Dyspraxia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects someone’s coordination and movement. Supporting someone with dyspraxia can involve various strategies to help them navigate everyday challenges and achieve their goals.

It’s important for everyone to feel in control of their own journey, so it’s always best to discuss with the person how and whether they would like to be supported. Here are some ideas for ways to support someone with dyspraxia:

🔍 Educate yourself

Learn as much as you can about dyspraxia, its symptoms, and the challenges it can pose. This will help you understand what the person with dyspraxia experiences and how best to support them.

🤝 Provide practical support

People with dyspraxia may have difficulty with everyday tasks such as tying shoelaces or using utensils. Offer practical support such as breaking down tasks into smaller steps, providing visual aids or using adaptive equipment such as weighted utensils, slip-resistant mats or easy-grip pens.

🏊‍♀️ Encourage exercise and physical activities

Physical activities such as sports, yoga, dance, and swimming can help people with dyspraxia improve coordination, balance, and body awareness.

👤 Listen

To support people with dyspraxia, it's important to listen to them and be empathetic to their needs and experiences. Just by listening you can help the person with dyspraxia feel validated, supported and empowered. Ask them how you can best support them, and then provide that support.

🤗 Provide emotional support

People with dyspraxia may experience frustration, anxiety, or low self-esteem as a result of the challenges they face. Listen to their concerns, offer emotional support, and celebrate their successes.

🗣 Advocate for accommodations

Depending on their needs, the person may seek accommodations in school, work, or other settings. If they’d like the support, you can help advocate for them to receive the necessary accommodations such as note-taking assistance, extra time on exams or physical tasks, or assistive technology.

It's important to remember that dyspraxia affects each person differently. So what may work for one person may not work for another. Always ask the person with dyspraxia how you can best help them and listen to their feedback and suggestions.