Meet Laura – Dyspraxia Awareness Week 2025

Meet Laura! 

Laura is an Occupational Therapist working in the Motor Skills team at Sheffield Children’s. As part of her role, Laura works closely with children, young people and families experiencing Development Coordination Disorder (DCD). 

DCD is a neurodevelopmental condition which affects motor skills in children. Also known as dyspraxia, the condition can make it more difficult for children and young people to complete everyday tasks, such as tying their shoelaces, handwriting or riding a bike. Struggling to complete these tasks can have a knock-on effect on a young person’s confidence, which could lead to withdrawal in school and other areas. 

Laura said: “My team and I support a lot of families, as it is a condition which has an impact on day-to-day functioning. DCD can have an impact on practical everyday things, but also on self-esteem and mental health too. It’s really important that healthcare professionals like GPs are aware of the condition and able to direct families towards the right support.” 

Laura has worked at Sheffield Children’s since 2023 and supports children and young people with DCD to accomplish these daily tasks.  Laura said: “Occupational Therapists help people do things that they often find difficult. Typically, I work with children between five and 16 years old with some kind of motor skill difficulty, assessing them for DCD and delivering interventions to help them complete daily tasks so that they can increase their own independence.” 

Laura works closely with her team to help patients over a long period of time, giving them the tools to support themselves. Laura said:

“Building a relationship with a family, making a difference and supporting children’s development is special. It’s even more special when they say that they don’t need us anymore.  They have the tools that they need to manage the condition as a family, that’s it’s really amazing to see.” 

This week is Dyspraxia Awareness Week, a week which seeks to raise awareness of Dyspraxia/ Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and provide a space for families to share their experiences and access information about the condition. 

To learn more about Dyspraxia please take a look at the following resources:

• Sheffield Children’s Website – includes lots of practical strategies and videos to help children learn daily skills
• Resource Library – Sheffield Children’s resource Library has an information about DCD
• Dyspraxia Support Videos – Videos to help children and young people with Dyspraxia learn everyday movement skills.
• CanChild – information about DCD and useful resources for families and professionals.