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Learning to drive

NAS85414

Good Afternoon everyone,

My 16 year old son has autism and he can't stop talking about learning to drive.  He isn't very good at multitasking and is not very good at meeting new people.  Are there any parents who have had to deal with this situation and know of what help is out there for him, to succeed in learning to drive.

Many Thanks

Parents

  • Most UK instructors don't have an automatic car so finding one in your area if you live outside of a city may be difficult.

    Some good signs are he wants to drive, and wanting to do it is what made the multitasking easier for me to learn when I learnt. I passed 2nd time with 2 minors, (1st test I got cut up by a white van), which is I'm told quite an good average result as far as test passes go nationally.

    The Instructor will do a meet and greet more or less for the first session anyway to get the pupil comfortable and acustomed to the controls.

    I was taught by my partner who is an Approved Driving Instructor with a large franchise and he had to deviate slightly in his teaching in that explainations whilst driving had to be kept to bullet points in order for me to not lose focus. My advice is go to a large franchise, and be honest about your son having autism when the instructor first calls you, explain that your son is keen but might take a while or need a slight adjustment to how he is taught (whilst still being taught everything required). And if you don't get on with that instructor after a few sessions then move to another and repeat until you find one that fits. The instructor won't take it personally, you have to find the instructor that fits your needs as a pupil.

    And fun fact: Guy Martin (TT racer and all round motor maestro)  is autistic too.


Reply

  • Most UK instructors don't have an automatic car so finding one in your area if you live outside of a city may be difficult.

    Some good signs are he wants to drive, and wanting to do it is what made the multitasking easier for me to learn when I learnt. I passed 2nd time with 2 minors, (1st test I got cut up by a white van), which is I'm told quite an good average result as far as test passes go nationally.

    The Instructor will do a meet and greet more or less for the first session anyway to get the pupil comfortable and acustomed to the controls.

    I was taught by my partner who is an Approved Driving Instructor with a large franchise and he had to deviate slightly in his teaching in that explainations whilst driving had to be kept to bullet points in order for me to not lose focus. My advice is go to a large franchise, and be honest about your son having autism when the instructor first calls you, explain that your son is keen but might take a while or need a slight adjustment to how he is taught (whilst still being taught everything required). And if you don't get on with that instructor after a few sessions then move to another and repeat until you find one that fits. The instructor won't take it personally, you have to find the instructor that fits your needs as a pupil.

    And fun fact: Guy Martin (TT racer and all round motor maestro)  is autistic too.


Children