Dyspraxia Foundation West Norfolk

08 February 2012
Dyspraxia West Norfolk section

Where It All Started

The Dyspraxia Foundation, West Norfolk support Group, was formed in 1999 by Carol McGinn, volunteer co-ordinator until February 2005.

Carol, a mother of two children, had battled on alone for a number of years following her sons’ diagnosis with Dyspraxia. Max a ‘normal’ four-year-old seemed to be unable to speak, balance or control his limbs. He constantly bumped into objects and was very restless. He appeared terrified of stairs and was completely unable to negotiate them. Eventually, he took to self-harming through sheer frustration.

Feeling very alone, Carol contacted the Dyspraxia Foundation and was astonished to discover that there were other children, more than she had realised, affected by this condition. There were also other parents who were as desperate and isolated as she was. It was at this point that Carol joined the Dyspraxia Foundation and decided it was time to make a difference.

Carol Hawkins, volunteer co-ordinator for the Cambridgeshire area, joined her in February 2002 and worked a svolunteer until September 2006 .

Carol, a mother of two daughters had noticed that something was ‘amiss’ with her daughter Sarah, around the age of three.

Sarah had major difficulty with the smallest of tasks such as doing up buttons, holding a pencil, using cutlery, drinking from a glass, and so on. Although Sarah was speaking well, her speech was often slurred and her speech pattern was broken. Her balance and co-ordination were extremely poor and she was becoming a very angry and depressed child.

Sarah was eventually diagnosed as having Dyspraxia in 1998. It wasn’t until Sarah encountered difficulty with her future education and welfare in 2002, that Carol felt that things just had to change. Carol desperately wanted to make a difference too. She wanted Dyspraxia to be recognised and the children helped. She too joined the Dyspraxia Foundation and Carol Mcginn.