Driving instructors

It's a long time ago, but even got mentioned during my diagnosis (32 years later!) as a time I felt extremely stressed out and uncomfortable. During driving lessons.

I'm sure had I known I was battling with autism and the instructor had also known it would have been very different.

I think he just thought I was odd. I barely spoke, felt extremely awkward and self conscious, can't really say why, I was actually a fairly good learner in terms of ability. Felt a bit like being in an interview in terms of awkwardness and anxiety.

So I'd say speak to them first and suss out how much they'd understand the situation and tailor the experience so it isn't as stressful for either.

It's probably best to talk to a few on the phone and see how interested and understanding they sound, many people have different instructors before they pass their tests, I had 4. One just went through the motions everyweek and I didn't feel like I was learning anything, so I stopped going to him, another was a wannabe counsellor and kept saying to me that it was alright to cry, and wanted me to do things I wasn't ready for, I stopped the lesson with him half way through and insisted he drive me home, I thought him abusive, the guy I passed with listened and came up with things to make me feel comfortable and help me learn. Just because you pick an instructor dosen't mean you have to stick with them if you don't get on with them, interview them, you will paying them a large amount of money, make sure you get what you're paying for.