19/06/2026
📢 New UK Dyspraxia Research Priorities Published https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2026.105305
A landmark UK study has just identified the Top 10 research priorities for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), often known as dyspraxia. Importantly, these priorities were chosen by people with lived experience, parents, professionals and researchers working together to answer one question:
“What matters most to people living with dyspraxia?”
The number one priority was not motor skills.
It was emotional and social wellbeing, including self-esteem and self-confidence.
The Top 10 priorities also highlighted:
✅ Earlier identification and intervention
✅ Understanding non-motor challenges such as organisation, planning, time management and executive functioning
✅ Better support and understanding in education
✅ The experiences of adults and older adults with dyspraxia
✅ Promoting independence across the lifespan
✅ Improving diagnostic pathways
✅ Understanding cultural and ethnic influences
✅ Moving towards needs-led support rather than relying solely on diagnosis
As a service, these priorities strongly reflect what we hear from the children, young people, adults and families we work alongside every day.
Many people come to us because dyspraxia affects far more than coordination. Difficulties with confidence, anxiety, organisation, planning, transitions, education, employment and independence can have a significant impact on everyday life.
At Yorkshire Dyspraxia Service, our work focuses on understanding the whole person, recognising strengths, identifying barriers, and developing practical strategies that support participation, confidence and independence across home, education, work and daily life.
It is encouraging to see future research priorities aligning so closely with the real experiences of the people we support.
