When did you first notice you were different from the other kids?
Although I was diagnosed at eight, there were many signs beforehand and I seem to notice particularly as I took part in more musical theatre, which obviously was the dance side of things was very difficult particularly early on, I also noticed a struggle with handwriting in my primary school years along with me struggling with my time management on many projects growing up.
What steps, if any, did your parents take to improve your life and education?
My parents were very good when it comes to making me understand that dyspraxia wasn’t always a disability, it was a challenge. I had regular physiotherapy sessions as a child and growing up and these help me out a lot. Since I was diagnosed quite young I was able to understand what dyspraxia was truly about so that we knew as a family how I could tackle each challenge that came with it. I also have used special pens when I was in school which made handwriting a bit easier and even used a laptop for certain exams.
Which steps to improve your life and education worked?
I think having the belief that it was more of a challenge than a disability was something that really helped me push forward realizing that I wasn’t any different from anyone else I just had certain challenges that they didn’t. Special pens and various other things I use in exams largely helped me through my education and I believe my time when I was having my physiotherapy helped me to understand where my body was at, and to understand what I could do to help my body improve while having dyspraxia.
Do you believe that either the condition or the work to moderate it has offered you special gifts or insight?
I believe that it is one of the reasons I am where I am today, it’s allowed me to build up my resilience against certain challenges and gave me motivation to be better because I always knew I would have to work ten times harder than the next person book is of me having the disability and I believe that drive pushed me to where I stand today.
Whatʼs one thing you wish those without Dyspraxia could understand about us?
I wish they would understand more about it! Quite a lot of people don’t really know what Dyspraxia is as it is usually confused with Dyslexia despite it being its own disability entirely.
Having a hidden neurological disorder, whatʼs one sentence of advice you would give to those just starting their professional, artistic, or educational journey?
Focus on some of your strengths, for example once I knew my strength I knew that I would be able to use those strengths and my creativity to create the Foundation of what I have today particularly with the stage chronicles, and my music. Believe you’re as good as anyone else who doesn’t have dysparxia, because you are you just have your own challenges which as you can see with my case so build me up to take on the challenges that life brings.
