A short video combining a poem, cartoons and animations. It expresses from the view of a child what it is like to have Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), which affects approximately two children in every classroom.

Although the poem is voiced by one child it is a compilation of many children’s voices. It highlights how communication difficulties may present and the extent to which they can impact on learning, literacy, friendships and emotional wellbeing. The poem also focuses on the strategies which can be used by anyone to help.

Again with the words voiced by a child, it presents both the simplicity and power of these when used by the key people in a child’s environment. Whilst the video may make your heart go out to these children, it also aims to give them a voice, to ‘walk a mile in their shoes’, to tell you what you can do to make a difference and to celebrate what they can achieve with a little understanding.

International DLD Awareness Day is 16th October 2020. Dorset HealthCare Speech and Language Therapy Service has arranged for Weymouth pavilion to light up purple and yellow (DLD colours) for the week 12-18 October and has provided all schools in Dorset with information about DLD ahead of the day.

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