Local mother to start new dyspraxia support group

By Mary Dennehy

A LOCAL mother is behind a new support group for the parents of children with dyspraxia, which hopes to offer support, raise awareness and deliver activities for children and their families in the Tallaght area.

Carla Grattan’s teenage son was diagnosed with dyspraxia, a disorder affecting motor co-ordination in children and adults, when he was ten years old.

“My son was a floppy baby but nobody said it was any indication that something was wrong”, Carla told The Echo.

“I remember over the years, his school telling me that he wasn’t able to colour or use a scissors but it didn’t click with me or his teachers why that was.

“When he reached ten and his handwriting was not getting any better things started to make sense.”

She added: “I just thought that my son was a typical boy, he was very clumsy and while he gets top grades in school, his teachers were always writing home to tell me that he wouldn’t sit on his seat properly and was always losing concentration.

“Dyspraxia is a hidden condition and there is a huge misunderstanding around dyspraxia especially in schools and as part of the support group here in Tallaght we hope to raise more awareness.”

A volunteer with Dyspraxia Ireland, Carla currently runs information sessions in Tallaght Library on the first Thursday of every month from 2pm to 3.30pm, which will recommence in September.

However, this June 12 between 7.30pm and 8.30pm Carla will start a parent-led support group in the Park Community Centre in Ballycullen, during which various activities for children with dyspraxia and their families will also be arranged.

To date, a Sports for Fun class is held in St Anne’s GAA club, with Carla in the process of setting up horse riding classes, mindfulness and swimming lessons for children with dyspraxia living in the Dublin South West area.

For further information or to become a member of Dyspraxia Ireland visit www.dyspraxia.ie.

For information on the Tallaght-based support group, email info@dyspraxia.ie or call 8747085.