Senedd Members, educators, speech and language therapists and families came together at Ysgol Cae Top in Bangor with staff from Ysgol Friars on Friday, 16 October to mark Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) Awareness Day and highlight a condition affecting around two children in every classroom of 30.  

The event, organised by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) Wales and RADLD, aimed to improve public understanding of DLD and the challenges it can create for children and young people both in school and beyond.

DLD is a lifelong condition that affects a person’s ability to understand and use language. Despite its prevalence, awareness remains low, meaning many children struggle to access the support they need. Organisers say greater understanding among teachers, policymakers and communities is essential to improving outcomes. 

Pippa Cotterill, RCSLT head of Wales said: “DLD affects thousands of children across Wales, yet many people have never heard of it. This visit provided a valuable opportunity for politicians to hear directly from schools, families and clinicians about both the challenges children face and the difference the right support can make.

“We also wanted to take the opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges that formal exams pose for learners with DLD. Feedback to RCSLT in Wales has shown that many teachers and schools are not aware that modified language exam papers are available to children with DLD. The WJEC (Welsh Joint Education Committee) is working towards all exam papers being language modified so schools would not then need to request separate papers, but this will take time to implement fully, so we want to continue raising the importance of language modified papers and appropriate access to language modifiers*.

“It was encouraging to see decision-makers engaging with schools and learning more about DLD. Raising awareness is an important first step, but we need continued action to ensure children and young people can access the support they need to achieve their potential.”

Mair Rowlands MS joined representatives from local schools, Gwynedd Council, speech and language therapists, and parents of children and young people with lived experience of DLD, to discuss the support available for learners and the steps needed to improve awareness across the education system.

Mair said: “It was a real privilege to attend this event and learn more about Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and the impact it can have on children, young people, and their families. The session was incredibly informative, highlighting the challenges faced by those with DLD and reinforcing the importance of raising awareness to ensure that children and young people receive the support they need to reach their full potential.

“I was particularly inspired by the dedication of speech and language therapists, RADLD advocates, school staff and other professionals who support children and families every day, helping young people to thrive and overcome barriers to success. Greater awareness among schools, services and the wider public can make a significant difference. I will continue to support efforts to improve understanding of this often-overlooked condition and help ensure that every child and young person has the opportunity to succeed.”

Evidence shows that young people with DLD are more likely to experience anxiety and depression and often achieve lower academic and vocational qualifications than their peers if appropriate support is not in place. 

The visit formed part of wider calls for increased awareness of DLD, including greater understanding among education professionals and stronger support systems for learners throughout their education journey. Organisers hope the conversations started during the visits will help build momentum for future improvements across Wales. 

For more information, please visit https://www.rcslt.org/wales/ or https://radld.org/