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Advice wanted re learning to drive...

Paul Sharp

Hi. I'm a driving instructor, and I have a pupil who has aspergers.

Two things have come together in an unfortunate way. First of all, I booked a theory test for my pupil, and wanted to get her extra time in which to sit the test, so I ticked the box that says she has a medical condition, and the people that run the theory test got in touch with her by telephone the next day, listened to what she had to say, and arranged for her to have extra time when she did her test.

Unfortunately, she'd also lost part of her driving license. When presenting yourself for a theory test, you must bring both parts of your license with you.

So we booked the test for several weeks into the future, and I explained to my pupil that she needed to send off a form, with payment to the DVLA to get a replacement license. She did this on the 16th of April, and her payment was processed on the 21st of April.

However, no license arrived, and eventually, having no license to show, she was forced to miss her theory test.

She spoke to a customer service person from the DVLA on the phone, and was advised to write them a letter, as the license should have been recieved well before the theory date, and that she should be entitled to a refund of her test fee. They also confirmed that payment had been recieved, and that they could see no reason for the delay in sending the replacement license, so I rebooked her theory test for the middle of june, allowing another few weeks for her license to arrive.

Then she got a phone call from the DVLA, threatening to revoke her license on the grounds that she had not mentioned her condition in her original license application, and informing her that it would take approximately 90 days to assess her application and issue her with a license. (She asserts that she in fact did inform them, but has no written proof of this)

My pupils' aspergers in no way impairs her ability to learn how to drive. She takes no medication, sees no consultants.

Does anyone have any advice on how to proceed?

  • Hi, my son has Aspbergers, anyone know/recommend any Driving Instructors either within the Glasgow area or Ayrshire?

    Thanks

    Jennifer

  • Hi everyone,

    I don't have a definitive answer for you, but I have found some info here on the website:
    http://www.autism.org.uk/living-with-autism/out-and-about/driving.aspx


    Perhaps that will help clear up some of the questions. From that page, I followed the link to the DVLA page where I got some information about driving and Aspergers (link below).

    http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/MedicalRulesForDrivers/MedicalA-Z/DG_185605
    Please have a read yourselves and see how you think it applies to each of your own individual situations.
    If you're still unclear, or problems persist, you might consider contacting the Autism Helpline, link below:
    www.autism.org.uk/helpline

    Good luck.

    Sandra

     

  • Sorry anewman, I didn't mean to give you more to worry about. Perhaps the moderators know the answer to this one. I was merely offering an explanation why they might require this information, but I suspect it has more to do with lack of understanding. Interesting questions here though.

  • I suspect the larger factor is lack of understanding of many disabilities - it is pretty universal that lots of services don't really understand autism. That's why hopefully the Autism Act should lead to services staff being better trained.

    However, assuming there's some sound reasoning behind it, I've read in the past that epilepsy can be comorbid with autism/that there is a higher likelihood of associated epilepsy and this can appear suddenly.

    Also issues such as anger management and sensory overload could be a factor. Being in a car or walking near busy traffic, especially converging traffic, really has an adverse affect on me, just as a personal observation.

    So there may be good reasons for needing this information and checking it out.

     

     

  • Hi

    I have a younger child who is autistic, but I have an older son with ADHD. My son applied for a licence when he was 17 did he not know he had to declare his condition until his pychiatrist told him. We did declare the condition then and the lady I spoke to said he had to stop driving immediately. But when I checked that wasn't true, so what I am saying is try to speak to someone higher than the phone answerer at the DVLA.

    If she has a declarable condition she will need to get a consultant to assess her, my sons consultant then billed the DVLA. So her first step should be a visit to a GP so she can get a referral to a consultant.

    MY son then got a licence for 2 years which then has to be reassessed. After 125 lessons he is only just ready for his test, next month.