August 1, 2017
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| Photo courtesy of Tonda Thomas |
Media relations is a foundation of healthcare PR and an expertise of ours at LCWA. So when our Dyspraxia Foundation USA client asked us to generate media coverage for its Facebook Live event with actress Leigh-Allyn Baker, we were up for the challenge. In fact, we secured a five-part story on People.comfeaturing an interview with Baker, who is best known for her role on the Disney Channel hit show Good Luck Charlie. As a mother of a son diagnosed with Dyspraxia, Baker is supporting the foundation’s efforts to drive awareness and education. Viewers can tune into the live event at 4:30 p.m. Pacific time on August 3 by visiting www.facebook.com/DyspraxiaUSA.
Dyspraxia and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) are neurological disorders that make it difficult to plan and coordinate physical movement, and they’re almost unknown in the USA. But the conditions are far more common than most Americans imagine. The World Health Organization says that Dyspraxia and DCD affect up to ten percent of the population, which is why this famous mom is speaking up about it.
This disease affects the brain, impairing motor, memory, judgment, processing, and other cognitive skills. Dyspraxia also impacts the immune and central nervous systems. Symptoms can include delayed early motor movement, repetitive behaviors, delayed language development, struggle with sensory input, limited response to verbal instruction and much more. Boys are more likely than girls to be diagnosed with Dyspraxia, commonly between the ages of 6 and 12 years old. And according to the Dyspraxia Foundation UK, an undiagnosed Dyspraxic child is five times more likely than an average child to suffer from mental health problems by the age of 16.
Those interested in learning more about Dyspraxia and Baker’s personal story can tune into the event via Facebook Live by visiting www.facebook.com/DyspraxiaUSA.