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Driving and Dyspraxia

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 11:27 pm
by FAndrews
Hi all

here is another thing ive been thinking over that is bothering me. im 29 and yet to be able to drive, and thinking of trying it this year but worrying about how my dyspraxia will affect it, possibly why ive kept from giving it a go. how has everyone else got by with driving? any advice or tips?

Re: Driving and Dyspraxia

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2015 10:49 pm
by FAndrews
Anyone? :)

Re: Driving and Dyspraxia

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 8:27 am
by nickye
Hi there
I think it's definitely worth giving it a go. You could try googling driving schools and dyspraxia, as I've seen some information about driving schools who specialise in teaching people with dyspraxia. I think if I've had this when I learned it would have been a lot better.

Don't let this out you off, but it took me three years and three tests to pass, but at that time, 25 years ago, I and most people hadn't heard of dyspraxia. I couldn't understand why I didn't even get how to turn a steering wheel properly. I know not everyone with dyspraxia struggles as much as this, but it could be worth going somewhere to practice these skills.

I've never been very confident driving on motorways, but I do drive, and I even drove back from France the year before last when my husband had a seizure. I then had to do the driving for a year til he got the licence back. He is very good and he helped me a lot with advice and my driving had improved a lot even after all this time. I was always ok driving locally, but not good on slip roads and motorways really, although I have non dyspraxic friends who don't like motorway driving!

I often think with dyspraxia that often we can do the same things as other people, but it takes longer and I need things explained to me in quite a lot of detail, I won't just pick them up.

I hope this does t sound negative because I think if I'd known about dyspraxia earlier, and more techniques for dealing with the issues, it would t have taken me so long. The important thing as well is not to feel bad about it, and to realise that even if it difficult to start off with doesn't mean you won't get there.

Good luck
Nicky

Re: Driving and Dyspraxia

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 11:30 pm
by FAndrews
my dyspraxia i find is more mental than physical now im older and mainly effects my reflexes, reactions, concentration and processing times which could be an issue for driving.

Re: Driving and Dyspraxia

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 8:23 am
by nickye
I've just found a link from dyspraxia foundation to www.mobility-centres.org.uk for advice on learning to drive with various issues including dyspraxia.

I don't know what area you are in but I have seen some driving schools on the web who specialise on helping people with dyspraxia, autism, etc.

Dyspraxia is a hard thing sometimes isn't it? I find physical things difficult generally and yet I can play the piano and knit. My handwriting is neat, but I can't really ride a bike or catch a ball!

I think confidence is a big hurdle, although these are genuine difficulties, sometimes I am over pessimistic about what I can't do.

I hope you get on ok
Nicky

Re: Driving and Dyspraxia

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 12:20 am
by FAndrews
thanks for the link :)

strangely i have very good hand eye co-ordination and fine motor skills, it affects me mentally more than physically and yeah it can be hard sometimes, effects my life in so many ways and yeah ruins my confidence a lot.

Re: Driving and Dyspraxia

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 9:09 am
by nickye
That's a real positive that you have good hand to eye co-ordination - it will really help you. That's the bit I would struggle with most, and I was bad at judging distances. But now I often park in between two cars and I think - "yes!". One of the positives about dyspraxia is that I can get very excited when I get a small thing right like catching a ball, parking or carrying more than one glass at a time without spilling anything! I think I get a lot of joy from everyday things, despite all the frustration and depression!

I'm sure there are ways to improve concentration etc, and I think the Dyspraxia Foundation may have some ideas.

I hope it didn't sound negative that it took me so long to learn to drive, but do remember that at that point I'd never heard of dyspraxia, and didn't know why I struggled, and there wasn't really any specialist help.

It is frustrating though isn't it - and I often lack confidence and feel silly when I can't do "easy" things! But of course they're not easy to us, and we should remember to give ourselves credit for achieving them, even attempting them in the first place takes courage.
It does also give you understanding and patience with other people.

Re: Driving and Dyspraxia

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 11:39 pm
by FAndrews
well im 29 now and got told i had dyspraxia when i was 15, so have had to deal with it and its issues my whole life, though only recently have i had to really confront and come to terms with how much it affects my life, in so many silly and sometimes frustrating ways.

Re: Driving and Dyspraxia

Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 3:35 pm
by DanTheOutlaw
I am amazed but I actually passed my test first time and I'm quite a good driver despite my dyspraxia.