Will autism effect getting my driver's licence?

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MagicMeerkat
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12 Apr 2012, 11:31 am

I'm reading the book thing the DMV gives you so you can "study" for the written part of the test. It says you are supposed to disclose any medical conditions one may have. Will I have to tell them I'm autistic? Also, would that play a role in me getting my licence or not?


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OddDuckNash99
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12 Apr 2012, 11:34 am

I'm not sure if you have to disclose AS or not, but if you're capable of driving well, I don't see how they could prevent you. People with all sorts of disabilities have driver's licenses. The only thing that would stop you is if your AS makes you physically unable to MASTER the driving in the first place. My severe visual-spatial deficits along with my OCD fears of doing something wrong make it impossible for me to learn to drive. But if I didn't have NVLD, I probably would be quite capable of learning to drive. It's an individual situation, I think.


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MagicMeerkat
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12 Apr 2012, 11:44 am

OddDuckNash99 wrote:
I'm not sure if you have to disclose AS or not, but if you're capable of driving well, I don't see how they could prevent you. People with all sorts of disabilities have driver's licenses. The only thing that would stop you is if your AS makes you physically unable to MASTER the driving in the first place. My severe visual-spatial deficits along with my OCD fears of doing something wrong make it impossible for me to learn to drive. But if I didn't have NVLD, I probably would be quite capable of learning to drive. It's an individual situation, I think.


But I don't have AS. I have HFA. Aparently there is a difference and that diffrence is a speech delay. I didn't speak until I was four or five.


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12 Apr 2012, 11:48 am

In the UK you have to disclose any syndrome or disease ONLY if it prevents you from driving safely. For my theory test I memorized all the questions and answers and passed it without any trouble. The practical part was a little bit different, I failed the first time, but was not really related to my driving skills. I was expecting one guy supervising me for 30 min, while driving the areas I already knew. Unluckily this guys' boss came along to supervise him. A yearly supervision or something like that. The change in my plans freaked me out and in the first turn I did a mistake (not making a complete stop for a cyclist lane, when no cyclist was around).
The second time I went 2 hours before my exam to see the person that was supposed to test me. That made a massive difference and by the end of the exam she said "this ride was a pleasure" (I asked if I passed or not, now I realize that was her way of telling me I passed).
I never told anybody about my AS. It is true that I have a lot of trouble judging distances, space. But once you get used to the car, you don't have to see, you just visualize the movement of the car in your mind. Just to be sure i'm always extremely careful.



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12 Apr 2012, 3:05 pm

In short, it does depend on you. I know people with AS who drive. My brother has it and my parents were advised that he would never drive due to his behaviour problems. Apparently, he is now able to apply for a driving licence. I can't drive due to my sight problems and know I would struggle due to hypersensitivity to light and noise.



shrox
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12 Apr 2012, 3:06 pm

Keep quiet about it.



Rascal77s
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12 Apr 2012, 3:59 pm

You know every time I go to DMV I see the same thing- A bunch of people sitting around waiting for hours while DMV employees stand around chit chatting and talking s**t about the people who are irritated because they've waited 2 hours, with nothing but gossiping DMV employees to entertain them, just to get sent to wait in a different line when it's finally their turn. But that's the new improved DMV, you should have seen what it was like in the olden days.

Do they disclose to us that they are a bunch of overpaid, under skilled, leeches who feed off the very taxpayers they have contempt for? No. So why should you give them anything else to gossip about. IMO don't tell them.



League_Girl
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12 Apr 2012, 4:10 pm

I didn't tell them I have AS when I got my license. Is autism even a medical condition? I don't think so.



tcorrielus
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12 Apr 2012, 8:27 pm

My AS never prevented me from driving on the road and getting my driver's license. To pass the road test, you must memorize the rules of the road, get used to a car that you want to drive, and practice driving on roads and highways until you feel comfortable driving.



Max000
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12 Apr 2012, 9:05 pm

MagicMeerkat wrote:
I'm reading the book thing the DMV gives you so you can "study" for the written part of the test. It says you are supposed to disclose any medical conditions one may have. Will I have to tell them I'm autistic? Also, would that play a role in me getting my licence or not?


The question that is usually asked is: "Do you have any medical conditions that may affect your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle?".

Hint: If you answer "yes", then you don't get your driver's license.



BuyerBeware
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12 Apr 2012, 9:11 pm

Keep your mouth shut.


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12 Apr 2012, 10:19 pm

I don't see the relevance, if you can drive well and safely enough to pass a test then surely that's enough!?


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littlelily613
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12 Apr 2012, 10:23 pm

I have classic autism, and I have a license. They drove in the car with me, observed that I knew how to drive, and gave me my license.


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Callista
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12 Apr 2012, 11:58 pm

Your ability to drive affects whether you get your driver's license. If you can't pass the test, then you don't get your license; if you can, you do. If you need some kind of accommodation, then you need to tell them when you take the test; but usually that only comes into play if you use things like hand controls or pedal extenders. Anyway, the question of whether you get your driver's license depends entirely on whether you can drive safely. Some autistic people can, some can't. Some need a lot more practice. A few are naturals. It depends on your particular skill set.

The only autism-related condition I can think of that would prevent you from getting a driver's license is uncontrolled epilepsy. If you have that, obviously you don't want to be having a seizure in the middle of the freeway. But I'm assuming that you don't have seizures. If you did, then that would be your big issue, not the autism.


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14 Apr 2012, 12:37 pm

MagicMeerkat wrote:
I'm reading the book thing the DMV gives you so you can "study" for the written part of the test. It says you are supposed to disclose any medical conditions one may have. Will I have to tell them I'm autistic? Also, would that play a role in me getting my licence or not?


No, you don't have to and you shouldn't.



Callista
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14 Apr 2012, 12:53 pm

There could be state laws involved.

You could ask, "If the medical condition doesn't affect my ability to drive, does it matter for the purposes of a driver's license?" And if the answer is no, then you shouldn't have to disclose it.


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