May 2017 - Driving with a Hidden Disability

Driving with a hidden disability often makes very challenging. Being a driver, you must have full concentration on the road, while being able to do suitable mirror checks, and controlling the car in the correct manner, as well as being able to react to everything around you.

As I driver, I have an Autism Spectrum Disorder of Asperger’s Syndrome. I also have a developmental coordination disorder of dyspraxia, which can make driving incredibly challenging for some, as people with dyspraxia are unable to multi-task to the level needed to drive, they will often learn in an automatic.

 

Having and autism spectrum disorder means that my brain works differently, and I are unable to cope in certain situations physically and emotionally. It can often be a communication barrier too as I will often take what is said word for word. For example, I may use the handbrake to move off in situations when I don’t need to.

 

Some of the things I found quite easy were:

·         Understanding the rules of the road.

·         Being in the correct position of the road.

·         Following step by step instructions to navigate to places.

·         Using the indicator appropriately.

 

Some of the things I found quite challenging were:

·         Clutch Control.

·         Selecting the right gear for the appropriate situation.

·         Using the right amount of acceleration to move off.

·         Maintaining the correct speed.

·         Reading and responding to road signs.

 

Driving with other conditions such as Dyslexia and ADHD are also very challenging, as this can affect your concentration levels as well your ability to navigate, even simple things such as turning left or right.

 

When driving with conditions such as Irlen Syndrome, it can be difficult to understand visual information such as road signs or road markings. Drivers with conditions like this prefer to use a satnav so they are getting verbal step by step instructions.

 

Here are my top tips for instructors who are teaching someone with hidden difficulties.

 

·         Make your student feel welcomed, get to know them a bit and let them get to know a bit about you.

 

·         Take your time in explaining things, as someone with hidden difficulties may not be able to understand what you are asking of them.

 

·         Be prepared to adapt the way you teach to suit the individual such as using diagrams, talking through things step by step.

 

 

·         Reassure your student, tell them things they have done well and things which will need working on. 

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Comments: 1
  • #1

    Andrew (Wednesday, 26 July 2017 19:32)

    I think that was a very great achievementioned. My son has dysplasia and struggles to plan movements. It must take a huge amount of brainpower to have to drive in a completely conscious and non-automatic way.