Thanks to an amazing anonymous doner, Afasic have booked a light up event at the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth. This is to highlight DLD and International DLD day on the 20th October at 7pm.

Developmental Language Disorder is a hidden but common lifelong disability that affects 1 in 14 people causing difficulties understanding and using language for no known reason.

The 2023 DLDDAY theme is DLD Around the World, highlighting that DLD affects people around the world regardless of age, gender, language spoken or ethnicity. Speaking more than one language does not cause DLD. In fact, people with DLD can learn multiple languages. DLD is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting how the brain processes language, so it makes sense that we find it in every country and every language.

Raising Awareness of Developmental Language Disorder (RADLD), the peak body that coordinates international #DLDday are advocating for increased recognition and support for people with DLD around the world.

“People with DLD are 6 times more likely to suffer from anxiety and 3 times more likely to have clinical depression. They are also at significant risk of struggling with reading, spelling and mathematics. Although DLD is a common condition affecting many areas of life, people with DLD are unlikely to receive access to services,” said Stephen Parsons, Chairperson of RADLD.

This year, the world is lighting up purple and yellow to boost awareness of DLD globally. RADLD can confirm that more than 80 landmarks are scheduled to shine bright on or around Friday 20 October 2023.

Head to Spinnaker Tower on 20th Oct 7pm as it lights up in purple to raise awareness of DLD. Developmental Language Disorder Day #DLDday, now in its seventh year, is celebrated annually around the world with more than 40 countries involved.

Afasic are very pleased to continue to support this amazing event and we have organised a walking for DLD event in east London on the 22nd October and you can do it virtually as well, so everyone can get involved.

Visit the link to find out more or to get involved and help highlight DLD around the world. More information.