9 Current Roles of Professionals

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9.4 Voluntary Sector

9.4.1 Highland DCD Group

Highland Developmental Co-Ordination Disorders Group (HDCD) came from an initial idea in the Autumn of 1997; the first meeting of a few parents whose children were affected by DCD took place in April of 1998. Formed as a support group, it soon became evident that the needs of its members were far more than just parental support. Common problems verbalised by those attending meetings became more and more frequent and similar in nature.

These included:

• Social isolation.
• Lack of awareness by professionals in Health and Education of DCD.
• Lack of information about what was available locally for their children.
• Long waiting lists to be seen by specialists.
• Having to repeat the child’s history several times to different professionals.
• Access to available services was limited by funding/resources.
• Continual battle with authorities to get help for their children.

This group was made up of parents who were keen to see things change for the better in the Highlands. It was decided by those few parents to become a more active group to look at the issues for the children and families affected by DCD.

HDCD became a registered charity in June of 1999 and is affiliated to the Dyspraxia Foundation. It is a membership organisation with some 80 families in its membership at present.

The aims of HDCD:

• To promote the awareness and understanding of Developmental Co-ordination Disorder.
• To support individuals and families affected by Developmental Co-ordination Disorder.
• To organise social events for individuals and their families.

HDCD has seen funding in the past two years from Lloyd’s TSB, Children In Need and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). This has allowed the establishment of Scotland’s first ever development worker for DCD. A helpline is now up and running and the group organises weekly swimming lessons in conjunction with Inverness Aquadome. It has an excellent resource library that is continually growing. HDCD has strong links to some of the UK’s most eminent experts on DCD. The group has achieved many other things in the last few years. Members are particularly keen to see more joint working and multi-agency training that includes parents.

Highland DCD Group can be contacted at: Unit 6, 15 Lotland Street, Inverness. Tel. 01463 709907.

9.4.2 CHIP

If you have a child with special needs, or if your work brings you into contact with such a child, then there will be times when you need information. CHIP (Children in the Highlands Information Point) is a voluntary organisation, which was set up especially to answer your queries. CHIP also produces an information pack for parents and a quarterly newsletter, which is distributed widely throughout the Highlands to both parents and professionals. Both are free of charge.

Contact CHIP

CHIP
Birnie Child Development CentreRaigmore Hospital
Inverness IV2 3UJ
Tel: (01463) 711189
e-mail: chip.birnie@ukgateway.net
web site: www.chipinfo.org.uk

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