Dyspraxia?

Parents Forum Learning Differences and Challenges - LD, ADHD
1

<p>I have always, always had a problem with my handwriting. The best I recall it being was back in 2nd grade, and it feels like it has never gotten any better.</p>

<p>Not for lack of trying. I would write stories, and at first I would always hand-write them. I had tons of notebooks. </p>

<p>In 7th grade, my English teacher approached me and said she just wasn't going to deal with it anymore. She could not.</p>

<p>I brought in my laptop, and just arranged to get permission for that the whole time. It had never been a problem since. </p>

<p>Well, it was never a problem until I started taking standardized testing. Especially the AP Tests (of which I had no forewarning of that they expected me to write the three, successive essays, in pen.) </p>

<p>My condition is most similar to Fine Motor Dyspraxia, and it isn't just handwriting. Zippers, buttons, shoelaces, drawing, painting... all stuff I can't, couldn't on time, or still have difficulty doing. </p>

<p>I am considering making it all official, and trying to get official accommodation for it. I'm not really sure if it is worth it, however, since I essentially already have some accommodations, and my teachers just assume I have official ones. </p>

<p>So, anyone here have Fine Motor Dyspraxia? What sort of accommodations did you get, especially on standardized tests such as ACT, SAT, AP, and CLEP? Anyone run into trouble with this at College?</p>

2

<p>Is dyspraxia your only problem? My 17 yr old grandson has Non Verbal Learning Disorder which some put on the autism spectrum. Most NLD kids suffer from dyspraxia. His dyspraxia is fairly global and it prevents him from excelling in sports. However, with high motivation and many hours of private coaching he is able to acheive somewhat average competence in hockey and lacrosse. He has had years of OT for handwriting.
This helped, but his handwriting will never be very good. We were able to obtain modifications in highschool for him to use the computer. He also has modifications for the SAT and ACT. In order to receive these modifications you must have psychoeducational evaluation by a qualified professional. Hope this helps.</p>

3

<p>What sort of modifications for the SAT and ACT? My Dyspraxia, if it is dyspraxia, is pretty limited in that I have had difficulty with sports, but I was always a little above-average if I played guard, protecting the goalie, but not goalie.</p>

<p>I looked up an article on Non-Verbal Learning Disorder, just out of curiosity. The fact that it is sometimes tied to Autism helps, since Autism runs down my family on both sides, and my sister is on the spectrum.</p>

<p>The sort of symptoms I saw for it, that I have were: Paying attention in noisy environments, navigation, the confusion of the x and y axis, remembering names and locations of places, and I frequently bump into people and things. </p>

<p>I also get rather lost with material sometimes (I bombed my chemistry exam because I was out two days for A.P. Testing, and when I came back I had no clue what was going on), and forget my homework (I always say that I have two memories. One for home, one for school. I’ll often forget things I need to remember at school, until I step into the school, and same for at home.) I also struggle very much with math, this year being one of 3 years in school where I got above a C in math.</p>

<p>However, I don’t have problems recognizing faces. I often have issues remembering them, however. I’m generally okay with backing out a car. I can read above par, and was very early in doing so. I can also write above par, as long as I type it. I don’t have any problems with peer relations, however, I used to have very severe problems with it as a child. </p>

<p>There was also mentions of anxiety about and a preoccupation with failure, which are very familiar to me. I spent the summer before high school perpetually terrified that I was going to fail it. Math would be quite the struggle with me, as I never could seem to get a grasp on whether I did or didn’t get it. </p>

<p>I haven’t struggled with attitude and mis-understandings when it comes to me and teachers, though I do have some social issues. What I’ve most often heard is that I’m much smarter than I test and put on paper, to the point where my Vertical Team teacher, a class for kids who were socially and academically behind where they should be, but not to the point where special education was required, would always put ‘work not good enough’ on my report cards. </p>

<p>I hear this a lot less now that I’m in High School, and taking multiple A.P. Classes (in history, art, and English), with a 3.1 GPA and in the top 25% of my class, but people still overestimate how smart I am based on my verbal proficiency. </p>

<p>Does any of this sound familiar with your son? Because when I talk my parents into taking me to one, if it does, it’s something I know I need to bring up.</p>

4

<p>Look on the website of Byron P. Rourke from Ontario. He is one of the top people for NLD. Every person presents differently with NLD. You should be tested by a person that is trained in autism spectrum disorders. Often university settings are the best for this. Usually NLD people struggle with math and written expression and often are auditory learners. But, I repeat, every person is different.</p>

5

<p>Problems with math may be dyscalculia</p>

<p>You should get re-evaluated for that dyspraxia, and get it on your records so that you have a formal accommodation for it at your high school. This will set you up to ask for accommodations once you are in college. It also will help you when you request accommodations for the AP exams. And yes, they do exist. You have to submit lots of documentation, but it is possible to get the accommodations that you need. Talk with your HS guidance counselor and/or your personal physician, and get a recommendation for a good educational psychologist with expertise in dyspraxia so that you can be evaluated properly.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

6

<p>I know this is an old thread, but DS does have dyspraxia, and does get accommodations on the SAT and APs (he gets to use a computer). It is a difficult accommodation to get, and nearly impossible on the ACT. If you’re still thinking about this, PM me and I’ll tell you how we proceeded. It was DEFINITELY worth it - DS has the SAT and AP scores to show his real abilities, and I’m sure would not otherwise.</p>