Targeted Skill Development Programs for Developmental Coordination Disorder at Cadabam’s
For over 30 years, Cadabam’s Child Development Center has been a beacon of hope and support, offering compassionate and evidence-based care for children navigating various neurodevelopmental paths. We understand the unique challenges faced by children with DCD and their families. Our commitment lies in delivering comprehensive Skill Development Programs for developmental coordination disorder, specifically tailored to each child's individual needs.
We emphasize the profound positive impact of early intervention
, striving to unlock every child's inherent potential and pave the way for a more fulfilling and independent future. At Cadabam’s, we don't just treat conditions; we nurture development and celebrate every milestone achieved.
Nurturing Potential: Understanding Skill Development Programs for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
Skill Development Programs for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) are specialized, evidence-based interventions designed to enhance a child's motor competence, coordination, and ability to perform daily activities. These programs, rooted in pediatric therapy
principles, focus on building foundational motor skills, improving sensory integration
where needed, and fostering independence, ultimately boosting a child's confidence and participation in home, school, and play environments.
The Cadabam’s Advantage: Specialized Support for DCD Skill Enhancement
Choosing the right support system is crucial when addressing Developmental Coordination Disorder. At Cadabam’s Child Development Center, we offer a unique combination of expertise, resources, and a compassionate approach, making us a leading choice for Skill Development Programs for developmental coordination disorder. Our holistic methodology ensures that every aspect of your child's development related to DCD is addressed comprehensively.
Holistic, Multidisciplinary Team of Experts
Our greatest strength lies in our collaborative team of dedicated professionals. At Cadabam’s, your child will benefit from the integrated expertise of pediatric occupational therapists, physiotherapists, special educators, child counsellors, and other specialists, all working in unison. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that your child receives well-rounded care, addressing not only the motor symptoms of DCD but also any associated learning, social, or emotional challenges. Our team possesses a deep understanding of neurodiversity
and is adept at identifying and leveraging the specific strengths of each child with DCD, while compassionately addressing their areas of difficulty. This collaborative synergy is central to our successful Skill Development Programs for developmental coordination disorder.
State-of-the-Art Infrastructure & Stimulating Resources
We believe that the right environment plays a pivotal role in therapeutic success. Cadabam’s Child Development Center boasts state-of-the-art facilities specifically designed to support motor skill development and sensory exploration. Our dedicated infrastructure includes:
- Fully equipped sensory gyms with a wide array of therapeutic swings, climbing structures, and tactile experiences.
- Individual therapy rooms designed for focused motor skill training, minimizing distractions and maximizing learning.
- Advanced assessment tools to provide precise diagnostic insights and track progress effectively.
- A vast collection of adaptive equipment and specially designed learning aids.
Our stimulating and safe environment is optimized for therapies such as
perceptual motor training for DCD
, allowing children to engage, explore, and learn essential skills in a supportive setting.
Personalized Program Design: From In-Depth Assessment to Everyday Success
We recognize that every child with DCD is unique, with their own set of strengths, challenges, and goals. That's why our Skill Development Programs for developmental coordination disorder are never one-size-fits-all. The journey begins with a thorough, in-depth assessment that meticulously identifies specific skill deficits, areas of strength, and the child's overall developmental profile. Based on these findings, our multidisciplinary team collaborates to design a highly individualized program plan. We focus on setting functional goals that are meaningful to the child and their family, ensuring that skills learned in therapy sessions smoothly transition to real-world application in home, school, and community settings. This personalized approach is fundamental to achieving lasting everyday success.
Unwavering Focus on Family Involvement and Parent-Child Bonding
At Cadabam’s, we firmly believe that parents and caregivers are integral partners in a child's therapeutic journey. We foster strong family involvement throughout the skill development process. Our programs are designed to empower parents with the knowledge, strategies, and confidence to support their child's progress effectively at home. We offer parent coaching sessions, educational workshops, and maintain regular, open communication to discuss progress, address concerns, and adapt strategies as needed. This collaborative approach not only accelerates skill acquisition but also strengthens parent-child bonding
, creating a supportive and nurturing ecosystem that extends beyond our center walls.
Addressing the Spectrum of Motor and Functional Challenges in DCD
Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) can manifest in a wide array of motor and functional difficulties, impacting a child's ability to participate fully in daily activities crucial for their development and independence. Our Skill Development Programs for developmental coordination disorder are meticulously structured to target these specific areas, offering tailored interventions to help children overcome these hurdles and thrive.
Overcoming Gross Motor Skill and Coordination Difficulties
Many children with DCD experience significant challenges with gross motor skills, which involve the large muscles of the body. This can present as:
- Awkwardness or inefficiency in running, jumping, hopping, or skipping.
- Difficulty catching, throwing, or kicking a ball with accuracy.
- Poor balance during play, or when navigating stairs or uneven surfaces.
- Clumsiness, leading to frequent tripping or bumping into objects.
These difficulties can impact a child's participation in physical play, sports, and playground activities, sometimes affecting their social confidence. Our interventions, including specialized therapeutic approaches like
Adaptive physical education for DCD
, create supported opportunities for children to improve these skills, build body awareness, and gain confidence in their physical abilities.
Enhancing Fine Motor Skill Proficiency for Daily Tasks
Fine motor skills, which involve the small muscles of the hands and fingers, are often significantly affected in children with DCD. Common examples include:
- Messy, slow, or labored handwriting, making written schoolwork a challenge.
- Struggles with buttoning clothes, tying shoelaces, or managing zippers.
- Difficulty using cutlery effectively during mealtimes.
- Challenges with classroom tools like scissors, rulers, or art supplies.
Such difficulties can have a significant impact on academic performance, the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) independently, and creative expression. Programs such as our
DCD handwriting workshops for students
provide targeted practice and strategies to enhance fine motor precision, dexterity, and endurance.
Building Independence in Daily Self-Care Activities (ADLs)
A core focus of our skill development programs is to enhance a child's independence in essential self-care activities. DCD can make tasks that many take for granted quite challenging:
- Dressing and undressing independently, including managing complex fasteners.
- Grooming tasks like brushing teeth, combing hair, or washing hands thoroughly.
- Feeding independently, including using utensils without excessive spilling.
Our specialized
Self-care skills training DCD
directly addresses these essential life skills. Through task analysis, adaptive strategies, and consistent practice, we aim to reduce the functional impact ofdevelopmental delay
in these areas, empowering children with greater autonomy.
Improving Perceptual-Motor Integration for Smoother Functioning
Perceptual-motor integration refers to the brain's ability to process sensory information (visual, tactile, proprioceptive) and coordinate an appropriate motor response. Difficulties in this area are common in DCD and can affect:
- Copying information from a whiteboard or book.
- Judging distances accurately, e.g., when reaching for an object or navigating spaces.
- Body awareness in space (proprioception), leading to clumsiness.
- Motor planning (praxis), which is the ability to conceive, plan, and execute an unfamiliar sequence of movements.
Perceptual motor training for DCD
serves as a key intervention to bridge this gap, using targeted activities to improve how a child perceives their environment and responds to it with coordinated movement.
Tackling Academic and School-Related Motor Skill Challenges
Beyond just handwriting, motor skill challenges in DCD can impact various aspects of a child’s school life:
- Organization of schoolwork, desk space, and materials.
- Difficulties with art projects requiring cutting, pasting, or drawing.
- Effective and confident participation in physical education classes.
- Using tools like computers or science equipment efficiently.
Our comprehensive Skill Development Programs for developmental coordination disorder address these multifaceted challenges, contributing to overall
school-readiness
and fostering greater success and confidence within the classroom environment.
Supporting Social-Emotional Wellbeing and Enhancing Participation
Persistent motor difficulties can sometimes lead to secondary emotional and social challenges. Children with DCD might experience:
- Task avoidance, particularly for activities they find physically difficult.
- Frustration and low self-esteem due to perceived failures or difficulties keeping up with peers.
- Social withdrawal or reluctance to participate in group activities or sports. At Cadabam’s, we understand this interplay. By helping children gain motor competence through our targeted programs, we witness a direct positive influence on their confidence, willingness to engage, self-perception, and overall social-emotional wellbeing.
Identifying Needs: Our Rigorous Approach to DCD Assessment for Tailored Skill Development
The foundation of any effective Skill Development Program for developmental coordination disorder lies in accurate and comprehensive assessment. At Cadabam’s Child Development Center, we employ a rigorous, multi-faceted approach to identify your child's specific needs, ensuring that interventions are precisely tailored for maximum impact.
The Critical Role of Early Recognition of DCD Symptoms
Early recognition of DCD symptoms is paramount. The sooner challenges are identified, the earlier intervention can begin, often leading to better long-term outcomes and preventing the development of compensatory strategies that may be inefficient or problematic. Parents, caregivers, and educators might observe common early indicators such as:
- Persistent clumsiness beyond what is typical for their age.
- Marked avoidance of activities requiring motor coordination (e.g., drawing, sports, dressing).
- Significant delays in achieving developmental motor milestones (e.g., crawling, walking, hopping, catching a ball).
- Difficulty learning new motor tasks despite instruction and practice. For more detailed information, please refer to our resources on DCD symptoms.
Comprehensive Developmental Screening at Cadabam’s
The assessment process at Cadabam’s typically begins with an initial consultation. This involves:
- Detailed Parent Interviews: Gathering comprehensive information about the child's developmental history, parental concerns, medical history, and family environment.
- Review of Developmental History: Examining past reports, school feedback, and milestone achievements.
- Direct Observation: Observing the child in structured and unstructured settings to assess their natural movement patterns, play skills, and interaction with tasks. We utilize internationally recognized, standardized screening tools specifically designed to evaluate motor skills and coordination, providing an objective baseline of the child's abilities.
In-Depth Motor Skills and Functional Assessment
Following the initial screening, if DCD is suspected, our Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists conduct in-depth motor skills and functional assessments. These evaluations are comprehensive and may include:
- Gross Motor Function Assessment: Evaluating balance (static and dynamic), agility, speed, strength, endurance, and coordination during activities like running, jumping, hopping, and climbing.
- Fine Motor Control Assessment: Testing dexterity, precision, in-hand manipulation, bilateral coordination, and eye-hand coordination through tasks like bead stringing, using scissors, buttoning, and manipulating small objects.
- Visual-Motor Integration Assessment: Examining the ability to coordinate visual information with motor output, crucial for tasks like copying shapes, drawing, and handwriting.
- Motor Planning (Praxis) Abilities: Assessing the ability to ideate, plan, and execute novel motor sequences.
This detailed assessment forms the blueprint for creating targeted
DCD motor learning programs
, ensuring interventions are focused on the child's specific areas of need.
Collaborative Diagnosis and Strengths-Based Goal Setting
After the comprehensive assessments are completed, our multidisciplinary team convenes to discuss the findings. This collaborative process helps to:
- Confirm a diagnosis of Developmental Coordination Disorder, based on established diagnostic criteria.
- Rule out other potential contributing factors or co-occurring conditions. A crucial part of this stage is involving the family in co-creating meaningful, functional, and achievable goals for the Skill Development Program for developmental coordination disorder. We emphasize a strengths-based approach, always acknowledging and building upon the child's existing abilities and interests to foster motivation and engagement.
Differentiating DCD from Other Developmental Conditions
DCD can sometimes co-occur with or share symptoms with other developmental conditions. Our thorough assessment process is designed to help distinguish DCD from conditions such as:
- Primary
speech delay
(though speech issues can co-occur, DCD's primary impact is motor). - Isolated sensory processing disorder (SPD), although sensory processing issues are often part of DCD.
- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which can involve motor restlessness but differs in primary diagnostic criteria.
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), where motor challenges can be present but are part of a broader pattern. Accurate differentiation ensures that the child receives the most appropriate and effective interventions tailored specifically to the characteristics of DCD.
Cadabam's Specialized and Evidence-Based Skill Development Programs for Children with DCD
At Cadabam’s Child Development Center, our Skill Development Programs for developmental coordination disorder are built on a philosophy that combines evidence-based practices with a play-driven, highly individualized approach. We aim to make learning engaging and effective, building not just motor skills, but also fostering a child's confidence, resilience, and a genuine love for movement and participation. Our programs are dynamic and adapt to each child's evolving needs and progress.
Core Intervention: DCD Motor Learning Programs
Our DCD motor learning programs
form the cornerstone of our therapeutic approach. These programs are meticulously designed by experienced Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists, utilizing key motor learning principles:
- Task-Specific Training: Focusing on practicing real-life tasks and activities that are meaningful and challenging for the child. Skills are broken down into manageable components, ensuring progressive success.
- Structured Practice with Repetition and Variation: Providing ample opportunities for repetition to consolidate learning, while introducing variations to promote adaptability and generalization of skills to different contexts.
- Appropriate Feedback: Offering both intrinsic (child's own awareness of performance) and extrinsic (therapist-provided) feedback that is timely, specific, and constructive to guide learning.
- Active Problem Solving: Encouraging children to actively participate in figuring out how to perform motor tasks, fostering cognitive engagement and deeper learning. Examples of activities within these programs include customized obstacle courses designed for motor planning, therapeutic games targeting specific gross and fine motor skills, and guided practice of everyday tasks like dressing or using tools. This systematic approach builds functional competence and motor automaticity.
Enhancing Physical Participation: Adaptive Physical Education for DCD
Many children with DCD struggle in traditional physical education settings. Our Adaptive physical education for DCD
programs offer a supportive and successful alternative. The focus is on:
- Skill-Based Instruction: Teaching fundamental movement skills (e.g., running, jumping, throwing, catching) in a step-by-step manner.
- Modifications: Adapting rules, equipment (e.g., larger, softer balls; modified targets), and the environment to ensure success and reduce frustration.
- Building Confidence and Enjoyment: Creating a positive, non-competitive atmosphere where children feel safe to try new activities and experience the joy of movement. These programs aim to improve not only fundamental movement skills and physical fitness but also teamwork, social interaction, and a positive attitude towards lifelong physical activity. We deliver these individually or in small, supportive groups, and also provide guidance for parents on advocating for similar inclusive approaches in school settings.
Fostering Daily Independence: Self-Care Skills Training DCD
Mastering Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) is crucial for a child’s independence and self-esteem. Our Self-care skills training DCD
programs are led primarily by Occupational Therapists and provide a detailed, systematic approach to teaching tasks such as:
- Dressing and Undressing: Including managing buttons, zippers, snaps, and tying shoelaces.
- Personal Hygiene: Brushing teeth effectively, combing hair, washing hands and face.
- Eating with Utensils: Developing proficiency with spoons, forks, and knives. Methods used include:
- Task Analysis: Breaking down complex tasks into smaller, manageable steps.
- Chaining: Teaching steps in sequence (either forward or backward).
- Visual Supports: Using picture schedules or checklists to aid memory and sequencing.
- Adaptive Strategies and Devices: Introducing tools or techniques to make tasks easier if needed (e.g., buttonhooks, elastic shoelaces). A strong emphasis is placed on repetition in natural contexts and comprehensive parent training to ensure consistent carryover of learned skills to the home environment. For more information, see our page on Occupational Therapy for DCD.
Bridging Perception and Action: Perceptual Motor Training for DCD
Perceptual motor training for DCD
focuses on improving the brain's ability to accurately interpret sensory information (visual, auditory, tactile, proprioceptive, vestibular) and produce a coordinated and appropriate motor output. Activities are designed to target specific areas:
- Visual-Motor Integration: Tasks like copying shapes, tracing paths, completing dot-to-dot pictures, and bead-stringing from a pattern.
- Spatial Awareness: Activities involving navigating obstacle courses, understanding concepts like 'over,' 'under,' 'beside,' and judging distances.
- Body Awareness (Proprioception): Exercises that help children understand where their body is in space, such as balancing, jumping to targets, or moving limbs without visual cues.
- Motor Planning (Praxis): Engaging in activities that require planning and sequencing novel movements, like constructing with blocks from a model or learning a new dance step.
This training often incorporates elements of
sensory integration
therapy and uses tools like puzzles, construction toys, balance beams, therapy balls, and specialized computer programs to enhance these crucial skills.
Academic Enablers: DCD Handwriting Workshops for Students
& Broader Fine Motor Skill Enhancement
Academic success can be significantly impacted by fine motor difficulties associated with DCD. Our targeted interventions address these challenges comprehensively.
Focused Handwriting Improvement
Our DCD handwriting workshops for students
and individual therapy sessions offer specific strategies to enhance:
- Legibility: Improving letter formation, size consistency, appropriate spacing between letters and words, and alignment.
- Speed and Fluency: Helping children to write more efficiently without sacrificing neatness.
- Endurance: Reducing fatigue and discomfort often experienced during writing tasks.
- Pre-writing Skills: Developing foundational skills like a functional pencil grasp, basic strokes (lines, circles), and hand strength. We also provide ergonomic advice (posture, paper position) and may recommend adaptive tools such as specialized pencil grips, slant boards, or modified paper to support better handwriting.
Comprehensive Fine Motor Development for School
Beyond handwriting, we address a broader range of fine motor skills essential for school:
- Using Scissors: Developing proficiency in cutting along lines and shapes.
- Manipulating Classroom Tools: Efficiently using rulers, stencils, compasses, and other learning aids.
- Art and Craft Skills: Improving coloring within lines, painting, and manipulating small craft materials.
- Keyboarding Skills: Introducing and developing typing skills as an alternative means of written output.
- Organizing School Materials: Assisting with skills like managing notebooks, folders, and desk organization.
Flexible and Accessible Program Delivery Models
Cadabam’s Child Development Center offers various program delivery models to suit the diverse needs and circumstances of children with DCD and their families.
Intensive Support: Full-Time Developmental Rehabilitation Programs
For children who require a more concentrated and frequent therapy schedule, our full-time developmental rehabilitation programs offer an immersive experience. These programs typically involve:
- Multiple therapy sessions per day, integrating various Skill Development Programs for developmental coordination disorder components like OT, PT, and special education.
- Structured group activities to promote social skills and peer learning.
- Constant monitoring and daily adjustments by the multidisciplinary team. This model is often beneficial for children needing significant support to make rapid progress or those transitioning into school environments.
Consistent Progress: Outpatient Department (OPD)-Based Programs & Regular Consultations
Our OPD-based programs are ideal for ongoing support, allowing children to attend regular therapy sessions (e.g., weekly or bi-weekly) while continuing with their usual school and home routines at our clinic. This model focuses on:
- Addressing specific, evolving skill goals identified in collaboration with the family.
- Consistent milestone tracking and regular program adjustments based on observed progress.
- Regular parent feedback sessions and home program guidance. This flexible model ensures sustained development and reinforcement of skills over time.
Empowering Families Anywhere: Home-Based Therapy Guidance & Digital Parent Coaching
Recognizing the importance of generalizing skills to the natural environment and supporting families who may not have easy access to our center, we offer robust home-based therapy guidance and digital parent coaching. This includes:
- Tele-therapy Sessions: Direct online consultations with our therapists for assessment, guidance, and direct therapy.
- Video Modeling: Providing customized videos demonstrating therapeutic activities and strategies.
- Resource Sharing: Sharing digital worksheets, activity ideas, and educational materials.
- Remote Progress Monitoring: Utilizing technology to track progress and provide ongoing support.
This model is particularly effective for generalizing
self-care skills training DCD
, implementing perceptual-motor activities at home, and empowering parents to become confident co-therapists.
Meet the Dedicated Experts Guiding Your Child’s DCD Skill Development Journey
At Cadabam’s Child Development Center, the success of our Skill Development Programs for developmental coordination disorder is driven by our exceptional multidisciplinary team. Each member brings specialized expertise and a shared commitment to providing compassionate, evidence-based care, ensuring a holistic view of your child's needs and potential.
Pediatric Occupational Therapists (OTs)
Our Pediatric Occupational Therapists are lead experts in assessing and treating challenges related to DCD. Their role involves:
- Conducting detailed assessments of fine motor skills, gross motor skills impacted by functional tasks, visual-motor integration, sensory processing, and self-care abilities.
- Designing and implementing individualized intervention plans focusing on improving daily living skills (
self-care skills training DCD
), enhancing fine motor control for tasks like handwriting, and implementingperceptual motor training for DCD
. - Recommending adaptive equipment and environmental modifications to support participation and independence.
Pediatric Physiotherapists (PTs)
Our Pediatric Physiotherapists specialize in improving a child's physical function and movement capabilities. Their focus includes:
- Assessing and enhancing gross motor skills such as balance, coordination, strength, endurance, and agility.
- Developing and implementing
DCD motor learning programs
to improve motor planning and execution. - Leading
Adaptive physical education for DCD
initiatives, helping children engage successfully in physical activities and sports. - Addressing posture, gait, and overall body mechanics.
Special Educators
Our Special Educators play a crucial role in bridging therapeutic gains with academic success. They provide expertise in:
- Adapting learning environments and teaching materials to suit the child's specific learning style and motor challenges.
- Supporting the development of academic-related motor skills.
- Developing effective strategies for classroom success, often working closely with
DCD handwriting workshops for students
. - Liaising with schools and teachers to ensure consistency of support and advocate for the child's needs.
Child Psychologists / Counsellors
DCD can sometimes impact a child's emotional, social, and behavioral well-being. Our Child Counsellors address these aspects by:
- Providing support for issues such as anxiety, low self-esteem, frustration, or social difficulties through psychological counselling.
- Developing coping strategies and building resilience in children.
- Working with families to support
parent-child bonding
and overall family well-being. - Offering behavioral management strategies if needed. For more information, consider our parent support groups.
Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) (When Relevant)
While DCD primarily affects motor coordination, some children may have co-occurring speech or language challenges. Our SLPs can:
- Assess and treat any oro-motor difficulties (coordination of mouth muscles for speech and feeding).
- Address speech articulation issues or language processing challenges that may impact functional communication.
- (Mentioned briefly, as the primary focus of these specific Skill Development Programs for developmental coordination disorder is on motor skills).
Expert Quote 1: Lead Occupational Therapist, Cadabam’s CDC
"At Cadabam’s, we believe every child with DCD has untapped potential. Our tailored Skill Development Programs for developmental coordination disorder focus not just on improving motor skills, but on igniting a child's confidence to explore, participate, and succeed in their world. Seeing a child master a new skill and the joy it brings is our greatest reward."
Expert Quote 2: Senior Pediatric Physiotherapist, Cadabam’s CDC
"The beauty of our multidisciplinary approach to DCD is the synergy it creates. By integrating DCD motor learning programs
with adaptive physical education strategies and consistent family support, we see remarkable progress in children's coordination, strength, and overall engagement in physical activities. Our goal is to make movement joyful and empowering."
Inspiring Journeys: How Cadabam’s Skill Programs Make a Tangible Difference for Children with DCD
At Cadabam’s, we measure our success by the real transformations we see in the children we support. These anonymized case vignettes illustrate the tangible impact of our tailored Skill Development Programs for developmental coordination disorder.
Case Study 1: Aarav’s Journey from Handwriting Hurdles to Classroom Confidence
- Challenge: 8-year-old Aarav dreaded writing. His handwriting was slow, illegible, and caused him significant hand fatigue. This impacted his ability to complete schoolwork on time, led to lower grades despite understanding the concepts, and caused considerable frustration for him and his parents. He began avoiding tasks that involved writing.
- Intervention: Aarav was enrolled in Cadabam’s specialized
DCD handwriting workshops for students
, attending twice a week. He also received individual Occupational Therapy sessions focusing on fine motor precision, pencil grasp modification, postural adjustments, and strategies to improve writing endurance through learning assistance. The therapist worked closely with Aarav’s parents and teacher to implement consistent strategies. - Outcome: After 6 months of dedicated intervention, Aarav’s handwriting showed remarkable improvement in legibility, speed, and spacing. He reported feeling less tired during writing tasks and his teachers noted a significant improvement in the quality and completeness of his written work. Most importantly, Aarav’s confidence in his academic abilities soared, and he began to participate more actively in classroom activities.
Case Study 2: Priya Conquers Self-Care Challenges for Greater Independence
- Challenge: 6-year-old Priya was heavily reliant on her parents for most daily self-care tasks. Dressing herself, managing buttons and zippers, and eating with cutlery were significant struggles, leading to stressful morning routines and limiting her sense of autonomy. Her parents were concerned about her readiness for increasing independence at school.
- Intervention: Priya participated in Cadabam’s intensive
Self-care skills training DCD
program with an Occupational Therapist. The program involved breaking down each task into manageable steps (task analysis), using visual schedules to guide routines, and consistent practice with positive reinforcement. Her parents received coaching on how to support these skills effectively at home. - Outcome: Within a few months, Priya made remarkable progress. She learned to dress herself independently, including managing most common fasteners, and became proficient in using cutlery with minimal spillage. Her parents reported a significant reduction in morning stress and were thrilled with her newfound independence and confidence. Priya started proudly telling everyone, "I can do it myself!"
Case Study 3: Finding Joy and Skill in Movement with an Adaptive Approach
- Challenge: 10-year-old Rohan actively avoided physical education classes and playground activities. He had poor coordination, frequently tripped or fell, and struggled with ball skills, making him a target for teasing and leading to a fear of participation. He described himself as "not sporty" and preferred sedentary activities.
- Intervention: Rohan joined Cadabam's
Adaptive physical education for DCD
program. This program, led by a Pediatric Physiotherapist, focused on building foundational gross motor skills (balance, coordination, agility) in a supportive, non-competitive small group setting through paediatric physiotherapy. Activities were modified to ensure success and build confidence. - Outcome: Rohan’s gross motor skills, including his coordination, balance, and ability to catch and throw, improved markedly. More importantly, his attitude towards physical activity underwent a complete transformation. He began to enjoy movement, started to participate more willingly in PE at school, and even made new friends through the shared positive experiences in the adaptive PE program. He discovered that physical activity could be fun and empowering.