Athlone Railway Bridge was illuminated on Friday last as part of the ‘Light Up for DLD’ event raising awareness of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD ) for international #DLDday.
Helping to highlight the event on the occasion were Cllr Frankie Keena, Clare Carroll, a speech and language therapist and 13 year old Sarah Dungan from Baylin, Athlone.
Sarah who is a first year student at Our Lady’s Bower Athlone was diagnosed with DLD at the age of 10, a hidden but common disability that affects one in 14 people. DLD causes difficulties understanding and using language for no known reason.
Both Sarah and her speech therapist Clare want everyone in the community to learn about DLD so they can help the two students in every class of 30 who have DLD, a neurodevelopmental condition.
The 2022 DLD day theme was ‘Growing with DLD’, highlighting that DLD is a lifelong, permanent disability. People do not grow out of DLD but with individualised supports that can include regular speech-language therapy and educational adjustments they can thrive. It is about growing with DLD.
Raising Awareness of Developmental Language Disorder (RADLD ), the lead organisation who coordinates international DLDDAY are advocating for increased recognition and support for people with DLD across their lifespan.
“People with DLD are six times more likely to suffer from anxiety and three times more likely to have clinical depression. They are also at significant risk of struggling with reading, spelling and mathematics. Although DLD is a common condition affecting many areas of life, people with DLD are unlikely to receive access to services,” Stephen Parsons, Chairperson of RADLD, stated.
Developmental Language Disorder Day #DLDday, now in its sixth year, is celebrated annually around the world with more than 40 countries involved. With the help of Cllr Keena, Clare Carroll and Irish Rail, Athlone Railway Bridge was illuminated in the colours of yellow and purple, helping to raise much needed awareness.
