Driving Lessons for Autistic DS

[GarbledCopperpot]

So our DS is 17 and we want to sort driving lessons for him. We don't know anyone local we can ask word of mouth with any recent experience so are down to asking local Facebook groups which inevitably are friends of friends recommending their friends...

He is autistic - but communicates well generally, learns well, main traits would be taking things literally and being a bit snappy when he doesn't understand things.

Finding instructors with availability these days can be a bit of a challenge - in this position, would you be messaging instructors and being up-front about autism, or finding instructors with availability first and then asking if they have experience with autistic students?

Worried about the conflict between alienating them before we start so not finding anyone vs finding the right-minded person up front without someone who is perhaps less equipped to deal taking the work regardless.

Thanks

I would start by looking at the list of approved driving instructors in your area. You can google it but I think this is the URL:

https://finddrivinginstructor.dvsa.gov.uk/DSAFindNearestWebApp/findNearest.form?lang=en

Some of them put their latest assessment score in their listing, so I'd go for someone who has a high score ie is good at teaching.

As that's not really answering your question(!), I think I'd find good, available instructors first, then have a bit of a chat with them afterwards. I think you can probably get a feel for how they are at that point, and how they might teach.

DD is also 16 abs wants to drive. She's been working FT and has been saving for lessons and a car. I'm in a bit of a limbo at the moment though. She says she wants to start lessons but doesn't seem to be actively setting anything up herself but equally, refuses any offers of help.

I'd quite like her to start as the constant lifts eat up so much time!

And as well as the excellent advice from Linen, do check out their SM too. One of our local ones advertises as being a good choice for pupils with ASD but only really outs any information about that on their SM posts.

Also ask where the lessons will take place. We live in a very small town and I've heard that one instructor never takes you out of the town, which is nowhere near a test centre. You don't want the first time they drive the route if the test to get their actual driving test