CAMom, thanks for writing out more about the symptoms you see in your ds. The confusing thing about dyspraxia is that it affects many different functions and it doesn't impact everyone in the same way, and it's sometimes confusing what is and isn't impacted even in just one individual. Your ds sounds a lot like my ds (except for his height and the ability to organize his thoughts
). FWIW he did learn how to tie his shoes eventually (around 9 years old... and also forgot again while he was on vacation and didn't need to wear shoes.. twice! - I think he's finally remembering how to tie them for good now, but he's also about to turn 13 years old. Going through puberty has also helped a bit with coordination.
We're blessed in his current school that PE is graded on participation and effort, not on actual number of things accomplished. If we were in that situation, I would want an accommodation that ds not be graded on physical ability. We've had one sticky situation in PE last year where all the kids took part in a "President's Fitness Challenge" (sorry I don't know the exact name of it - it's a national thing that lots of schools participate in) - the students had to run a timed mile, do a certain number of push-ups, pull-ups etc... and the scores were shared with the class and posted on a bulletin board - ds should have had an automatic out on that one... he is so far behind in ability on running and push-ups etc that he was horribly embarassed over it.
Pemberley, I really feel for you dd and the bullying - I so hope her school is able to resolve the issue. FWIW, ds is in a small school setting (which has been great for him) and bullying really isn't an issue (he fits in really well and has a very supportive environment - I know we're blessed - I am thankful for this school every day!)... anyway, fwiw, in that supportive environment, he had no choice but to participate in tag games as part of PE and he was very frustrated with them at first because he is very slow and uncoordinated and grabbing a tag was really *really* tough for him. Same thing with another similar sport that the kids play during PE. I'm glad he had a chance though to play those games in a supportive environment (even though it wasn't his choice).... because he has improved and he did improve to the point where the games switched from being torture to being fun and now he enjoys them.
We moved our ds to typing or dictating everything except for short-answers (1-sentence or less) and it really helps both with lack of dumbing-down answers, and giving him endurance and a faster-speed to get his work done. FWIW, typing is also very slow for our ds compared to other kids - so while it's faster than handwriting for him, it's not always the rapid-fire answer for kids with DCD that it is for dysgraphic kids that aren't dyspraxic.
DS has used a smartpen for note-taking and there are also similar options for note-taking on the iPad. He has such a photographic memory that it's a struggle for us to get him to actually take notes... which I wish he would so he can get practice at it. Instead he prefers to default to remembering everything since it's work to take notes (not just the writing, but for him understanding what's important to put down - they are working on this as part of his LA class this year but he absolutely hates it!).
DS also can't jump rope or hula hoop. He'll try a hula hoop but it's like he can't even figure out how to toss the jump rope over his head once, much less lift his feet off the ground. I also just have to laugh about his running (in a kind way
) - he doesn't run. He walks. And it's slow. But he really really is convinced he's running. It's kinda cute in it's own DCD-kinda way
Last piece of advice - re looking toward a time when your ds might go back to public school - think ahead as much as you can about accommodations he needs now and will need then, but also remember there is no crystal ball, and for kids with DCD needs can change with maturity and chances are you won't be able to predict some of his needs until he's actually in the middle of a situation at school. And that's the great thing about accommodations once you have a 504 or an IEP - you can always call another meeting and request another update.
Good luck,
polarbear
