The Dyspraxia Timeline

Early 1900s (No exact date): Collier uses the term “Congenital Maladroitness” as the first title. So in theory Dyspraxia has been known for about 100 years!

1925: French Doctors & Therapists calling attention to motor awkwardness in many disabled children, calling it ‘motor weakness’ or ‘psychomotor syndrome’.

1937: ‘Dyspraxia’ (no actual name) discovered by an American neuropsychiatrist called Orton-Gillingham. Dr Samuel Orton declared it to be ‘one of the six most common developmental disorders’

1947: In the United States clumsiness first discussed by Strauss and Lehtinen
(But there was no real documentation of developmental Dyspraxia until a series of case studies-appeared in the 1960’s.)
(Walton, Ellis & Court, 1962; Cubbay, Ellis, Walton L Court, 1965) . 

1972: A. Jean Ayres titles it ‘Disorder of Sensory Integration’

1975: Dr Sasson Gubbay names it ‘Clumsy Child Syndrome’
(defined the dyspractic child as a clumsy child whose ability to perform skilled movement is Impaired despite normal intelligence and normal findings on conventional neurological exam)

1980s: The word ‘Dyspraxia’ now being used for the first time.

1981: Dawdy questions the mandating of normal intelligence and suggests that the child’s motor skills should be compared to their cognitive skills.

1987: The Dyspraxia Foundation founded as the ‘Dyspraxia Trust’! (Click here for their story)

1989: ‘Clumsy Child Syndrome’ title made redundant and not used anymore

1996: The charity ‘Dyspraxia Trust’ changes its name to the Dyspraxia Foundation, and is what is known as today.

2013: DyspraxicFantastic.com Blog goes live