DCD awareness
& advocacy

DCD Kids is committed to raising awareness of DCD and advocating for change so our children can live happy and fulfilling lives.

If you've navigated the tricky path to DCD diagnosis or raised concerns around support with educators, you've likely faced a few barriers.

In 2018, DCD Australia conducted the largest global survey of children with DCD and their families. “Impact for DCD” revealed critical gaps in knowledge, diagnostic pathways, and school support.

The study uncovered widespread challenges: difficulties obtaining a diagnosis, limited therapy access, and significant impacts on children's participation in daily activities. Perhaps most tellingly, 78% of parents expressed deep concern about their child's future.

Our personal experience with supporting a child with DCD and what we have heard from other parents motivated us to start DCD Kids and advocate for change.

Two out of three families feel the current level of therapy is insufficient.

Children’s learning needs are not currently being met.

(Key stats from “Impact for DCD”)

Children’s movement difficulties have social and emotional impacts.

Raising DCD awareness and advocating for better support

DCD Kids is raising awareness of DCD so the disorder is properly recognised as a whole-life-affecting condition, impacting children's motor skills, social lives, and emotional well-being.

We are advocating for comprehensive support in the education system so children with DCD can meaningfully learn, actively engage and be physically, emotionally and socially fulfilled.

We look for opportunities to take action on DCD awareness and advocacy initiatives to achieve our vision – inclusive communities where children with DCD are understood, supported, and empowered to live their best lives.

Our vision

To create a future where children with DCD are understood, supported, and empowered. Where DCD is recognised as a whole-life-affecting condition, where educators and institutions provide comprehensive support, and where every child can realise their potential.

Raising awareness and advocating for better support

Only through awareness of DCD and its impacts on our children can we advocate for meaningful change. We focus our actions on helping kids achieve their highest potential.

We raise awareness by making research accessible and building a community of compassionate parents who share information and support each other.

AWARENESS

ADVOCACY

DCD Kids advocates for more awareness of DCD in schools and the wider community and helps educators and coaches understand how to help children with DCD thrive.

We take action by partnering with researchers and contributing to evidence-based studies. DCD Kids looks for opportunities to share our message.

ACTION

We celebrate what our advocacy achieves and the inclusive community we’re creating. We share what our resilient children achieve.

ACHIEVEMENT

READ ABOUT OUR APPROACH

Our achievements so far

Creating an inclusive educational environment

We’re collaborating with local school districts to advocate for increased funding and educating teachers on effectively supporting children with DCD. We look forward to coordinating family advisory panels and assisting parents in navigating diagnoses and interventions in the future.
Contributing to research

Understanding DCD is crucial for developing effective interventions. We partner with researchers on early intervention studies, assisting in obtaining grants and facilitating family advisory panels. Our goal is to contribute to the body of knowledge that informs best practices and supports children with DCD in reaching their full potential.
Developing inclusive infrastructure

Accessibility extends beyond the classroom. We work with airport planning teams to discuss accommodating DCD and other invisible disabilities in travel environments. Our feedback has been incorporated into internal service delivery documents for Australian airports to enhance accessibility for travellers with invisible disabilities.