Island landmarks to light up for language disability awareness day

Developmental Language Disorder affects 1 in 14 people

Landmarks around the Island are set to be lit up today (16 October) for a language disability awareness day. 

The Tower of Refuge and Ramsey Swing Bridge are among the sites that will light up in purple for Developmental Language Disorder. 

The disability causes difficulties in 1 in 14 people with understanding and using language for no known reason.

Children are diagnosed with DLD when they fail to acquire their own language for no obvious reason. 

This results in children who have difficulty understanding what people say to them, and struggle to articulate their ideas and feelings. 

Recent research has shown that, on average, two children in every class of 30 will experience DLD severe enough to hinder academic progress.  

It’s more prevalent than autism but very much a hidden disability.  

This year's theme is 'together for DLD'. 

Lesley Cherriman, a language and speech therapist, will be answering questions at Douglas Library between 12.30pm and 2pm today.