Athlone supports Light Up for DLD event
Athlone Railway Bridge was illuminated as part of the Light Up for DLD event to help raise awareness of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) for international #DLDday on Friday last, October 14
Helping to highlight the event on the night were Cllr Frankie Keena, Clare Carroll who is a speech and language therapist originally from Athlone but living in Moate, who is also a lecturer at the University of Galway, along with 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 1 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’s 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 3 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,” said Stephen Parsons, Chairperson of RADLD.
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 lit up yellow and purple, helping to raise much needed awareness.