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Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) Advocacy Toolkit

 

Introduction to Management of Developmental Coordination Disorder

 

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a chronic motor skill disorder seen in children and youth, which significantly affects activities of daily living, school performance, and leisure activities. Children with DCD struggle to learn basic motor tasks, such as doing up zippers and buttons, throwing and catching a ball, printing at school, and learning to swim or ride a bike. Effective assessment and treatment should be provided across the lifespan for all children with DCD to improve adaptive functioning (e.g., greater independence with self-care activities, improved written output at school, acquisition of motor skills to enable participation in play and leisure activities), which can have a positive effect on the child’s self-esteem and mental health.

Affecting 1 in 20 children, DCD is very common, yet it is under-recognized, under-diagnosed, and under-treated. To help bridge this gap, we have summarized the latest evidence for pediatricians and therapists to better identify and diagnose children with this chronic motor skill disorder.

 

Pediatricians - Download DCD Toolkit for Pediatricians here

 

Therapists - Download DCD Advocacy Toolkit here

 

Families – Download DCD Advocacy Letter template here

 

Additional resources and information are located under the “Resources” and “Evidence” tabs.


Last Updated: Feb 21, 2019