Special needs.

Dyslexia Dyspraxia and ADHD.

Learning to drive with special needs can be a very daunting feeling, however with the right approach and a Driving School that has 1st hand experience of teaching pupils with these conditions the learning process can be made a lot less stressful on all concerned.

Dyslexia - the main difficulties that arise with this condition as far as driving lessons are concerned is the poor organisational skills, remembering to do things in set sequence makes driving a lot easier, however with patients and repartition this can be overcome.
Weaknesses in short-term and working memory, speed of processing, can all be overcome with slight adjustments to driving lessons and lesson structures.
Lefts and rights do not represent a problem, your driving instructor as well as giving verbal directions will give hand signals, pupils will not be asked to follow road signs on driving lessons, and since the DSA will know you are dyslexic the same procedure for your driving lessons is adopted for your driving test.

Dyspraxia - relates to having poor motor skills clumsiness and co-ordination difficulties. Pupils may also suffer from poor concentration leading to difficulties in retaining information and perceptual and spatial awareness problems.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - this can affect the pupil in a way that they are easily side-tracked and confused by too much going on around me, a very short attention span, fail to plan ahead and be noticeably restless and fidgety, and worst of all, behaviour of people with ADHD can be inappropriate and unpredictability leading to a very short fuse.
All the above conditions can be overcome eventually by adjustments to lessons plans and driving lesson structure, they just take time, taking us back again to patience and repartition.

The first thing any pupil wishing to learn to drive with special needs has to do is to tell their driving instructor they have a condition, if you don't it will just take longer cost more and be a lot more frustrating for both parties.

As far as the theory test is concerned the system has the option for dyslexic candidates to listen to the test being read in English through a headset, voice-over's in 20 other languages are also available.
Dyslexic candidates can also apply to have up to double the standard time. You need to ask when you apply for the test. A letter or report from a professional should explain your reading ability i.e., a teacher, a psychologist, or Local Dyslexia Association officer. You will have to phone again for a test date after the report has been processed.