Issue 15, Page 5: What can your school do to raise awareness of DLD?

The more we know about DLD, the more children and young people with the condition can get the right information, help and support. Everyone working with children and young people has a role in spreading the word about DLD.

6 ideas for ways that you can support international DLD awareness day in your school:

• Head to the RADLD website for all things DLD including stickers, posters and logos. The website is full of information and resources to share with colleagues and families, including videos and fact sheets.
• Arrange an informal staff meeting or parents’ coffee morning to share information about DLD, which could include watching the DLD 123 award-winning video or completing the RADLD DLD quiz!
• Have a ‘No Pens Wednesday’ (or in this case Friday!) in school where teachers and pupils put down their pens and have a day of speaking and listening activities. The idea, run by the Communication Trust, has been hugely successful in raising staff and pupils’ awareness of SLCN. There is a focus in schools to develop children’s reading and writing ability but children need to have a good understanding and use of oral language before they will be able to apply this to reading and writing. Children with DLD struggle to manage understanding and using spoken language within the classroom, let alone applying the required squiggles and shapes (letters). Completing activities that focus on talking and listening is more inclusive.
• Hold a t-shirt or poster design competition, using the DLD logo. Pupils can talk about what they have learnt about DLD and how they made their creations.
• Be inspired by the article written by Kim Griffin OT in our previous The Link 14 magazine and complete activities exploring language using the senses. Use physical or creative tasks and encourage children to talk about these, for example, what paint feels like. You could encourage classes to get outside during the day (very weather dependent in October!) and enjoy a nature trail.
• One of the most important things to remember is to share your stories and pictures of your celebrations on social media. Use #DLDYouandMe to promote DLD Awareness Day and @speechlink so that we can feature your ideas and stories to inspire others.

Sign up to The Link e-newsletter at speechandlanguage.info and we will send you FREE communication stickers to help you to promote DLD within your school. Then, look out for information about our team’s fun activities for promoting DLD on social media @speechlink, as well as in our e-newsletter and SLCN Blog.