Taking Your Theory Test
Theory tests are accessible. Candidates with impaired hearing can take the test as a video using sign language. If you have light-sensitive epilepsy, you can take an adapted test. Also, it is possible to receive extra time for the multiple choice questions, if you can provide evidence. You will need to mention any special requirements when you book your test.
Handling Potential Sensory Overload
Second, many people on the autism spectrum have a tendency to be over-stimulated by the sights, sounds, smells and other sensory information in their environment. It is important to consider the very real possibility that situations such as heavy traffic, highway speeds or a profusion of road signs will prove over-stimulating to a driver who has autism.
How To Get Medical Marijuana For Autism
To get medical cannabis for autism, youll first need a written recommendation from a physician, if your state has legalized the herb for your autism symptoms. Not all doctors will be willing to provide you with this recommendation, so youll want to find a qualified cannabis doctor.
Every state has its own laws about which conditions qualify for medical weed. You may even be required to obtain a medical marijuana ID card before you can begin treatment. Once you receive your written recommendation and ID card, you can then buy your cannabis at a dispensary.
Also Check: Does Jerry Seinfeld Have Autism
Are There Legal Restrictions On Driving With Autism
In the United States and most other countries, there are no legal restrictions relating to autism and driving. So long as the individual can pass the required tests and demonstrate safe driving behavior, they are permitted to obtain a drivers permit and eventually a drivers license. Keep in mind that driving laws do vary from state to state, so youll want to check with your local department of motor vehicles for details.
There is a lot of existing research on the relationship between medical conditions and driving. While some conditions like visual impairments can legally bar individuals from obtaining a drivers license, most other medical conditions do not.
Learning To Drive When You Have Autism
Many teens and young adults with autism express interest in learning to drive.
According to the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, almost two-thirds of adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder currently drive or would like to learn how to drive. One in three adolescents with ASD who do not have an intellectual disability obtain their drivers license by the age of 21, and most do it around the age of 17 when their same-aged neurotypical peers usually do.
Autism presents with unique challenges that can impact how someone learns to drive, but it does not make it impossible. With reasonable accommodations, teens and young adults with autism can successfully learn to drive safely.
Challenges that autistic individuals without intellectual disability face that can impact driving ability include impairments in:
- Social interactions.
- Attention abilities.
- Executive functioning.
The above skills are all important for safe driving. Autism can affect ones ability to make quick decisions and process all of the information that comes with driving on the road, but it can also improve other driving skills, such as the ability to obey traffic laws.
One recent study found that men with autism may exhibit slower hazard detection times on the road. Another study, however, found that teens with high-functioning ASD were less likely to get into car accidents than teens from the general population.
You May Like: Is Freddie Highmore Actually Autistic
Teen With Autism Reluctant To Drive Should This Parent Push
My son, who has autism, is not sure if he wants to learn to drive. Hes nervous about getting into an accident. He follows laws, is very careful and has driven go carts. His coordination is clumsy in games like catch or basketball. But he has good balance. Im encouraging him to be open about the idea. What are your thoughts?
Todays Got Questions? answer is by psychologist Cathryn Lehman, of the Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders, at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The medical center is one of 14 sites in the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network.
What a great question! Of course, many parents grapple with this topic to one degree or another. How do I know if and when my child is ready to drive? The level of concern is understandably elevated when your child has autism.
Its important to remember that theres no set rule to determine when someone is ready to drive, regardless of autism-related challenges. Some teenagers feel ready to drive as soon as theyre old enough. Others wait several years or choose the alternative of navigating their local public transportation system.
Often, life circumstances play the largest role in the decision-making process. For example, if your son is going to be responsible for commuting to and from college or a job, learning to drive may become an important component of his independence. However, if theres a bus or subway stop nearby, learning to drive may not be imperative.
Domain B: Repetitive Or Restricted Behaviour Interests Or Activities
Restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or activities in at least two of the following:
- Repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech.
- Insistence on things being the same, inflexible and insistent on routine, or ritualised patterns of verbal or non-verbal behaviour.
- Highly restricted, fixated interests that are uncommonly intense or focussed.
- Extremely reactive or not reactive at all to sensory input, or an unusual interest in sensory aspects of the environment.
Also Check: Average Life Span Of Autism
How To Drive A Car If You’re Autistic
wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 15 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time.There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 12,041 times.Learn more…
Driving can be especially challenging for autistic people. While some people on the spectrum are unable to drive safely, others learn how to do so, even if it takes longer. Many autistics are competent drivers and some even make a living as driving instructors.XResearch source If you think you are confident enough to drive a vehicle of your own, it’ll make your life a lot easier and you’ll be more independent.
What Is The History Of Autism
The understanding of autism has developed over a number of decades. While the term autism was defined by Kanner, there is varying evidence that other professionals, including Grunya Efimovna Sukhareva and Paul Bleuler, had recognised the unique presentation of symptoms much earlier than this. Since the 1940s the diagnostic criteria has evolved and shifted as we learn more but now autism is widely understood as a spectrum of conditions with wide-ranging degrees of impairment
Read Also: The Symbol For Autism
Autistic Kids Most Likely To Drive
Assuming all other factors are equal, there are some indicators of which kids and young adults with autism will do well driving and which ones will not.
The ASD diagnosis plus these factors indicate they are more likely to drive well:
- Driving goals as part of IEP
A parent with experience teaching another teen will more likely be better prepared to also teach their autistic child to drive too.
Teaching Your Child With Autism How To Drive
If you have a child with autism who has expressed interest in learning how to drive, it is important for you to know that they can do it. Learning to drive is an important step in the transition to adulthood for many adolescents.
Young adults, with and without autism, have personal, social, and employment-related reasons for wanting to learn to drive. For autistic individuals, its essential that their support team is fully on board with them learning to drive. Consult with your childs doctors and therapists before to embarking on this journey.
The process of teaching any teen or young adult to drive can be stressful. Parents of autistic children may face additional challenges in this process. Here are some tips for parents of an autistic child who is learning to drive:
The most important thing when teaching your autistic child to drive is to allow the learning to happen at their pace. Always stay calm, and do not worry if it takes your child longer than you think it should for them to learn a new skill. Its tough to see progress on a daily basis, but if you look at the growth over weeks or months, youll see they have come a long way.
There is no timeline for how long it should take to learn to drive. Let your childs motivation drive the learning process and do your best to support them along the way.
You May Like: Can Autism Be Passed Down
The Challenge Of Driving With Aspergers
Over the last two decades, researchers have examined the risks faced by young drivers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and tried to find ways to help them to learn to drive safely, an issue explored in this weeks Science Times. Now those researchers and driving instructors are finding themselves faced with a new challenge: the growing number of teenagers with Asperger syndrome and other forms of autism, conditions defined by deficits in social skills and obsessive interests that can make learning to drive especially difficult.
Driving is a social act, says Dr. Jamie Dow, the medical adviser for safety issues for Quebecs government-run auto insurance and licensing agency. It involves obeying rules and cooperating with other drivers.
For young people with Aspergers, both parts of that equation can pose problems.
Obeying rules is generally a good thing, but can be taken too far if rules are applied inflexibly or without taking into context into account. For example, does a Stop at White Line sign mean that the line is where you should stop only if you need to stop – or that you should stop every time you come to it?
Theres some discussion in the field that driving in traffic is like reading a persons face, said Lissa Robins Kapust, of the DriveWise program at Beth Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. The driving scene may be friendly, it may be frenetic, it may be angry.
Learning To Drive Might Look Different For Someone With Autism
When learning to drive, it is imperative that everything be broken down into small tasks. Then, once comfortable, put all the pieces together. It might take longer for someone to learn to drive, but a person should be able to take as long as they need to learn.
The main goal is safety. It can be challenging for a person with autism to learn that others on the road might not follow all the rules like they do. Teaching drivers to expect the unexpected while driving is an abstract concept, yet a critical one.
Heres some tips for helping someone on the autism spectrum learn to drive:
- Allow frequent breaks during driving lessons to let each piece of information to settle in and not overwhelm the individual.
- Drive on familiar routes until fully comfortable. New routes can be overwhelming and should be avoided until the person is totally comfortable handling the vehicle and dealing with traffic in familiar surroundings. This is especially the case in bigger cities with more complex intersections and more traffic.
- Teach the driver to remain calm when others break the rules of the road.
- Explain what road rage is and how to avoid instigating another driver.
- Teach them that playing music while driving might be a distraction.
You May Like: What Is The Symbol For Autism
Using Marijuana To Improve Relaxation And Communication
When youre on the autistic spectrum, its common to experience communication difficulties as well as an inability to relax. The following strains should offer some relief from these symptoms:
- Chocolope: Chocolope is a highly energizing sativa strain that provides you with an uplifted and blissfully happy experience. You should start off with a small dose to see how you react to Chocolope, as this strain can occasionally cause anxiety. However, it can provide symptom relief when used correctly.
- Blue Dream: Blue Dream is one of the most recognizable strains of pot in the world. It provides a smooth, hybrid experience and is perfect for daytime use. You feel relaxed, creative and happy when you take this strain.
Current Treatments Available For Autism And Their Side Effects
If you think you might have ASD, experts encourage an early diagnosis for the best treatment outcome. You can reduce difficulties and focus on your strengths with proper care. There is no single best treatment as every autistic individual is different. Some methods of treatment include the following.
You May Like: Can A Child With Autism Have Dyslexia
Medication To Treat Autism
Your doctor may prescribe you medication to help with:
- Attention problems
- Anxiety
- Repetitive behavior
All medications come with the risk of side effects. For example, antipsychotic medications cause sedation and extreme lethargy. Perhaps this is why more people turn to natural methods like medical marijuana to treat their symptoms.
Tips For Learning To Drive With Asd
Learning to drive will require persistence and the acquisition of several new skills, such as quick judgment capabilities, multi-tasking, flexibility to changes , and non-verbal communication with other drivers. People on the autism spectrum may find driving difficult, due to issues with anxiety, visual-spatial discernment, reaction time, and more. But, while the task of becoming an experienced driver may seem like a daunting one, there are some things you can do to ensure that you become the seasoned driver you aspire to be.
Happily, once you start driving, you may even find that you have certain skills which bode well for your driving skills, such as attention to detail and strict adherence to safety laws.
Only about one-third of people on the autism spectrum who dont have an intellectual disability get their drivers licenses before the age of 21. Not every person with ASD wants to drive or is capable of driving, but many do and are. If you fall in with this group, dont let your anxiety about learning to drive get the best of you. Instead, take a look at the tips below and see what you can do about making the experience a little easier on yourself.
Read Also: Good Doctor Actor Autistic
Can You Join The Air Force If You Have Autism
Joining the Air Force might be a little bit tougher for applicants who have autism. The main reason behind this is that the Air Force requires higher entry test scores than most of the other branches.
In addition, you must have excellent social and communication skills to join the Air Force. The cold truth is that these skills are often rare in people with autism.
Nevertheless, the Air Force may allow you in if you can prove that you have outlived the condition over the years and that autism is not a hindrance in your daily life.
In addition, you must not be under any medications for at least one year before submitting your application.
However, that is not all the Air Force may only enlist you if you have a special skill set that is urgently required.
It will also depend on whether they need more personnel or not. If the former is true, then you are likely to get a waiver if your condition does not display significant symptoms that may hamper operations.
Can You Join The Navy If You Have Autism
The Navy is another branch of the military that has moderate policies as far as accepting autistics is concerned.
In order to join the Navy with autism, you first need to visit a specialist to determine the spectrum of the condition. The medical examiner will be able to discern whether your condition can affect your productivity at work or not.
Consulting a specialist before going through the recruitment process is important in view of the fact that various autism spectrums are disqualifying factors in the Navy.
Much like the Army, people with Aspergers syndrome have the upper hand when it comes to joining the Navy.
As it is the norm with most recruitment processes, all potential recruits must undergo testing at the Military Entrance Processing Station .
Here, you have to disclose to the recruiter about your condition and submit relevant documents to prove that you meet high mental, moral and medical standards despite your condition.
However, your diagnosis might first go through re-evaluation to determine your eligibility.
In addition, the re-evaluation report must indicate sufficient proof that your condition does not affect or interfere with your daily functioning.
You may also need to apply for a waiver, which might be determined on a case-by-case basis if the recruiter realizes that you have something to offer the nation.
You May Like: Will My 4 Year Old Autistic Son Ever Talk
Treatment For Autism In Little Rock
If you or your childs doctor are concerned about the presence of any of these symptoms or your child has been diagnosed with autism, Integrity, Inc. can help you find support services for children experiencing autism in Little Rock. Visit Integrity Inc. online or call us at 406-0442 to learn more. We can provide information about what autism is and how your child can lead a normal life.
How We Make Money
The offers that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within the listing categories. But this compensation does not influence the information we publish, or the reviews that you see on this site. We do not include the universe of companies or financial offers that may be available to you.
Read Also: What Type Of Mutation Causes Autism