Where It All Started
The Dyspraxia Foundation, West Norfolk support Group, was formed in 1999 by Carol McGinn, volunteer co-ordinator.
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 .
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.
Together they run a voluntary telephone support service
for a total of 40 hours per week. During their time
as telephone supporters, they have spoken to many concerned
parents, teachers and other professional bodies, a
large proportion of whom have expressed their concern
as to how little is actually known or understood about
Dyspraxia.
