I am a dyspraxic athlete…

… and advocate who competes in 5 and 6-a-side football tournaments all around the UK. Small-sided football such as 5 and 6-sided football is a great sport for people with Dyspraxia as there is much more focus on technical ability rather than the physical side of the game due to the smaller pitches. Since joining the local community Football Session at Newtown in 2015 I have become one of the most recognised Disabled Footballers in Wales which has led to the opportunity to play at professional football grounds and play in charity games with former professional footballers.

I am also a runner,

which is not the easiest combination however if built up correctly can be great for both your physical and mental health. The best advice I can provide is to find a route where you can do a lot of straight-line running as change of direction has never been my thing. Also start by doing a mile a couple of times a week, every month, then add another mile till you get to 10k. That is just over 6 miles, which for people with coordination and balance issues is a big achievement. It is what I started as and earlier this year I competed in my first official 10k race and I am looking forward to doing more in the future.

In 2022 I was named in the Learning Disability and Autism Leaders List which celebrates influential people with Autism in the UK. I was also named as an ambassador for the list alongside becoming a judge for the 2024 list. Earlier this year I was named in an NHS campaign celebration alongside influential people past and present with Dyspraxia. I was celebrated alongside people like Daniel Radcliff and Cara Delavigne. I felt that it was a huge achievement to have been included on both lists in reignition of my achievements in sports.

I am incredibly proud to have used my success in Sport to be able to have an influence changing attitudes towards people with hidden conditions within my local community and nationally. I have been working with a number of different charities like the Dyspraxia Foundation, prior to their closure, and Dimensions UK. This is alongside my work with people and clubs in Amateur and professional football. My aim is to improve awareness of hidden impairments and the importance of inclusion in Football.

In 2024 the dyspraxic community is in a much better position.There is so much more awareness and I see so many friends within the Neurodiversity community doing some incredible things. While living with these conditions is not easy , we are a determined bunch and I am proud to have achieved so many cool things by the age of 28 that I would not have been able to do without living with Dyspraxia and Autism. 

Written by Stephen Lewis