Re: aspergers syndrome (my son and training to drive)

August 20, 2006

Interesting and funny to me :>)

I first started out helping my son to drive. We were making

progress, but my wife thought he should have additional training

through a driver course. We paid the money and a few months later

he took a written and driver's road test..........I can understand

and fully believed he would pass the written test. He is Asperger

with average/above average IQ. So I was not surprized.

I was though absolutely astonished that he passed the road test. In

fact, I am amazed .........stunned........ " how in heaven " amazed.

Anyways, I gave him the Dad test.........yep.......me.........the

one who is paying the bill test.

I had him on a busy road near our home and had him cross-over three

lanes from a parking lot. This required getting a clear access

from the on-coming traffic. He did that well, but when we merged

into the going traffic.............well it was a revelation as to

how much more we needed to practice

In my Dad test, he also had a median (between yellow lines) left

turn into a parking lot. To my surprize, he had no idea how to

properly go into the wait/yield area between the two yellow lines.

From then on, I began a total reevaluation of his driving training.

I'm really not sure what they really taught him at that driving

school......geez

Also, as is common with AS, your son may have poor gross motor

skills....say clumsy. My son seems to drift to the curb of a road

like there is some magnetic pull between the 6-inch curb and the

hubcaps.......I am going to investigate this phenomena someday :>)

So, please remember to remain CALM .........just slowly clutch the

armrest on the passenger door (try not to use fingernails)

He also struggled with backing up............

Let me also add that I even took my son to an opthamologist to make

certain there was NO issue or possible unknown. , my AS son,

is the quiet, withdrawn-type personality. So, I can ask a

question, and then I ask a few more to make sure I understand what

he is thinking. Many times he has short, terse responses.

A little long, but I thought you might enjoy

>

> How hard is it for a person with aspergers syndrome to learn to

> drive? We are teaching our child to drive. It is taking longer

to

> teach than a person without aspergers.

>

> mom with AS son

>

August 20, 2006

My son age 16 yrs has his permit for the past year and he is doing well although

not learning as fast as my nl daughter did. He has trouble parking and is

slower learning then my daughter. We will not allow him to get his licence until

we feel he is ready to drive on his own. I think it takes more time but patience

will prevail.

( ) Re: aspergers syndrome (my son and training to

drive)