First post here -- dyspraxia?

[Rebecca in GA]

Someone forwarded me the information about Daniel Radcliffe because they were concerned about my 12-year-old, who has motor skills issues. We are now public schoolers participating in a virtual academy, so we qualify for special needs services like evaluations, but I wondered if anyone could point me to a good source of information. Thanks! :)

[Laurie4b]

An occupational therapy evaluation will be your very best source of information. Personally, I'd go private rather than with the schools. The quality is generally better. School OT's will be focused on handwriting issues and kids who have more intense physical needs than dyspraxia.

[funschooler5]

My son does occupational therapy for mild/moderate dyspraxia through the Easter Seals. Our school district had the information, but we contacted Easter Seals ourselves (I found a Children's Therapy Center through their website http://mi.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=MISE_locations&s_esLocation=loc_ if you look to the right there's a place you can type in your zip code and find the nearest center). He had an evaluation first, and we qualified for a grant that reduced his therapy costs (we are without health insurance right now). His occupational therapist works with him on handwriting, tying his shoes, and things like that, but also hand-eye coordination, bilateral exercises (doing things with both sides of the body at the same time), and obstacle courses (they have a gym with lots of different swings, mats, etc.) My son absolutely loves therapy! His therapist also gives us things for us to do with him at home.

I recommend reading the books "The Out-of Sync Child" and "The Out of Sync Child Has Fun", which talk mainly about Sensory Processing Disorder but also has specific sections on Dyspraxia, and activities to do with kids who have problems with motor-skills. All of the activities are things you can do at home, and they are mostly games and exercises that are fun for kids.

If you have any questions, I'd be glad to answer them. My son's only been in therapy for a couple of months, but I've been reading a lot of books about it :001_smile:. I was so glad when Daniel Radcliffe mentioned he had the same thing...my kids love Harry Potter, and it was nice to be able to tell my son he's not the only one out there!