Dyspraxia and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD): Recognizing, Assessing, and Supporting Children

📅 Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 🕒 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM

📍 KidsAbility Paediatric Therapy Clinic

Presenter: Grainne Houlihan, Occupational Therapist

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), often referred to as dyspraxia, is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects a child’s ability to plan, coordinate, and execute motor tasks. Children with DCD may experience challenges with everyday activities such as dressing, handwriting, sports participation, self-care skills, and classroom tasks. These difficulties can significantly impact academic performance, social participation, self-esteem, and overall quality of life.

This presentation is designed for pediatricians, healthcare professionals, parents and educators seeking to strengthen their understanding of DCD and dyspraxia, improve early identification, and support timely referral and intervention. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of comprehensive assessment in differentiating DCD from other developmental conditions and understanding the underlying factors contributing to motor coordination difficulties.

Participants will be introduced to the Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration® (EASI), a comprehensive assessment battery that is widely regarded as the gold standard for evaluating the sensory integration and praxis functions that underpin motor planning and coordination. The presentation will explore how EASI assessment findings can provide valuable insights into a child’s strengths and challenges, inform differential diagnosis, and guide targeted intervention planning.

The session will also review evidence-informed occupational therapy intervention approaches and discuss how pediatricians can collaborate effectively with therapists, educators, and families to support meaningful participation and functional outcomes for children with DCD.

Learning Objectives
Participants will gain an understanding of:

• The characteristics, diagnostic criteria, and prevalence of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and dyspraxia.
• Early signs and developmental red flags across infancy, preschool, and school-age years.
• The relationship between sensory integration, praxis (motor planning), and functional performance.
• The role of the Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration® (EASI) as the gold-standard assessment for evaluating sensory integration and praxis abilities.
• How EASI assessment findings contribute to clinical reasoning, differential diagnosis, and intervention planning.
• The impact of motor planning and coordination difficulties on self-care, academic performance, play, sports participation, and social-emotional wellbeing.
• Common co-occurring conditions, including ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, learning differences, and anxiety.
• Evidence-based occupational therapy approaches and strategies that support participation, independence, and long-term success.
• Practical recommendations for referral, interdisciplinary collaboration, and family-centred care.

Who Should Attend?

This presentation is ideal for paediatricians, psychologists, allied health professionals, parents and educators.

This workshop is sponsored by KidsAbility and free for all to attend. All attendees will receive a certificate of attendance.