NEURODIVERGENT kids HUB
DCD and dyspraxia support for
kids in Perth
The shoelaces that never get mastered. The bike that sits unridden in the shed. The handwriting the teacher keeps mentioning, the food down the shirt at every meal, the heartbreaking moment they’re picked last again.
If your child seems to work twice as hard as other kids at things their body should just do, developmental coordination disorder (DCD) might be part of the picture. You may also hear it called dyspraxia. This page covers what it is, how assessment works in Perth, and what helps.
What DCD actually is
DCD is a difference in how the brain plans and coordinates movement. Everyday physical skills that other kids pick up through exposure, like dressing, catching, cutting with scissors or writing, take far more effort and practice.
It’s not clumsiness as a personality quirk, and it’s definitely not laziness. The effort these kids put in is enormous. It’s just often invisible, because the result doesn’t show it.
DCD often travels with other differences, especially ADHD. If some of this page sounds familiar but not quite complete, the ADHD guide is worth a read too.
Signs parents often notice
Lots of kids are late to ride a bike. The pattern that matters is effortful movement across many skills, persisting well past the age other kids have them down.
How DCD assessment works in Perth
DCD is usually diagnosed by a paediatrician, drawing on a motor assessment from an occupational therapist (OT) or physiotherapist. The motor assessment looks at how your child plans and performs movement compared to other kids their age.
A practical note for Perth families. Because paediatrician waitlists are long, many families start with the OT or physio assessment first. It gives you useful information straight away, supports are based on it, and the report is ready when the paediatrician appointment comes around.
What actually helps
Good news in this corner. Task-based therapy works. Instead of treating coordination in the abstract, OTs and physios work directly on the skills your child wants and needs, like bike riding, handwriting, ball skills or getting dressed for school.
Small group programs can be brilliant for motor skills and confidence at the same time. Check What’s On for current movement programs run by Perth OTs and physios.
At school, simple adjustments help a lot. Extra time, less copying from the board, typing for longer tasks, and a PE approach that builds skills rather than exposing gaps.
Here's what to do next
Find DCD support in Perth
These searches are pre-filtered to providers who are accepting new referrals right now.
Occupational therapists
Physiotherapists
Motor skills programs
Paediatricians
Common questions from Perth parents
Are DCD and dyspraxia the same thing?
Mostly, yes. DCD is the formal diagnostic term, and dyspraxia is the older, more familiar name many people still use. Clinicians in Australia will generally write DCD on the paperwork.
Who diagnoses DCD in WA?
A paediatrician makes the diagnosis, usually drawing on a standardised motor assessment from an OT or physiotherapist. Starting with the OT or physio is a common and sensible first move while you wait for the paediatrician.
Will my child grow out of it?
DCD generally doesn’t disappear, but that’s not the whole story. With task-based therapy and practice, kids genuinely master the skills that matter to them. The gap narrows where it counts.
Is DCD covered by the NDIS?
It depends on your child’s individual circumstances and how their daily functioning is affected. Your OT or physio can help you understand what evidence would be needed. Support through school adjustments and private therapy doesn’t depend on NDIS access.
My child also has messy handwriting. Is that the same thing?
Handwriting difficulty is common in DCD, but when the main struggle is specifically getting words onto paper, dysgraphia may be worth reading about too. They often overlap, and an OT can look at both.