Once dismissed as “just clumsy,” Ben is now thriving after a diagnosis of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) helped his family better understand his strengths and challenges.
When Jennifer looks back at old family videos of her son Ben, she remembers the feeling that something just didn’t seem right.
Ben was active, curious and energetic as a toddler. He could run and play like other children his age. But at the playground, Jennifer noticed something unusual.
“I have this video of him at the playground crawling on his hands and knees across a bridge,” Jennifer said. “He was already walking and running at that point. I remember thinking, ‘Why is he doing that?’”
As Ben got older, Jennifer noticed other challenges that didn’t seem to improve with time. Tying shoes was difficult. Riding a bike took extra effort. Simple daily tasks—like brushing teeth, climbing stairs or learning new motor skills—often became frustrating experiences.
“It wasn’t because he wasn’t trying,” Jennifer said. “He was trying. He just couldn’t figure it out."
Ben, now 12, enjoys swimming, theater, playing the ukulele and hanging out with friends. But before his diagnosis, everyday activities often felt harder for him than they did for other children.
Jennifer had raised concerns for years during pediatrician visits, therapy appointments and even throughout Ben's care at Cincinnati Children's. At home, the differences became increasingly difficult to ignore.
Ben's sister, who is four years younger, quickly mastered skills that continued to challenge him.
"She would fly down the stairs, and Ben would scoot down on his bottom," Jennifer said. "Watching your younger child surpass your older child in some of those basic motor skills really stood out."
Over time, Ben participated in physical therapy more than once, but Jennifer still felt confused.
"We had seen specialists before and done therapy before, but it never really answered all of our questions," she said. "A lot of the focus was on stretching or strengthening, but it wasn't helping him in the ways he really needed."
Then, when Ben was 8 years old, a physical therapist with Cincinnati Children’s Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy (OTPT) team asked Jennifer a question she had never heard before:
“Have you heard of developmental coordination disorder (DCD)?”
"That was the first time anyone had ever said those words to me," Jennifer said.
Suddenly, years of seemingly unrelated challenges began to make sense.
DCD is an underrecognized neurodevelopmental condition that affects motor planning and coordination. Children with DCD may appear "clumsy," but the condition goes much deeper than occasional awkwardness or difficulty in sports.
"It's often overlooked, especially in the United States," said Erin Iverson, PT, DPT, a physical therapist at Cincinnati Children's who specializes in DCD and worked with Ben. "Families often hear things like, 'He's just clumsy' or 'He'll grow out of it.'"
Instead, children with DCD may struggle with tasks like tying shoes, riding a bike, handwriting, getting dressed or learning movement patterns.
"Many of these kids spend years thinking there's something wrong with them," Iverson said. "But there are tools and strategies that can help once we understand what's really going on."
DCD also frequently appears alongside conditions such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, speech and language delays, and sensory processing challenges—making awareness especially important for families and providers across many pediatric specialties.
For Jennifer, finally receiving an explanation brought relief.
"After that evaluation, I felt like we finally had answers, support and hope," she said.
Ben began working regularly with Iverson at Cincinnati Children's. Rather than simply repeating exercises, therapy focused on helping Ben develop his own motor-planning strategies for everyday activities.
"His body learns differently," Iverson said. "He has to come up with his own way of thinking through movement."
Ben especially enjoys using video game characters and themes to help remember movement sequences.
"I use them because they're easy to remember," Ben said. "I think of each character's moves, and then I apply them to each plan. Video games are easy for me, so when I use them in a plan, it feels easier."
Together, Ben and his therapy team broke tasks into smaller, manageable steps.
"Sometimes it can be hard for me to figure out how to accomplish something," Ben said. "Like push-ups—my brain couldn't get my body to do what I wanted. Erin helped me break up the steps so I could put it all together."
Over time, those strategies helped Ben gain confidence—not just physically, but socially and emotionally too.
"He's learned that he may need to approach things differently, and that's okay," Iverson said. "He's incredibly bright, creative and determined."
Today, Ben continues to participate in swimming and theater and recently performed in a musical. Jennifer says some of the moments that once seemed impossible now happen naturally.
During a recent family trip, Ben confidently walked across a long pier without hesitation—something Jennifer says he likely could not have done before.
“A few years ago, he would have crawled across something like that,” she said. “This time he just walked across it without even thinking about it.”
Those moments mean everything to Jennifer.
“There were times we wondered if he would be able to do normal things or if he would pull himself back because he knew things were harder for him,” she said. “Now he just does them.”
Ben has even started helping other children recognize signs of DCD.
At swim practice, he noticed another child struggling with some of the same challenges he once faced. After talking with the family and sharing resources, the child was later diagnosed with DCD and connected with therapy services.
“He was so proud of himself,” Jennifer said. “He said, ‘I know therapy will help her.’”
Jennifer now speaks publicly about DCD awareness alongside Cincinnati Children’s therapists and providers. She hopes sharing Ben’s story will help other families feel less alone—and encourage parents to trust their instincts.
“I think people just assume these kids are clumsy or not athletic,” she said. “But there’s so much more going on.”
She also wants families to know there is hope.
“These kids are incredible,” Jennifer said. “Sometimes they just need people who understand them and believe in them.”
For Ben, therapy at Cincinnati Children’s helped him see his differences in a new way.
“I knew they understood me and wanted me to succeed,” he said. “Don’t be afraid. Everyone here is kind, and they want you to achieve your goals.”
Today, Jennifer says she is simply grateful her family finally found answers after years of uncertainty.
“We really love Cincinnati Children’s,” she said. “We can’t say enough good things about Erin and the team there.”
(Published June 2026)
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