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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]A child with dyspraxia will always have it. With the right therapies they will learn how to compensate and it will just be his normal. Chances are a child with dyspraxia isn't going to make the Olympics or get a football scholarship and riding a bike will take a long time to learn. But beyond that, no one can tell you because there's a lot of variability.

However a child with one neurological issue are at risk of having others, so be sure to watch for apraxia of speech, ADHD or ASD. That's what the developmental pediatrician is for.[/quote]

My son has dyspraxia and ADD (inattentive) as well as executive function challenges.  The dyspraxia was identified when he was about 10 years old and although prior to that he had some handwriting challenges, nothing else had seemed "off."  At the time, I didn't know that one neurological risk usually comes with others.  He was dx'd at 15 with ADD and EF issues.

Anyway, he had OT for the handwriting, worked with an organizational coach on schoolwork, and developed a number of strategies to compensate for his difficulties.  He did well in high school - not stellar, but very well - and is now flourishing at a well-regarded small liberal arts college.  We focused our college search on small schools with small classes and lots of support (tutoring and writing center resources, mandatory professor office hours).  He loves college and is earning excellent grades.

OP, keep an eye on it, put some supports in place, and it will be fine.  Really it will. [/quote]

To the PP - this sounds a lot like my DD's struggles.  She is 14 and with starting high school this year, it is apparent she needs more help.  Could you share more about your son's challenges and what worked?  Did he have a 504 plan?  How did the school /teachers help?  
Your college search sounds like the path we will need to steer DD on.  How did you find schools that would offer lots of support?

TIA[/quote]

Happy to share.  Most of his challenges related to organizing his work.  He routinely forgot to hand in homework, forgot about assignments, handed in work late or not at all.  He struggled with organizing his writing (essays and long papers require planning ahead and organizing your thoughts).

We hired an organization/EF coach who also tutored him in writing.  They met once a week for an hour or so, but also did phone checks a few times a week.  The coach helped him organize his binders and notebooks so that they were no longer black holes :-), and had access to Edline, which enabled the coach/tutor to identify and address patterns and issues.

In school, he had a 504 based on testing results.  (His ADD and EF issues were identified via testing at Stixrud.). He was able to "preview" teachers' lesson plans, got preferential seating, and was able to hand in assignments and homework electronically, which helped a lot with the forgetting issue.

In college, these "accommodations" are routine, as most work is handed in electronically anyway, and he can sit at the front of the room by choice.  Every class has a syllabus.  His 504 is not really necessary there, so we didn't file it with the school.

Despite this, the college academic support center has a copy of his Stixrud testing report and has used it to help him organize himself.  (This is impressive to me!). He is doing better in college than he did in high school, probably because he has fewer classes and no "homework"/busywork to deal with.  His largest class has 18 students in it.  The rest, fewer than 12.

We looked at Colleges That Change Lives schools (google it) and paid particular attention to the supports, e.g. tutoring and academic support centers.  DC is at one of those.  We are so pleased with his school and he is truly thriving.

I hope this helps.

[/quote]

THank you!  It's a constant battle to help DD stay organized.  She has a hard time figuring out how to initially set up a syatem and then what to discard.
Does it get easier for them/you?[/quote]

I won't lie - high school was hard.  They need supports, they need tools to help and practice using them, they need organizational help.  My DC also benefitted from medication.  But over time it has gotten better and he owns it all now, and succeeds.

I strongly recommend getting help and putting supports in place.[/quote]

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