have a great weekend.