National Dyspraxia Awareness Week (Oct 4 to 11) will be marked by the Tees Valley’s own support group with a series of special events.
Like all charities the group has had to look at the way it works in a different way due to Covid-19 – so all events will have to be held be via Zoom, bookable on Eventbrite.
The events kick off on Sunday, October 4, with a brownie baking session for parents and children at 7pm; on Tuesday, October 6 there will be a creative session at 7pm and on Thursday, October 8 there will be a discussion meeting for adults at 7.30pm.
On Friday, October 9 the group will look at case studies about how the group has been beneficial to members.
For example, Adam Bell was staying at home with no work but since joining the group, he has made new friends and found employment in the hospitality industry. Adam is a very creative person and now edits the group’s YouTube videos.
Rounding off the week on Saturday, October 10 there will be a fun fundraising quiz night from 7.30pm.
Founder of the Dyspraxia Support Group Teesside, Pritthijit Datta said: “The charity specialises in helping people who suffer from dyspraxia, a co-ordination disorder which is often misdiagnosed and misunderstood.
“I have the condition myself and know how it can affect people, especially children who don’t understand why they can’t do things others take for granted. They feel awkward and being called names, such as clumsy, can lead to low self-esteem.
“It is a fairly common condition but doesn’t have the high profile of many other medical conditions – that is something our group hopes to change.”
Pritthijit was diagnosed at the age of eight and founded the support group in 2015. Dyspraxia is around three or four times more common in boys than girls, and the condition sometimes runs in families.
The group comes under the umbrella of Roseberry Community Consortium, a local charity helping disadvantaged groups of people across the Tees Valley.
*For more information contact Pritthijit on 07804 368585