Learning Alliance Event, 27th September 2007
Understanding Dyspraxia; Helping those affected to reach their full potential.
A one day event held at The Tower of London to mark the 20th Anniversary of the Dyspraxia Foundation
On Thursday 27th September 2007, 170 health professionals, education professionals and parents stormed the historic Tower of London tasked with an important mission: To understand dyspraxia and help those affected to reach their full potential. Delegates marked the Dyspraxia Foundation’s 20th anniversary during the organisation’s national awareness week to raise funds and raise awareness about a condition that has touched their lives at work or home.
They came from as far away as Scotland and Sweden to register at 9 am before new Chair of the Dyspraxia Foundation, Sally Payne welcomed the arrivals and introduced playwright Dr Nicky Werenowska.
Nicky set the scene of a small child with limited confidence feeling lost and frustrated; a child who was told that she was lazy and inadequate. Simple crafts such as sewing proved to be a tall order as she struggled to cope with the difficulties that a condition such as dyspraxia presents- not to mention loathsome detentions. But a few years down the line, Nicky has achieved at every level in her education- as she was always going to. She now calls for supportive understanding and encouragement for children with dyspraxia who deserve what she sometimes felt was not offered by her own teachers. Nicky then enlightened her audience on what life is like for her now- delivering an important reminder to all delegates: children with dyspraxia grow into adults with dyspraxia- so let’s not forget their struggles because they have left secondary school.
Renowned Author, Researcher and Senior Educational Psychologist, Dr Madeleine Portwood presented the current research and practice surrounding dyspraxia. To finish off her informative speech, Dr Portwood told the audience about a very special child who she was once asked to help- a six year old boy labelled an ‘autistic delinquent’ who had learned that sitting under the table and making noises as the other children kicked him meant that he would be sent to the safe haven of the Head Mistress’ office. But Dr Portwood soon realised that there was more to this little boy than met the eyes of his teachers and peers. After offering to write a little piece for her, she found that his handwriting was barely legible and he had written in strange boxes so that he could monitor the number of words in ‘each verse’. When he read back the scribbles on his page, Dr Portwood realised that he had written a beautiful and mind-blowingly advanced poem which brought tears to the eyes of many knowing mums in the audience when read out. Young and talented Jonathan, who has dyspraxia, has since had his work published.
Twelve year old Dan Marsh was next to address the rather large and foreboding audience. Dan has complex needs including Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Learning Difficulties and Communication Disorder. These challenges do make his life a struggle, particularly within school although life is made easier by attending an extremely supportive mainstream school.
Dan has a statement of special educational needs which entitles him to additional support and help within school. This statement took many years of hard work, negotiations and positive thinking to achieve. Dan feels that he is extremely well supported within school and strives to reach his potential.
Dan has a very positive attitude to both life and education. He is hopeful about what his future holds and his ability to make a positive contribution to society.
It is fair to say that Dan confidently delivered a moving, inspiring and thought provoking insight into the world of a very gifted and warm-hearted young man coping remarkably well with the struggles that dyspraxia presents. Attendees were touched by Dan’s wit, sincerity and infectious enthusiasm to turn his difficulties into positive reasons to go on achieving with the unfaltering support of his mother Marian and older sister Emma.
As Dan reminded his audience, ‘If you have a child who has dyspraxia, don’t worry about them being seen as different; whether the world likes it or not, we ARE ALL DIFFERENT with individual needs – so celebrate this.’
In the run up to lunch time, Barbara Hunter, Head of Outreach and Inclusion at Wilson Stuart School in Birmingham had her work cut out for the job of keeping things lively. The audience were kept on the edge of their seats as they wondered what useful gadget or gizmo the Mary Poppins of Dyspraxia Land was going to impress them with next.
Barbara has showed audiences on an international scale 101 different ideas and strategies to use in an inclusive classroom- and is always met with much enthusiasm from members in the audience who can later be found queuing in lines to stock up on their own treasure trove of goodies from Barbara’s stall.
Dr Delyth Howard has been a Consultant Community Paediatrician for 7 years, specialising in Neurodisability. She works in the Neurodisability service at Great Ormond Street Hospital, and also for Islington Primary Care Trust. She opened up the afternoon session with a detailed presentation on the prevalence of co-morbidity of learning conditions in children diagnosed with dyspraxia- a subject that many people who know a person with dyspraxia are fascinated by.
Dr Howard was followed by special guest, Marian Hankey, Trustee and Chair of the Foundation's Medical Panel of Advisors. Marian is a qualified Chartered Physiotherapist specialising in Paediatrics and has supported the charity from its original concept as the Dyspraxia Trust. Marian presented a lively talk with practical, hands on demonstrations and led the audience through the benefits of physiotherapy for the child with dyspraxia.
When sixth guest speaker Liam Plumridge asked his audience whether they had any questions- one lady asked him whether he had considered a career as a stand up comedian to which he retorted ‘always a possibility’. Seventeen year old Liam took his audience on a journey- delivering an amusing, inspirational and heart-warming overview of his trip trekking across Ecuador as part of the BBC ‘Beyond Boundaries Three’ programme: ‘10 Physically disabled teenagers all find their strength and endurance pushed to the limit as they cross on of the highest mountain ranges in the world; the mighty Andes’ which will be broadcast in January 2008.
Liam is quick to agree that he is no IT Wizard- although once on the projector screen (!), his photographs captured a fascinating and amusingly hard slog up an extremely impressive mountain- a trip which adventurous Liam clearly has very fond memories of. Liam rightly reminded us that if complaining guests found the journey to the conference that morning particularly difficult due to the District and Central tube line being down- they should have tried pushing heavy wheelchairs through muddy bogs and up over the Andes- whilst contending with the physical difficulties that dyspraxia presents! We all laughed and we all agreed.
Charismatic Liam is full of hopes and dreams for his future- setting up his own voluntary public speaking service, winning awards and meeting politicians- most guests would agree that if he’s not climbing mountains in the future- he’ll be moving them.
Final guest speaker Matt Alden Farrow reached the summit of his mountain- and then kept of climbing. After being bullied at school because of the ignorance surrounding dyspraxia, Matt turned his attentions to a project aptly titled ‘Matt’s Hideout’. This website became a place for children with dyspraxia written by a child living with the condition every day- his struggles, his encouragement, his good times and his bad, all documented on one website which he later realised would go on to unite many children all over the world who wanted to share stories- and swap advice. The success of Matt’s Hideout later led Matt to develop a sister site ‘Dyspraxic Teens’ which has seen similar and unprecedented success.
Delegate feedback forms revealed that guests found Matt extremely inspirational, moving and encouraging. His message to young people coping with dyspraxia is sure to be delivered by guests to children and teens like Matt after this conference: ‘Dyspraxia makes the individual the person they are. It’s an intricate part of their personality, their aspirations, and dreams. Having dyspraxia clearly affects the way a person sees the world and themselves within it. I know that without dyspraxia, I wouldn’t be the person I am, and I wouldn’t have achieved the things I have. I wouldn’t have the drive and commitment that I have now – it’s not simply a matter of wanting to better myself, it’s a need to prove those who doubted me wrong.’
To bring a fabulous day to an end, a large raffle was drawn by Liam and Matt-aka ‘Ant and Dec’ to some guests. Up for grabs was our star prize- a fabulous 12 foot trampoline which was donated by top company, ‘Jump for Fun’. The raffle alone raised £550 and we would like to thank the very generous companies who donated the wonderful goodies to this very worthy cause.
Event organiser and sponsor Equazen would like to thank The Dyspraxia Foundation for helping with the organisation of this large scale event, the fabulous guest speakers who made the day possible, the many guests who attended, the Tower of London event staff, Boxx AV equipment and London caterer Digby Trout. We hope that you all enjoyed the day as much as we did.
Kate Evans
Event Organiser
Equazen
For more information see: Jump for Fun