1 post tagged “driving”

The way autism affects the lives of my family never ends.  Just when I think we've had a good few days, the phone rings or we get another letter reminding me that my family isn't "normal". 

My 18-year-old son wants to learn to drive.  He signed up for driving school in February, but being in a classroom setting was too stressful for him.  The driving instructor just called me and said they had an opening in a class starting next week.  I said we'd have to consider other options because of the classroom setting, and the instructor told me all the awful things about not taking the classes, mostly that getting hands-on driving instruction only would cost $50 per lesson and he wouldn't qualify for the certificate from driving school that would save us lots on our car insurance when I add him to the policy.

At which point I lost my temper a bit.  See, Mr. Driving Instructor, this isn't about money.  This is about my son's mental health.  I'm sure you thought you were helping me see the big picture, but what you were really doing was pounding home to me, again, that we're different and because of that it will cost us lots more money (as usual) and we don't get the benefits that "normal" people get (as usual).  Thanks so much.