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Learning to Drive With Additional Needs
Every year approximately 1.5 million young people take their driving test. 50,000 of these learner drivers will have a disability and 4 in 5 of those disabilities will be hidden. Learning to drive with additional needs may seem daunting, but we can show you that it is easily achievable.
"YES IF..." not "NO BECAUSE..."
It is true for all young people wanting to learn to drive that getting that licence is a really important goal. This can be particularly true for those people with additional needs such as any form of neurodiversity like autism. Getting into your own car certainly beats making your journey on public transport or relying on other people for lifts. Learning to drive with additional needs may seem off-putting, but we will show you that it is something that can be done with minimum stress and anxiety.
Certain disabilities, be they visible or invisible, can affect not only how a person is able to operate a vehicle but also the way that they learn, see the world around them and can influence how they communicate with both driving examiners and instructors. Being able to drive opens up a range of opportunities and means travelling becomes much easier as public transport is not always accessible.
Although any good driving instructor is perfectly capable of teaching most people to drive, an average instructor may not understand the requirements of some people’s conditions, have experience teaching neurodiverse people or be able to communicate effectively with those who have those additional needs. At The DriveAll Driver Training Co. we have instructors who have received extra training in this, and also have many years of actual experience in helping people with those additional needs to find their way to getting their driving licences.
We know that confidence is built over a period of time
No one person, whether neurodiverse or otherwise, gets behind the wheel of a car for the first time and feels comfortable. Whilst getting used to the car controls, movements and noises of driving, it’s worth remembering that confidence is created slowly, over periods of time. It’s fully acceptable for you to drive for small amounts of time, taking a break when you need it, and slowly build up as you become more confident. Doing so will help you to avoid becoming overwhelmed.
We understand that adjustments may need to be made if required
Your driving instructor will understand what you need in order to feel safe and confident behind the wheel and will encourage you to communicate openly with them. Honesty really is the best policy, so if you feel out of your depth, there’s no shame in letting them know. Part of their training is however, to pick up on how you are feeling, so you won’t be flooded with too much information all at once.
If you need tailored driving lessons or additional practice, that’s perfectly ok. You can work this out with your driving instructor. The important thing is to learn at your own pace. There may be adjustments that can be made to further help you, such as giving you extra time to complete a task. Just try to communicate your needs to your instructor.
Supporting Your Journey to Drive With Confidence
Learning to drive with additional needs is entirely possible with the right support. Our FAQs provide answers to common questions, ensuring you feel informed, comfortable, and empowered every step of the way.
Yes, we can. We are particularly adept at creating individualised lessons for people, making sure that each lesson meets their individual needs, including neurodiverse conditions like autism. Our instructors are trained to adapt their teaching methods to ensure every learner feels safe, supported and confident.
There are several ways we can help with this. For example, we can allow extra time for tasks, or practise on quieter roads when possible. We can slow-down the pace of a lesson Your DriveAll Driver Training Co. instructor will work with you to create a plan that suits your specific requirements.
Confidence is built over time in a gradual way. Our instructors prioritise creating a supportive, calm atmosphere, removing the stress from the car, so allowing you to progress at your own pace without undue pressure.
Yes. At The DriveAll Driver Training Co. our instructors have had additional training and have years of experience teaching learners with hidden and visible disabilities. This means that they communicate effectively and understand your needs.
This is certainly something we are open to. If it is practical and safe, we’ll do it in your car.
The only proviso is safety, so if you have never driven before, depending on your exact situation, it may still be better for you to drive in one of our dual controlled vehicles in the beginning for safety reasons. Please just talk to us about this and we will be open with you from the beginning.
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Our patient driving instructors are here to help you or your young person learn to drive safely whatever their requirements.
Our experienced and expert instructors are trained in helping people overcome every manner of hurdle that might cause someone to believe they would struggle to learn to drive.