Course Overview
Develop your knowledge and understanding of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)/Dyspraxia; the second most common disability next to Autism. Discover how DCD presents itself and its significant impact on learning, writing, organisation, self esteem, anxiety and life outcomes. This 5 hour accredited course will reveal the little known facts about the persistence of DCD as a cognitive and physical developmental difficulty in early years. Gain the ability to quickly and effectively identify DCD and heighten your awareness for other more serious health conditions as a possible cause of coordination difficulties. Use the checklists and the research and evidence based strategies to assist students with DCD/Dypraxia at school and at home.
- Understand Developmental Coordination Disorder DCD/Dyspraxia
- Identify the early warning signs of coordination disorders
- Be able to assess and provide early identification of unexpected delays due to possible medical conditions i.e. Brain tumors, cerebral palsy, etc.
- See how DCD presents across all ages
- Provide practical support for handwriting and fine motor skills
- Access the most recent DCD research-evidence
- Get a checklist to identify DCD students
- Have a checklist to assess Handwriting Difficulties/Dysgraphia
- Recognise the impact of DCD on learning and handwriting
- Gain 100’s of realistic, simple strategies for students of all ages
- Get practical resources to support DCD students at school and at home
- Discover ways to support students both in and out of the classroom
- Identify the impact of DCD on social skills
- Be at the forefront of implementing change within your school
- Support parents with strategies for use at home
- Understand the importance of working with a multidisciplinary team
- Put lifelong strategies in place
- Understand the interconnectivity of challenges in DCD
- View, practice and assimilate each step of the course
- 10 interactive, highly engaging video sessions
- A set of DCD screening tools
- Easy-to-implement practical strategies to teach motor skills concepts effectively
- Key recommendations to support every student
- A suite of multisensory teaching strategies
- 3 Infographic posters
- Evidence based knowledge to support colleagues in teaching students with DCD/Dyspraxia
- Further links to research and evidence-based screening and assessment tools for all ages
- An extensive series of reference sheets on:
- Early years risk factors for DCD
- Fact sheet for DCD
- Co-occurrence and what the research says
- Moving to learn and ways to encourage gym in the classroom
- Considering the sensory environment for the neurodiverse child
- Physical and social playground skills
- Providing support at playtime and lunchtimes
- Creating inclusive playgrounds
- Managing unstructured times within the school day
- Handwriting
- Using scissors
- Riding a two wheeler bike
- Developing ball skills
- Best practices for nose blowing
- Toileting and personal care strategies
- School Age Checklist for DCD/Dyspraxia
- Age 3-5 Signs of DCD Checklist
- Handwriting Checklist
- Co-occurrence mini poster
- DCD quick reference sheet
- Activities/exercises to promote movementÂ
- Handwriting support bookletÂ
- Quick Reference Sheet for Identifying and helping with handwritingÂ
- Writing skills activitiesÂ
- Aids to help with letter reversals
- Developing scissor skillsÂ
- Mastering shoelace tying skills
- Socialising skillsÂ
- Teaching ball skillsÂ
- Playground skillsÂ
- Recess and lunch skillsÂ
- Creating inclusive playgroundsÂ
- Managing unstructured times in schoolÂ
- Practical strategies to support fine motor skillsÂ
- Practical strategies to support gross motor skillsÂ
- Activities to aid with dressing and skills for PE and to support parents
- Support for parents with teaching common childhood activities, including how to ride a bicycle
- Support with common activities of daily living, such as:
- Toilets and personal careÂ
- Nose blowingÂ
- Developmental Coordination Disorder
- The co-occurence of DCD and other difficulties
- Handwriting and DCD
Access to further training in SpLD’s
And so much more …..
What is Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)?
• A definitive look at the definition, occurrence, research and diagnostic criteria of DCD.• Delve into other childhood illnesses, including those that are commonly mistaken for DCD, as well as ones that overlap, making proper assessment difficult for the untrained observer.
• The vital role of early identification and teacher knowledge in early years.
• The common characteristics in DCD, both motor and non-motor, and their impact on learning.
How does DCD present in Early Years
• The key factors in early identification of DCD.• The ‘at risk’ indicators for teachers, parents and allied health professionals.
• DCD characteristics and the importance of personalised intervention strategies.
• How DCD in early years impacts the life journey of a child.
Practical Adjustments for DCD/Dyspraxia Early Years
• The key foundation stages of DCD.• Developmental Stages in the Early Years, relating to self-care, gross motor skills and balance.
• Strategies for early years success; described and prioritised for independence.
• The stages of pre-writing development and pre-scissor skills.
• Research and evidence based strategies to aid writing and motor development.
Screening for DCD/dyspraxia in Early Years.
• Demystify the DCD screening process.• Identify the triggers for conducting a screening for DCD.
• Delve into the research behind the main DCD impairments.
• Co-occurrence, screening tools and checklists.
• The research basis of screening tools.
• Research into DCD and Intelligence Assessments.
Practical Strategies for use at Home
• Evidence-based practical strategies for supporting students and parents at home.• The importance of a parent/teacher partnership approach.
• The 6 ‘F-words’ – Function, family, fitness, fun, friends and future.
• Setting priorities and routines matched to the student’s needs.
• Altering expectations and adapting the environment.
• Understanding the social/emotional impact and the importance of sleep.
Supporting Students with Handwriting Difficulties
• Dive into DCD and Dysgraphia.• Orthographic, phonological and graphomotor codes.
• Research into handwriting difficulty statistics and DCD.
• Co-existing difficulties such as text generation and transcription.
• Executive functioning and organisational skills.
• Classroom observation and teaching strategies.
• Discuss the best tools and adaptations for Handwriting in the classroom environment.
Emeritus Professor Amanda Kirby has an international reputation in the field of Neurodiversity. She is the current chair of the ADHD Foundation, in the UK works closely with the BDA, Dyspraxia Foundation and several Autism charities. She has written 8 books and more than 100 research papers in the field and is an emeritus Professor at the University of South Wales and honorary professor at Cardiff University.
Her 9th book has been published in 2021:’Neurodiversity at Work, Drive Innovation, Performance and Productivity with a Neurodiverse Workforce’. See More…
This course will contribute 4.5 hours of PD with the Australian Teacher Quality Institute (TQI) and the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA)
These 4.5 hours of PD can be logged as a ‘self-identified’ accredited professional development if you are from outside either of the above educational authorities.