Dyspraxic, But Also Fantastic

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.

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.

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.

15 comments:

  1. Thanks everyone for the brilliant support

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    1. Great job well done my son has this hope him to fallow you some day

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    2. That is very kind of you to say, thank you. I am sure your son is an amazing individual and so are you. All the best to you.

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  2. An absolutely perfect protection of the positive qualities that those with Dyspraxia show. I love it. Thanks Jake!

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind comment. I am so pleased that you enjoyed the article. I hoped to show that despite their learning condition, those with Dyspraxia can still be amazing individuals.

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  3. Simply brilliant. I'm sure my ten year old son who suffers from Dyspraxia will find this useful

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    1. Aww I am so happy you liked the blog article. Please do show him this page. I am sure he is an inspirational and courageous boy. All the best to you and your family.

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  4. Great blog Jake! My son is dyspraxic and is now in his third year of uni doing a business degree. To often children and young people with Dyspraxia get written off or misunderstood. Your blog demonstrates a bright intellect and caring personality. Go Jake! Keep up the inspirational blog.

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    1. Aww thanks so much Lindsay. It's amazing to hear from you. That is great that he is going a business degree at university. I hope he is enjoying it and making you ever so proud. Thanks for your kind comments, all the best to you all.

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  5. My son has verbal Dyspraxia, he is also 13 years old. He has just finished in his small "sheltered" primary school and entered into secondary school - as a "boarder" living away from home. It breaks my heart that he is "away" but I am so proud of him - that he has the courage and conviction to do this because he is ambitious enough to grasp opportunity. "You" are all truely amazing people.

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    1. You are absolutely right, your son is an absolutely courageous and inspirational individual. I really hope it goes well for him. All the best.

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  6. Fantastic blog Jake. Thank you for sharing Mikeys poem in it. I will show him tomorrow and he will be amazed by the lovely words you used. Now I have found your blogs I will continue to read, as they are so inspirational. Thank you.

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  7. Aww thank you so much Louisa for taking the time to comment on my writing blog. It was my honour to share Mikey's poem. It is simply magnificent and he is a true inspiration to millions of people. Please do show him. I hope you continue to enjoy reading the blog, and that you both have a fantastic week.

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  8. My son is now sixteen and from Ireland. We have fought all his school life for support for him. And he got support early which has helped him so much. He did major exams last june , he had a reader and a scrib to help with his exams . The reader read out the question s and he verbally gave the answers and she wrote it down . He did so well very proud of him. With support he didn't have to be different. It feels normal for him now and he believes that he can active anything.

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    1. That is so fantastic to hear that your son did well at the June exams and that you and the school are helping him. You are a great parent and a great individual. All the best to you and your family.

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