Montreal group raising awareness for Developmental Language Disorder
Posted October 14, 2022 1:35 pm.
Last Updated October 14, 2022 1:39 pm.
It’s all about growth — growing with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) — That’s the theme for the 2022 DLD day.
Highlighting that it is a lifelong, permanent disability that people do not grow out of it — but with support, can grow with it.
“It is a neurodiversity type which affects communication. So communication consists of understanding what is being said, what is written, and expressing themselves, whether it be orally or written, it depends on the individual,” said Karina Ismail, Advocate for Equity and Accessible Education for all, RADLD Ambassador.
DLD affects people all around the world, no matter the language they speak. It is diagnosed when children fail to acquire their own language for no apparent reason. It’s a type of neurodiversity like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.
October 14th marks its sixth annual international awareness day.
Over 80 landmarks from across the globe will light up in purple and yellow – including Montreal’s Olympic Stadium and La Grande Roue de Montréal.
“If you see, you take pictures of the big O or la Grande Roue de Montréal in purple, or purple and yellow please share with your hashtag #DLDday and let’s raise awareness,” explained Ismail.
Montreal’s Olympic Stadium. (Photo Credit: Pamela Pagano, CityNews)
la Grande Roue de Montréal (Photo Credit: Pamela Pagano, CityNews)
The hidden disability affects 1 in 14 people. Like Montrealer François Gosselin who was diagnosed with DLD around 4-years-old.
“It took me seven years to complete secondary 1 in French. Seven years. They said but how? Because I was demotivated or I or the motivation was not there? No, on the contrary, the motivation was and is still present but it is my language disorder,” said Gosselin, in a translation from French.
Gosselin wishes people living with DLD have access to more services to help, as not every person experiences it the same way.
“Because it can’t be seen. People think it’s just the articulation, but they don’t understand it’s a set of things.”
DLD is a relatively new term – first introduced in 2017 – the condition was previously known as Specific Language Impairment.
Raising awareness for DLD. (Photo Credit: radld.org)
The organization that coordinates international DLD day is advocating for increased recognition and support for people with the disability.
“The services, the recognition needs to change, just like individuals grow,” said Ismail. “We can support this cause, raise awareness and give these individuals the services, the recognition they need to strive to thrive and to grow and reach their own goals and aspirations to their unique potential. Because the beautiful thing is they all have strengths.”
More information on Developmental Language Disorder can be found on the raising awareness for DLD website.
