Dyspraxia at work
Dyspraxia can affect your movement and coordination, impact you in the workplace, your studies, and everyday life. Getting a diagnosis or support through a needs assessment can help you find practical solutions to excel at work. Below are some common questions on dyspraxia in the workplace and daily life.
Diagnostic assessments
Our diagnostic assessments can tell you if you have a specific learning difficulty (SpLD) with traits of dyspraxia.
We offer remote video assessments or in-person appointments in Yorkshire.
Needs assessments
If you are dyspraxic or believe you have dyspraxia, our one-to-one online needs assessments aim to understand how you currently learn and work. We then create personalised strategies and recommend AI and assistive technologies that will help you excel.
What is Dyspraxia?
Dyspraxia is a neurological condition that affects a person’s ability to plan and carry out certain tasks due to the way their brain processes and coordinates motor and sensory activity. It is best known for its negative impact on a person’s motor (movement) skills.
You may also hear dyspraxia referred to as developmental coordination disorder (DCD), but we recognise that many people now prefer to avoid using the word ‘disorder’. There is still some debate among experts about the terms we use and what they refer to. Dyspraxia is a term more commonly understood and used by the general population in the UK, while DCD is a term used internationally, and by researchers and healthcare professionals.
Although motor difficulties are the main symptoms that define dyspraxia/DCD, it can affect multiple areas of a dyspraxic person’s life, including:
- Speech and language
- Reading and writing
- Playing sports
- Tasks requiring balance
- Learning to drive or ride a bike
- Planning and organisation
When healthcare professionals evaluate someone who has difficulty in these areas, they also consider whether there might be another cause. Other conditions that can share symptoms with dyspraxia/DCD include cerebral palsy and stroke. These conditions require specific treatment, so it is important to see your GP first if you notice that you have trouble with these activities.
Every dyspraxic person is different, so they may not experience difficulties in all of these areas, or all of the time. Many dyspraxic people develop their own coping strategies, which can mask these difficulties in the workplace, in their learning or in their social lives. Being dyspraxic does not impact your overall intelligence, but it can affect cognitive skills like working memory and attention. The areas of life that dyspraxia can impact may not be obvious, but they can include:
- Difficulty organising yourself, like planning work or studying and managing your time.
- Trouble keeping up with conversations, which might result in long pauses as you try to process how to respond to a question or comment.
- Challenges learning or transferring skills that involve new patterns of coordinated movement.
- Extra physical and mental effort to carry out movement that others manage easily, which can lead to fatigue and lower self-esteem.
- Poor spatial awareness which can lead to more trips, bumps and bruises.
- Ongoing difficulty making the precise movements needed to speak clearly – this is referred to as verbal dyspraxia, which can form part of a person’s dyspraxia/DCD or can be a diagnosis on its own.
We don’t have as much research about dyspraxia as we do about dyslexia, but some studies have indicated that autistic people are more likely to be dyspraxic, and that other neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD and dyslexia are also more common for dyspraxic people.
Dyspraxia in the workplace
Dyspraxia is considered a disability under the Equality Act 2010. This means employers must meet their legal obligations to put in place reasonable adjustments for employees with dyspraxia. Putting support in place is also an excellent strategic opportunity to increase employee performance, productivity, retention and wellbeing.
We offer guidance for organisations on:
- Potential reasonable adjustments for dyspraxia in the workplace
- Ongoing workplace support
- Disclosure, communication and retention
- Training for leaders, managers and HR; how to spot signs, support adjustments, and stay compliant
- Consultancy and audits; policy reviews, process redesign, and data mapping
How is dyspraxia in the workplace covered by the Equality Act 2010?
A diagnosis of dyspraxia is recognised as a disability under the Equality Act 2010, and as such, employees with dyspraxia have rights and protections in the workplace. Under the Equality Act 2010, employers are under a legal obligation to make reasonable adjustments and not to discriminate against employees with dyspraxia.
How can I support dyspraxia in the workplace?
Employers can offer diagnostic assessments, workplace needs assessments and coaching for employees with dyspraxia.
- Diagnostic assessments – to assess if there is a diagnosis of dyspraxia.
- Workplace needs assessments – to identify potential reasonable adjustments to support dyspraxia in the workplace.
- Follow-on coaching – to help embed the strategies and recommendations discussed in the workplace needs assessment.
You don’t need to put everything in place; the needs of each employee and organisation will be unique. Our workplace needs assessments are designed to they can be undertaken with or without a formal diagnosis of dyspraxia, and allow dyspraxic employees to feel supported with practical reasonable adjustments to help them overcome any barriers they may experience associated with dyspraxia in the workplace.
What are dyspraxia workplace needs assessments?
Workplace needs assessments explore how your employees’ dyspraxia is impacting them in the workplace, and what potential reasonable adjustments could be put in place to help them thrive in their role.
What happens in a dyspraxia workplace needs assessment?
Whilst every assessment is unique, some common areas that are explored in a workplace needs assessment for dyspraxia are:
- Reading and research – how quickly and easily do they understand information as they are reading it?
- Writing and composition – how easy do they find it to type or write at speed?
- Meetings, presentations and note-taking – to what extent does their writing speed or skill affect their ability to keep up with note-taking in meetings or presentations?
- Time management and organisation – how easy do they find it to keep track of when things are happening during a day or week with multiple appointments, meetings or deadlines?
- Environment – how easy do they find it to work in uncomfortable or distracting environments, especially when they feel fatigued?
- Wellbeing – how does their dyspraxia/DCD impact their mood and self-esteem?
- Potential reasonable adjustments – what changes to the way they work or learn, like typing rather than handwriting, would help them in their day-to-day activities.
Following the workplace needs assessment, you’ll receive a bespoke report with practical, personalised strategies that can be put in place as potential reasonable adjustments to help support your employee with dyspraxia in the workplace.
How much do workplace needs assessments cost?
Workplace needs assessments and the recommendations that follow do not have to be expensive. We can recommend free or low-cost strategies and easy-to-implement technologies, including AI and simple software. Five of the six most common reasonable adjustments are free. There is an opportunity for employers to state in advance where there are adjustments they would not consider reasonable (such as remote working), or if there are budgetary constraints to consider.
Please get in touch for pricing and availability
Where can I get advice and support?
If you’re looking to support dyspraxia in the workplace, other types of neurodivergence or mental health conditions, then Aim Forward can help.
Please email [email protected] to see how Aim Forward can support you with consultancy, training, assessments and coaching.
Regardless of the size of your business, we’re ready to help you navigate solutions for dyspraxia and neurodivergence that work for you.
Getting information about your dyspraxia diagnosis
How is dyspraxia assessed?
In the UK, medical diagnosis of dyspraxia/DCD can only be made by a qualified doctor, usually a paediatrician during childhood. Their diagnosis is supported by assessments made by other specialists such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists and educational psychologists. This process will follow a referral from a GP, health visitor or special educational needs coordinator (SENCO).
You should always speak to your GP first if you are experiencing motor (movement) coordination difficulties. Educational psychologists and specialist assessors are also able to assess for a specific learning difficulty (SpLD) with traits of dyspraxia in people aged 16 or over. At Aim Forward, our team includes educational psychologists registered with the HCPC and specialist assessors with an Assessment Practising Certificate, who can provide diagnostic assessments for specific learning difficulty (SpLD) with traits of dyspraxia.
During a diagnostic assessment with Aim Forward, you will be asked to complete several tasks. These are not pass or fail tests – they are designed to highlight indicators of a SpLD as well as your strengths and weaknesses. The following areas will be explored:
- Language and practical tasks
- Memory
- How long it takes you to process information
- Reading ability
- Writing and spelling skills
The diagnostic assessment also involves a background information questionnaire, which you complete before the diagnostic assessment. This provides the assessor with information about your educational background, medical history and any previous assessments.
How can I get tested for dyspraxia?
Paediatricians diagnose dyspraxia/DCD in children, usually in collaboration with other healthcare specialists like physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
You can also be assessed for a specific learning difficulty (SpLD) with traits of dyspraxia with Aim Forward if you are aged 16 or over, even if you are an adult. All you have to do is book a diagnostic assessment with us. You do not need to meet specific requirements or show us evidence before you book, but you should speak to your GP if they don’t know that you or your child are experiencing motor coordination difficulties.
After booking your assessment, we will send you a background questionnaire to complete: this helps give our assessors a big picture of key aspects of your life which might relate to your neurodivergence, including medical history, experiences in working and learning and anything you know you have difficulties with.
What are the benefits of a dyspraxia assessment?
Identifying yourself as being neurodivergent does not require a diagnosis and is supported by many in the neurodivergent community. Having said this, some people feel that they would benefit from having specific terms for their experiences and access to specific treatment options. A diagnosis can also make it easier to discuss reasonable adjustments at work. This is because a diagnosis of a specific learning difficulty (SpLD) with traits of dyspraxia is recognised as a disability under the Equality Act 2010. It can also give you access to government support schemes such as Access to Work and Disabled Students’ Allowance.
What happens during a dyspraxia assessment?
During a diagnostic assessment for dyspraxia, the assessor will talk with you about your background, but they will also ask you to complete tasks to assess your strengths and weaknesses in different areas such as:
- Language and practical tasks
- Memory
- How long it takes you to process information
- Reading ability
- Writing and spelling skills
These tasks are not pass or fail – they are designed to highlight indicators of dyspraxia, your cognitive profile, as well as your strengths and weaknesses.
While you may have contacted us about signs of dyspraxia, the tasks your assessor asks you to complete will check for signs of other specific learning difficulties (SpLDs), such as dyslexia, if any potential traits of other SpLDs have been identified from your background information. This will be discussed with you by your assessor, and there may be the opportunity to undertake additional diagnostic testing at additional cost. This is because it is common for people to display characteristics of more than one SpLD.
At Aim Forward, all our diagnostic assessments are performed by either educational psychologists who are registered with HCPC or specialist assessors with an Assessment Practising Certificate.
How long does a dyspraxia assessment take?
A diagnostic assessment for specific learning difficulty (SpLD) with traits of dyspraxia can take up to 3 hours, but we offer breaks as often as you need them. Our assessors will ask you to complete multiple tasks to test your strengths and weaknesses during the assessment, as well as talking with you, which is why it can take some time.
What’s the difference between a screener, a medical diagnosis of DCD/dyspraxia and dyspraxia assessments?
A screener is a checklist or questionnaire that you complete yourself, usually online. It is designed to indicate whether personal difficulties or traits may be the result of a condition like dyspraxia/DCD. The results do not form a diagnosis; they are only indicative. There are many different types of screening tests, and they can be a useful place to start when you are in the early stages of exploring your neurodivergence, but they cannot give you a diagnosis. They also only offer limited insight into your experiences, and they are not always considered accurate.
Medical assessments for dyspraxia/DCD are done through the NHS (or private clinics), after a referral from a GP, health visitor or special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO). These assessments involve physical tests with occupational therapists and physiotherapists to test your motor skills (the way your muscles move and coordinate). You should always speak to your GP first about any motor coordination difficulties you experience.
If you are an adult or young person aged 16 or over, a diagnostic assessment for a specific learning difficulty (SpLD) with traits of dyspraxia can be provided by a qualified assessor with Aim Forward. They will be an educational psychologist registered with the HCPC or a specialist teacher with an Assessment Practising Certificate. A diagnosis of a SpLD with traits of dyspraxia can provide you with more insight about dyspraxia and your cognitive profile.
At Aim Forward, we provide diagnostic assessments. Please click here to book now.
How much does a diagnostic assessment for dyspraxia cost?
Please get in touch for pricing and availability.
What happens after a dyspraxia test?
Around 10 working days after a diagnostic assessment for a specific learning difficulty (SpLD) with traits of dyspraxia with Aim Forward, you will receive a personalised report which contains:
- Summary of the report
- Diagnostic decision
- Your cognitive profile
- Your strengths and weaknesses
- Recommended sources of additional information or support
If you have any questions after you receive and read through your report, our Support team is always on hand to help.
Can I get dyspraxia testing as an adult?
Yes! If you are an adult or young person aged 16+ who thinks they might be dyspraxic, you can book a diagnostic assessment for a specific learning difficulty (SpLD) with traits of dyspraxia or a workplace needs assessment with Aim Forward.
Our understanding of dyspraxia/DCD and neurodivergence in general has transformed in the last 5-10 years. We know that some people may have had their dyspraxia/DCD missed when they were at school or university because our understanding in the past wasn’t the same as it is now. Many dyspraxic people also developed successful coping strategies, which helped to mask difficulties associated with their dyspraxia in the workplace.
What is it like to have a dyspraxia assessment with Aim Forward?
If you’d like a personal perspective on what it’s like to work with us, one of our clients kindly agreed to share their experience: you can read it by clicking here.
Support for dyspraxia in the workplace
What support is there for dyspraxia?
If you are diagnosed with dyspraxia/DCD through the NHS, treatment may involve a range of therapies, including occupational therapy, physiotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help with specific physical activities and overall coordination.
You can also gain insight into your neurodivergence with Aim Forward through a workplace needs assessment. In a workplace needs assessment, you will work with an experienced assessor to understand how your dyspraxia/DCD is impacting your work, study and everyday life. Together, you will create personalised strategies and practical solutions as potential reasonable adjustments that will make a difference to your dyspraxia in the workplace.
Many people come to us thinking they are looking for a diagnosis, but very often it’s the solutions and strategies to put into action in their work and everyday lives that they actually need.
Whether you choose to pursue a diagnosis or not, it’s a very personal choice.
But we’ve created our workplace needs assessments, based on 10+ years of experience in neurodivergence and mental health conditions, to work with you to create personalised strategies that focus on how your dyspraxia/DCD is impacting you, and what you can do differently to thrive in your role.
What is a workplace needs assessment for dyspraxia?
Workplace needs assessments explore how your dyspraxia is impacting you at work, and what potential reasonable adjustments could be put in place to help you excel in your role. Each assessment is unique to the individual, but common challenges we see with dyspraxia are:
- Reading and research – how quickly and easily can you understand information as you are reading it?
- Writing and composition – how easy do you find it to type or write at speed?
- Meetings, presentations and note-taking – to what extent does your writing speed or skill affect your ability to keep up with note-taking in meetings or presentations?
- Time management and organisation – how easy do you find it to keep track of when things are happening during a day or week with multiple appointments, meetings or deadlines?
- Environment – how easy do you find it to work in uncomfortable or distracting environments, especially when you feel fatigued?
- Wellbeing – how does your dyspraxia/DCD impact your mood and self-esteem?
- Potential reasonable adjustments – what changes to the way you work or learn, like typing rather than hand-writing, would help you in your day-to-day activities.
Following the workplace needs assessment, you’ll receive a bespoke report with practical, personalised strategies that can be put in place as potential reasonable adjustments to help you and your employer navigate effective dyspraxia support in the workplace.
What strategies might a workplace needs assessment for dyspraxia explore?
The workplace needs assessment is personalised to you, but it could explore AI & assistive technologies that could support you, such as:
- Wellbeing and mental health software or apps – setting goals and supporting achieving them in a busy daily schedule
- Text-to-speech software – reading content as you hear it spoken to you can help process and retain complex information
- Speech-to-text software – letting your ideas flow into words on a page, without worrying about typing or spelling
- Mind mapping software – capturing your ideas quickly, while the software structures documents for you in programmes like Word or Powerpoint to avoid “blank page fear” and procrastination
- Spell checking software – less time worrying about red lines and more time on content with sophisticated spell checks
- Grammar checkers – focusing on your content, while the software ensures consistency and professionalism in the text
After your needs assessment, Aim Forward can provide coaching with your assessor to support you in building lasting habits, helping you to adapt and refine your strategies based on what works for you day-to-day.
The ultimate aim of our diagnostic and needs assessments is to provide solutions to support your dyspraxia in the workplace, empowering you with confidence in and knowledge about your neurodivergence so that you can thrive in your role.
What are the benefits of a needs assessment for dyspraxia?
Understanding the strategies that work for you, and how reasonable adjustments can support your dyspraxia in the workplace, can have a lasting, positive impact on your role, your productivity and how you interact with your colleagues to deliver.
For over 10+ years we have seen workplace needs assessments transform the way people with dyspraxia/DCD can excel in the workplaceir studies, work and everyday life, and clients have reported increased:
- Wellbeing
- Productivity
- Career opportunities
- Grades
Our workplace needs assessors to hold a variety of disability-specific qualifications, alongside decades of experience working with neurodivergence, mental health conditions and other disabilities, including lived experience. This puts us in a unique position to provide needs assessments that recognise co-occurring conditions (where you experience more than one condition at the same time). Over 20% of our needs assessment clients have two or more formally diagnosed conditions; however, many more experience undiagnosed traits or symptoms. For example, you may have a diagnosis of dyspraxia/DCD, but also be experiencing traits of dyslexia or ADHD. Our needs assessments focus solely on you and your unique needs.
What is it like to have a dyspraxia assessment with Aim Forward?
If you’d like a personal perspective on what it’s like to work with us, one of our clients kindly agreed to share their experience: you can read it by clicking here.
FAQs
Have more questions? Ready to start shaping your future? Our friendly support team is here to help you.
I’ve always been a bit clumsy, but I didn’t realise how much my Dyspraxia impacted my writing and organisational skills. My assessment has allowed me to see my strengths and weaknesses so clearly, I feel like I can achieve so much more knowing this.
How do I know if an employee is dyspraxic?
Read more about dyspraxia/DCD diagnosis here or contact us for a diagnostic assessment by clicking here.
What support do you offer for dyspraxia/DCD in the workplace?
Employers can offer diagnostic assessments, workplace needs assessments and coaching for employees with dyspraxia.
- Diagnostic assessments – to assess if there is a diagnosis of dyspraxia.
- Workplace needs assessments – to identify potential reasonable adjustments to support dyspraxia in the workplace.
- Follow-on coaching – to help embed the strategies and recommendations discussed in the workplace needs assessment.
The needs of each employee and organisation will be unique, and our workplace needs assessments are designed so they can be undertaken with or without a formal diagnosis of dyspraxia. This ensures dyspraxic employees are supported with practical reasonable adjustments to help them overcome any barriers they may experience associated with dyspraxia in the workplace.
Learn more about our diagnostic assessments by clicking here, needs assessments here, and follow-on coaching here.
What are reasonable adjustments for dyspraxia in the workplace??
Contact us here to find out more about workplace needs assessments. Workplace needs assessments look at potential reasonable adjustments for your dyspraxia/DCD in your work or studies.