'˜It affects me every single day' '“ South Shields MP opens up about her dyspraxia as she praises awareness campaign

Emma Lewell-Buck, Labour MP for South Shields.

The lifelong condition - a form of developmental coordination disorder affecting coordination in children and adults - has been thrown into the spotlight after it was revealed one of the characters in the new series of Doctor Who, has dyspraxia.

The GMB has launched its Thinking Differently at Work campaign and guide to the condition to help employers create a positive environment for neurodivergent workers.

Mrs Lewell-Buck, herself a dyspraxic, said: “Dyspraxia affects me every single day, but I don’t feel it has stopped me from achieving my dreams. Now, as a MP, I know how lucky I am being in a role where I can openly talk about my condition and not have it impact on my job.

“That’s why I try to use my position to speak up for those who feel they can’t be open about their dyspraxia.

“Because many people worry about being held back by their employer, or not being able to find work at all because of their dyspraxia.”

She added: “This is why raising awareness of dyspraxia is so important, and why I am so proud of the GMB for being the first to produce such a guide.”

Nell Andrew, GMB National Equality and Inclusion Officer, said: “Dyspraxia is a serious workplace issue, with an estimated 1.6 million workers believed to be dyspraxic.

“This guide aims to break down barriers to getting support and empower dyspraxia workers and reps to secure the reasonable adjustments needed to thrive in the workplace.”