Neurodiverse and learning to Drive

[dottypotter]

Can I have your opinions/experience please?
Is it harder/impossible for ND people to learn to drive?

Harder, yes.
Impossible, no.

Depends upon what kind of ND.

Get the theory test out of the way first, then maybe go for an automatic license rather than manual.

My Dd is neurodiverse her driving instructor was brilliant and read up on Dds "thing" helped her learn. She did fail first time but passed second. I'm also ND and failed my theory and it put me off and now I'm a non driver and I've always regretted not sticking with it.
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I second learning in an automatic. You don’t waste mental time thinking about the gears and you can spend more time checking the traffic around you. That helped to lessen my anxiety enormously.

I’ve never regretted it in 30 years.

I'm autistic, but wasn't diagnosed when learning to drive. It took me 5 goes to pass. That was mainly nerves about driving in the town the test centre is in (I swore I'd never drive there again. I now live there and obviously have to drive all the time, no problems!) I passed my theory test first time - they'd only just been introduced then though, so no idea what they're like now.

The main thing that was harder for me was co-ordinating movements (changing gear with one hand while steering with the other etc) I never thought about automatics though, not sure why, there may have been less opportunity then to learn in one.

Something else I struggle with is the intense concentration needed for long drives. An hour and a half is my limit, then I need a break of at least half an hour to reset. Most of my driving is local so it's not something that has come up often.

Dyslexic and Dyspraxic here. It took me four goes to pass my test, but I passed.

What I would say, is that I didn't find standard driving lessons very helpful at all. Instructors tend to go through everything in a very quick and regimented fashion, and there isn't the flexibility to spend ages focusing on the parts that you need the most help with.

If you have a close friend or family member who can take you out to practice, then you might find that works better for you, as you can do stuff in your own time (i.e. not moving on to the next thing until you have fully mastered what you are currently practicing) rather than being railroaded through a tickbox list of maneuvers by an instructor.

I had about 20 hours of lessons with two different instructors, then gave up because standard driving lessons were not working for me. I then picked it up again 5 years later with my DH teaching me.

Without wanting to oversimplify things, it depends on the individual. There is such a broad range of neurodiversity it cannot be pinned down to be "harder" or "impossible" to learn to drive.

Undoubtedly some will struggle and some will be unable to do it. Others will be able to but struggle more in other areas of life.

As an example, my own experience is that my autism helped me pass my theory test because remembering facts is a strength I have and I like to read things to understand them. So I got a copy of the highway code and I had no problem passing the theory test, I rattled through the paper and was out the door in a few minutes.

I struggled more with the "important" part i.e. the actual driving. I failed the first attempt due to poor positioning of the vehicle (learned behaviour, I was just doing what everyone else on the road seemed to) and passed the second time. Didn't really drive any better or worse if I'm honest.

I also agree with the leaning in an automatic suggestion - at least to start with.

My DD is ND and we found a fantastic instructor who had educated herself on DD’s disability and it was all going well. She found it hard, but not impossible.

However, DD started having seizures so she’s had to stop for the time being

Dyslexic and Dyspraxic and I dont consider that I would ever be a safe driver. Dyspraxic literally means clumsy with poor spatial perception - people with these problems shouldn't drive

I tried in both a manual and an automatic. I would definitely recommend automatic if you're neurodiverse as gears are one less thing to think about. I was far better at driving in an automatic but then I moved down to London and didn't take lessons again.

As many posters have said, it depends on the individual. My best friend youngest son is high functional autistic. He found a great driving instructor and got his provisional licence last year. He's also in his first year of uni.

He still needs support with communication, has had for many years a good speech therapist and psychologist, but he still puts on his headphones when the outside world gets too noisy and intrusive. The one thing he loves driving his car is he doesn't need his headphones, his favourite music is always blasting away.

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/amiibeingunreasonable/4718888-to-not-want-to-take-dd-out-driving

This was a similar thread a wee while back, might be helpful

Harder yes/ impossible no. My DD tried for two years, failed her test three times. Swopped to automatic car and clicked with it straight off. She's due to sit her test shortly and her instructor expects her to pass. She told me that not having to worry about gear changes is the solution for her

Ds is dyspraxic, started last month but doing really well. I'm surprised! We decided to start in a Manuel and if it was too difficult (which I thought it would be) to then switch to an automatic. Instructor said he's doing as well as anyone else. He found riding a bike way more difficult to get his head around.

It can make it impossible, or much easier - not all neurodiverse people are the same. My bil is an excellent driver, passed easily and first time. For him autism means that when he drives he focuses on driving, and only driving. Always aware of what's going on around him, his speed, position on the road etc. Safe as houses. My ds is also autistic and anxious and is not great at rapidly processing and integrating information and is very agin the idea of driving. He is unlikely to find it comes naturally and may never learn at all.

Harder possibly but impossible no, do your research on instructor before you start is in my opinion the key factor

DH DD and DS are all ND. DD and DS have spent the last 18 months learning with a very patient instructor (who we all feel is also ND) DS passed a couple of months ago at his third attempt, DD has her test in a couple of months

I did take DS out quite a bit once he had reasonable skills but I also spent the 2 years before he started driving on journeys to school getting him to assess the traffic and situations to increase his awareness of how to approach traffic and situations

just be ready for the expense, at one point we were paying out £650 a month on lessons for the two of them

Depends on your issues really. I’m autistic - visual stimulus can be very overwhelming, and I’m slow to process and react to it.

I learned at 18 (before I knew I was autistic) and found the whole experience awful. Went through three different instructors (I sacked one because he couldn’t teach me, one sacked me because he couldn’t teach me and the third was extremely patient). 40+ hours of lessons, cancelled my first test because I wasn’t ready… but then passed first time in the end. It was extremely stressful for everyone involved and I’ve literally not driven since because it’s just too scary.

People kept telling me the various processes would click eventually, become automatic and instinctive, but they never did - I felt like I was having to manually think through every tiny step of driving whilst processing too much information that was coming at me all the time in a way that constantly startled and stressed me. I would flinch constantly. I couldn’t judge gaps or relative speeds. Eurgh.

I need to re-learn now at 40 and I’m terrified, but I’m looking for an autism-informed instructor this time around. I feel like I need to build the skills up way more gradually than most people, so I can automate each part of the process before I move onto the next one. Trying to learn it all simultaneously was just waaaaay too much for my particular brain.

my DS18 (ASD dx) has just pulled out of his test. He’s completely technically competent when he’s concentrating but as soon as he’s not he’s an utter liability. It Probably wouldn’t show up in a test, but could have catastrophic consequences in real life - he just focuses intensely on whatever is going on in his head and not in the road or what he’s doing in the car - it’s terrifying!!

We’ll try again in a few years but it’s still shit for him.

I should also say, I’ve had an issue with left and right my whole life! No instinct for it - I have to manually think it through every. Single. Time.

When I sat my test, I asked the examiner to point in the direction he wanted me to turn as well as saying. He obliged, and I’m still very grateful to him. No way I would have passed otherwise.

Dyslexic here - as others have said totally depends on the individual. I passed my driving test first time but I was in my 20s. I wasn't ready at 17 and did not have the spare cash... be sure to shop around for a good driving instructor who has helped us neurodiverse people. Good luck any learning.

My DS (ASD diagnosis) learned to drive at 17. Passed his test 2nd time. Don't think he found it difficult tbh. He did have 2 young driver type lessons on private land when he was 16 (with a driving instructor) so he'd mastered the clutch/gears before he hit the road at 17.

Depends completely on the person really, I don't think I will ever manage it, passed the theory test several times but the stress of the practical test is too much and I get flustered too easilt. But I know other autistic people that have passed it no problem.

It was impossible for me, sadly.

Dd had to switch from manual to automatic, really struggled with manual lessons and took to automatic like a duck to water and passed first time. I think all new electric cars are automatic?

You may well know this already, OP, but depending on the nature of the neurodiversiry, your DC may be required to declare it at the application stage, and undergo additional screening before a licence is issued. The list includes ASD and ADHD.

www.gov.uk/health-conditions-and-driving/find-condition-a-to-z

I passed first time in a manual but it took me a long time to be ready for the test.

I’m a much better driver now I’ve switched to an automatic with parking sensors though.