Tuesday, 2 June 2026

Teaching Students with Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder)

 


Introduction

Dyspraxia is not just a physical hidden learning difficulty.

It can also affect:

  • Thinking

  • Planning

  • Organisation

  • Confidence

It impacts both physical and mental processes.


1. Physical Difficulties

People with dyspraxia may struggle with:

  • Gripping a pen or pencil

  • Hand control and coordination

  • Untidy or difficult-to-read handwriting

Writing can cause:

  • Hand pain

  • Wrist ache

  • Fatigue

Because of this, it is often helpful to:

  • Use typing on a computer or laptop

  • Still encourage some handwriting practice without pressure


2. Importance of Physical Support

People with dyspraxia may benefit from early support such as:

  • Physical therapy

  • Strength-building activities

This helps with:

  • Writing skills

  • Coordination

  • Everyday tasks

It is also important for:

  • PE (Physical Education)

  • Sports

  • General movement and balance


3. Learning and Writing Difficulties

Learners with dyspraxia may experience:

  • Difficulties with written work

  • Slow processing

  • Organisation challenges

These difficulties may be:

  • Similar to dyslexia

  • Similar to dysgraphia

This means:

  • The support and teaching strategies may also be similar


4. Teaching Approach

Teaching individuals with dyspraxia should include:

  • Multisensory instruction

  • Clear structure and formatting

  • Step-by-step guidance

Because dyspraxia affects:

  • Motor planning

  • Visual tracking

Learning should be broken down into small, manageable steps.


5. Reduce Visual Stress and Clutter

Use Coloured Overlays

  • Helps with tracking text

  • Reduces skipping lines

  • Minimises glare


Screen Support Tools

  • Use reading tools with:

    • Screen masking

    • Text-to-speech

Example:

  • Everway Dyspraxia Solutions


Avoid Crowded Pages

  • Use:

    • Large fonts

    • Wide spacing

    • Clear margins


6. Use a Multisensory Approach

Trace and Speak

  • Trace letters in the air or on surfaces

  • Say sounds out loud

This links:

  • Movement

  • Sound

  • Visual learning


Record and Listen

  • Use text-to-speech tools

  • Listen while following text

This improves understanding and memory.


Chunking

  • Break text into short sections

  • Introduce small amounts at a time

This reduces:

  • Overwhelm

  • Memory fatigue


7. Simplify Environment and Pacing

Reduce Distractions

  • Quiet learning space

  • Minimal visual clutter

  • Fewer interruptions


Allow Extra Time

  • Give time to:

    • Read

    • Process

    • Respond

Do not rush learners.


8. Provide Emotional Support

Praise Effort

  • Recognise small achievements

  • Build confidence

Dyspraxia can cause:

  • Frustration

  • Tiredness

  • Low confidence


Use Assistive Technology

  • Use audiobooks and reading tools

Examples include:

  • Learning Ally

  • Bookshare

These tools help learners access information without stress.


Summary

Dyspraxia affects both physical and cognitive skills.

Learners may need support with:

  • Writing

  • Coordination

  • Reading

  • Organisation

Effective support includes:

  • Multisensory teaching

  • Assistive technology

  • Extra time

  • Emotional encouragement

With the right support, learners can:

  • Build skills

  • Gain confidence

  • Succeed in education and daily life

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