“My Goal, My Way”: Celebrating the Successes of Dyspraxic Individuals
In 2024, the campaign theme of Dyspraxia Week (July 1st – July 7th) is “My Goal, My Way”, highlighting success stories from the dyspraxic community and shining a light on the strengths and skills of dyspraxic individuals.
Understanding Dyspraxia
Dyspraxia, also known as DCD (Developmental Coordination Disorder), is a neurodifference that affects movement and coordination, and may include challenges with organisation, processing speed, memory, and following directions.
It is estimated that between 3 and 5% of the population have dyspraxia, and while the neurodifference may cause individuals to experience certain challenges, there are many skills and talents often associated with dyspraxia.
Shining a Light on the Strengths of Dyspraxic Individuals
Some of the strengths that dyspraxic individuals may possess include:
Individuals can excel when they are given the opportunity and resources to think creatively, share their ideas and demonstrate their talents in their area of expertise. Empowering individuals by providing them with the tools and support to be able to develop these skills and overcome any challenges they may face can help them to thrive at work and in personal settings.
Sharing Success Stories
There are many successful and influential individuals with dyspraxia who have discussed how their unique strengths have benefited them in their working lives. Some examples include:
Will Poulter, Actor. Famously known for his role in ‘We’re the Millers’, he has talked about his experience of being dyspraxic, stating that it makes him “better at my job”, and notably that his dyspraxia has made him “more advanced” in his career.
Florence Welch, Singer and Songwriter. Known for being a part of the band ‘Florence + the Machine’, Florence has explained her experience of being dyspraxic and dyslexic, which she has noted was particularly challenging during school, where she felt “quite absent”. However, despite facing challenges with learning and motor skills, she appreciates her ability to “think in a different way” and sees this as a benefit in the creative industry.
Daniel Radcliffe, Actor. Well known for his role in ‘Harry Potter’, Daniel has discussed his dyspraxia, and how he experienced challenges with “jotting down notes” and “tying shoelaces”. Despite these, Daniel has been a huge advocate for dyspraxia, and has notably demonstrated his determination and resilience in a live stream for the Wall Street Journal Blog saying “Do not let it stop you. It has never held me back… The fact that some things are more of a struggle will only make you more determined, harder working and more imaginative in the solutions you find to problems.”
Tools and Resources to Support with Goal Setting
Workplace support is crucial to help individuals to thrive. This can be achieved in several ways, including creating a psychologically safe environment where people feel heard and valued, and workplace needs assessments to identify ways of working that can be implemented to improve an individual’s working life. It is important for organisations to ensure they have the right channels of support set up to guide individuals through the processes to access workplace adjustments and organisational support.
Organisations can help foster neuro-inclusion and provide support by:
Educating teams and employees on what dyspraxia is and the value of dyspraxia in the workplace. This can be achieved through neurodiversity training, or dedicated workshops and webinars.
Setting up appropriate and clear processes for accessing support.
Empowering line managers to have supportive conversations with their teams regarding support available internally/externally.
Creating a platform for neurodivergent voices to be heard, to ensure their lived experiences are accounted for during decision making processes.
Taking a solutions-orientated approach to development, by guiding individuals to utilise their strengths and offering training to support with challenges.
Learning More About Dyspraxia
Lexxic can support organisations and individuals who want to understand more about dyspraxia, and how to support dyspraxic or neurodivergent individuals through a range of options including:
Neurodiversity awareness and education workshops and webinars
Workplace needs assessments to support neurodivergent individuals at work
To see how we can help educate your teams and empower dyspraxic talent within your organisation, get in touch with our team today.
