Dyspraxia

Effects/Difficulties

Poor motor control/ co-ordination
Clumsiness
Poor time management/ organisation,
Difficulty finding right words (Kirby et al., 2010)
Difficulties with left/right orientation. 

Strengths

Can view things from a different perspective
Problem solving skills

Students

• Additional time to complete tasks and exams
• Regular rest breaks
• Use of a computer
• Use of software such as text to speech and speech to text
• Digital reminders
• Glossary 
• Study skills support
• Extra time to practice
• Placement closer to home
• Recording of lectures
• Handouts prior to lecture
• Longer library loans

Students should expect that their university and placement providers provide reasonable adjustments. Further support can also be accessed through Disabled Students Allowance.

Employees

• Use of software such as text to speech and speech to text
• Digital reminders
• Give adequate time for learning new tasks
• Break down tasks into small steps and demonstrate them
• Encourage accuracy first and then increase speed once the task has been accomplished
• Avoid handwritten tasks
• Use speech-to-text or other computer software, or a smartphone

Employers should make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010. These may be subsidised by the government scheme Access to Work which provides non medical help (including coaching, transport) as well as equipment, based on a workplace assessment. 

Reasonable adjustments should also be provided during recruitment processes. 

See the Peer Support Service's Health Ability Passport guide for more information on reasonable adjustments. 

• Stress and tiredness make coordination worse consider shift patterns/ breaks
• May need to be told several time to remember something or need to practice multiple times to complete a skill but once embedded will usually achieve successfully
• May find it difficult to find places therefore need clear instructions/map
• Give clear notes of meetings to help with memory and not having to listen and write at the same time