Hazel Carr
Born in Corbridge, Northumberland
I am a proper Geordie and was born on the Tyne, (well not on it, but the maternity hospital was next to the river). My star sign is Pisces, which is probably the reason why I am artistic and love fish. My family moved to Holmfirth near Huddersfield when I was twelve, and I attended the local High school. I left with an O-level in Art and 5 GCSE’s. After leaving I became a window-dresser. I could have trained as a flower arranger or a hairdresser, but those jobs had gone. Careers at that time were not based on your qualifications. I married my beloved Bernard and moved to London to live with my husbands Father, worked in Oxford Street as a window dresser. Living in Soho broadened my mind (and eyes) and helped me understand and experience other cultures.
After two years my Husband and I returned to Holmfirth and I got a job as a manageress at a very trendy furniture/gift shop in Huddersfield. Three years later I had the first of my three children, a boy, then two girls. I had always liked other people’s children but once I had my own I was hooked with a passion. The minute they were born I understood an animal’s killer instinct to protect their young.
A few years later I started supporting my eldest son in class as a volunteer as he had been statemented with severe Dyslexia. He was very bright and articulate, he could read and spell but not at the expected level or pace as the National curriculum expected. He struggled to write even a sentence, but he tried his best. Looking back I feel physically sick at my memory of making him do his homework, because I too, was afraid of the wrath of his teacher.Guilt in later years has certainly made me make sure no other child suffers like he did.
Once my youngest child started school full time I started working at the after care club, at the same school. At the same time I went back to the local adult education centre, where I attended a new course to support Mothers back into the workplace. The course was to show you all the different aspects of education and working in a school. It’s aim was for you to eventually gain a job as teaching assistant. After ten weeks I finished the course and passed which was a surprise to me as I had never liked any form of education when I was younger. When I look back at my school days I now realise that it was the wrong time for me. Puberty had too many distractions to be expected to learn as well. Now my brain was able to organise itself to learn and take care of a young family, although it was difficult. I learnt, as many Mothers do to Multi-task ( I hate that saying).
Following the course I was offered a job share to support a boy in Reception at the same school. This child had been statemented with the diagnosis of having Autism/Aspergers.
Many years ago when you saw an advertisement for a teaching assistant it said “We are looking for a kind and caring person to support a child with special needs” What they didn’t tell you was that all strategies and resources had been exhausted and they needed HELP! Big time!
Over five years I went on courses and read books on every special need I could. I learnt through theory and practical experience, an understanding and knowledge of children with Cerebral Palsy, ADHD, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Behavioural learning difficulties and sydromes. I also learnt the skills of photo-copying, laminating, crowd control, juggling, singing, tap-dancing, dodging projectile vomit, and how to get rid of nits. I caught every bug, virus and was de-liced,wormed and loused. I still think that sheep dips should be put at every entrance to schools.
At the same time I kept a diary to look back at my mistakes and achievements. All the time I was noticing similarities in children’s difficulties. Tutors on courses told you these children were “under the same umbrella.” After five years the first child I supported left for High school. Whenever I work with special needs children who are slow to make progress, I am reminded of the boy with Autism/Aspergers. Even though for years he had many difficulties and I felt like giving up I remember how bad he was but he left our school a polite well balanced child and continued to progress and hopefully will manage to fullfil his true potential as a young man. I realise over the years that It was a privalage and a true honour to support this very special child as the word “special” really means that for all the children I support.
In 2002 I went on a course by Educational pyschologist Peter Forde and Dr Tiny Aurora. Following this I started a programme of exercises daily at Holmfirth J I & N School for children with special needs and Motor Skills Difficulties.
In 2003 I was invited to speak at the Huddersfield Dyspraxia Conference by Peter Forde about my sucess.
Later, in 2006 I held workshops at school, to enable other schools to share information and knowledge about our programme.
2007 I spoke on Radio five live about Dyspraxia and our programme to highlight “Dyspraxia Week.”
Following this in 2007 I was contacted by Dr John Rack to write an article for “Dyslexia Review.” The article was based on how Dyslexia is sometimes diagnosed in children,when Dyspraxia was the root cause.
“27 th August 2008 the programme I deliver in school and my views were highlighted in “The Yorkshire Post” .
Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) had admitted how he suffers from Dyspraxia and it says it speaks to a Yorkshire woman who believes she may have a cure. Can I just say that I haven’t found a cure but I have developed, under-developed motor skills and strengthened weaknesses with early intervention. This has enabled children to then progress and move at the pace they are expected to. I have found a preventative method that STOPS a child getting a label.
In 2008 my beloved husband died and this spurred me on to write my book (and distract me) “Dancing with Dyspraxia”.The book is aimed at ordinary people who have extra ordinary children and need help. The book sells all over the world and I have e-mails from Bali, Australia, South Africa and the list goes on. The worrying thing is people all over the world tell me no one helps them.
In 2010 I continue to hold workshops in schools to enable me to pass on the success we are having at our school. I have been to collages last year and asked “what can we do” and I have had to say “You can’t do anything,the problems have been embedded, we need to have every school developing motor skills at early intervention before problems begin” If there is a local school out there who would like to try a pilot scheme of working with older children please let me know as I would really like to try.
In June 2010 I was filmed by BBC1 Look North which our really clever IT maqn Steve Walden has put as a link to U Tube. I sound as though I smoke heavily but I dont. It highlights Jason who I watched from Nursry. By reception he fell over when he sat down and he was put in my small group of children with learning/behaviour difficulties. After a year he achieved everything on the programme, he was back in class with no support and working with his peers at a high level. The most significant concern regarding his behaviour was gone as children wanted to be with him and he is child you want to be with. The programme was about how he had been scouted by Manchester City because at 5 years old he showed signs of becoming a great footballer. Not bad for a child with so many gross motor difficulties. I shudder at the thought of what if he hadnt come to this school.
Do you have any advice for improving memory? My son is 11. He was diagnosed with dyspraxia when he was 5. It is only recently that I have discovered that short term memory problems are a symptom of dypraxia. It is driving me to distraction that we lose coats, books etc etc at school and I am concerned how he will manage when he goes to high school in sept.
I just wish you had got in contact with me 5 years ago as the programe I do makes such a difference. My son was just the same and now he is a strapping 29 year old lad, who I think will never leave home. I have supported children for many many years with this problem and I am afraid this is not just Dyspraxia but a boys thing as well. You can use strategies and most High schools have a system for this as it is an age old problem. They usually provide a planner with a time table. You look in it every night and get his things ready. Please dont think you are babying him. He has a difficulty and he has it imbedded into his brain so you have to help him. It is not worth getting into a state worrying if he has remembered. Help him. Why see children struggle to tie shoe laces when you can buy velcro. In time he will get into a routine, trust me. At collage (if he goes) my son had verbal exams and ended up with distinction as a chef after 3 years. Keep in touch any time as us Mums need to stick together.
Hi, my son is 5, he wasnt diagnosed, but I believe something is wrong. He had a bit of speech therapy when he was 2,5 but discharged not long after. He,s doing fine but he,s clumsy almost all the time, he drops things, he falls, he spills he get tired very quiqly. Sport is not really for him. He,s in reception and school is a nightmare for him. His speech is still not good, sometimes he cannot make proper frases, if he cant find a word, he,s uses sings.
He knows all the sounds but he cat blend them together , in one word is hard….I think he,s dyspraxic. How can I find out, where shall I ask and what tests shall he have?
Please help us.
Dear Manuela
Unless I see your son I am afraid it is difficult to say just what is wrong. I am not making thousands from my book but if you were to read it, it may give you some answers. It sounds very much as though it maybe motor skills difficulties that are causing your little boy to have problems. If you started doing the exercises now, at his age in 6 monthes you would see the difference. I have many e-mails every week from all over the world to my address which is on the website. E-mail me and I will try and give you more advice if you need it, but please start the programme now as it does work. Speech is another thing that improves
Hi Hazel,
I would love to meet up with you and discuss your work. I too have developed a programme for physical development which I have taken to Marrakech and presented at a world congress this year.
I am a teacher in a Reception Unit in a school in Batley and for many years had concerns about children being pushed into the NAtional Curriculum before they are neurologically ready.
My work is based on neurological developement not on Dyspraxia but as a SEN specialist I believe that motor development has implications for learning.
I could go on for ever about this, I am passionate about the body being a child’s first language and the need to provide children with opportunities to use it rather than just sitting on the carpet or at a table trying to write when they are not ready.
Hope you get in touch.
Best wishes
Lynn
Hi i have little boy who is 3yrs & 6mths he has right side hemiplegia which affects his balance and walking ,he is very shy with people & always falling i think he finds it very hard to mix with other kids as his talking has been slow he is due to start pre school nursery in sept and i was if you had any advice on to get him a bit more confident and his balance on doing everyday activities, we live in huddersfield and i think your programm was on the local news.
I am not a miracle worker and dont promise to cure children but I have helped support children with real weaknesses. All of the children that are on the programme have a weak side and with continued exercise they have over come this and the programme has strengthened this. At 3 years old this is young but if they are left and start in education (learning) this stops because of motor skills difficulties and thats when problems start. If you can buy my book please do, but if you can start the exercises at his school you not only catch and help others and its much better and more fun. If you can contact me by my e-mail address I will help you as much as i can.
Dear lynn, thank god I have found someone who thinks like me, I am e-mailing my phone number as we speak.
hi thanks for your reply,do you know of any excercises i can be doing are they in your book which you mentioned,i would like to get them started if possible,because i have a feeling that at school his motor skills will be delayed if left, we do get him to excercise at home with playing he loves football & we do encourage him to kick with his not so good side & to try and catch with two hands.
My son is 7 and while I do not think he has dyspraxia he struggles with co-ordination, throwing, catching etc and spends a lot of time “flapping around”. I purchased your book from Amazon as I was interested in your work & thought that doing the exercises with him would help his co-ordination etc. We started yesterday & are going to do them throughout the summer holiday. Are there any videos or demonstrations anywhere that I could watch to ensure we are doing them properly? I do not understand how to do the windmill exercise (I just can’t visualise it) and I was wondering how far apart to put the hoops. Yesterday went well & both my children (4 year old daughter was desperate to join in) had great fun doing the exercises, any help or advice you could give me would be appreciated, thanks.
I am forwading this blog post to my neighbors. Fantastic work!