Additional Training our Instructor has Undertaken
Disability Driving Instructors - Specific Educational Needs Course
Unit 1: Introduction to the role of the SEN instructor
Unit 2: Theoretical guide to neurodiversity part 1
Unit 3: Theoretical guide to neurodiversity part 2
Unit 4: Practical guide to neurodiversity
Unit 5: Neurodiversity and Anxiety
Unit 6: Practical guide to anxiety
San Harper - Mindfulness Coach and ADI - More Info available here
Covering:
- Understanding Human Behaviour
- Meditation Mastery
- Emotional Management and Stress
These additional skills allows us to identify when it may be getting too much. Sometimes the need to stop and practice some Mindfulness is necessary. Alternatively the learning style and approach is modified depending on presentation of issues during training in and out of the car.
Julia Malkin MBE - ADI with Autism and ADHD - More Info available here
ADHD, Learning and Driving
Covering:
- How to support ADHD people and the difficulties they face behind the wheel of a car
- See the road through the eyes of a person with ADHD
- Communication, setting goals, confidence and preparation for the test
Having undertaken this additional training means that there is a real understanding of what can be altered to make the learning process more manageable for a person with ADHD, things that can work depending on situation and issues presented:
- Use of visual story boards (see here for some examples)
- Taking regular breaks including movement breaks to help reset
- Getting out of the car to watch traffic at a difficult junction - this takes away the stress of the car control whilst allowing focus on a new element or skill (eg. Gap Judgement, etc.)
- Swapping driver, making the pupil commentate on what is happing - again without the stress of the car control
- Breaking down new techniques into smaller manageable chunks
- Using positive reinforcement at every opportunity
- As with all Client Centred Driver training the pupil is heavily involved in the goal setting
- Identifying early a "Comfort Zone" of driving that can be used to return to to help reset if stress levels are high