Health and Physical Education Preparing Educators for the Future

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a movement condition that affects three to five students in the average primary school classroom in Australia. If left untreated, it has long-term impacts on development: physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively. This chapter is concerned with preparing teachers working across a range of schooling levels and contexts to understand DCD, appreciate the impact it has on the development of children, and to provide assistance for gaining appropriate diagnosis and intervention. Information provided in this chapter will assist generalist teachers, generalists/specialists and physical education specialists in identifying children suspected of having movement difficulties. Strategies are provided for teachers, both in the classroom and during physical education,to modify teaching and learning environments and to respond to and support the needs of children with movement difficulties.