There are many incredible drivers who suffer from dyslexic symptoms - Jackie Stewart is just one great example. However many affected by these symptoms find that the co-ordination required for good driving never becomes “automatic”. This means they are likely to go into “overload” in stressful situations when driving and are likely to hold their hand on the horn for a while or make other impulsive reactions.
If such a person gets stopped by the police their impulsive reactions can get dramatically worse! If they are asked to stand on one leg or walk along a straight line the lack of co-ordination from their vestibular/cerebellar often means that this is difficult or even impossible to do. There have been many cases of dyspraxic sufferers accused of being under the influence when it is nothing of the sort - through no fault of their own, they are like that all day every day.
If such a person gets stopped by the police their impulsive reactions can get dramatically worse! If they are asked to stand on one leg or walk along a straight line the lack of co-ordination from their vestibular/cerebellar often means that this is difficult or even impossible to do. There have been many cases of dyspraxic sufferers accused of being under the influence when it is nothing of the sort - through no fault of their own, they are like that all day every day.
3 comments:
Dear Wynford,
It took me 4 attempts to pass my driving test and all this time I have thought of myself as useless.
Through my 35 years I have acquired all the hurtfull labels of thick, slow, lazy and boring. The feeling of having no confidence and not being able to fit in has always led to a lonely life.
Upon recently reading your book I can connect with much of what has been written. I now realise I have been exhibiting signs of CDD throughout my life.
I am hoping to change all this and embark upon your programme very soon. I am so thankfull for all your hard work and perseverance. Your presence in this world is a gift to everyone.
Kind regards,
Alan Barbero
Dear Wynford,
I am dyspraxic and have been learning to drive ( on and off, mostly off) for fourteen years. I have never taken a driving test.
I got my provisional licence with oh so much enthusiasm at 21, but was too damn scared to learn for fear of my own effect on other road users. I have poor spatial awareness- I bump into people in the street and create havoc with a grocery cart. I also have difficulties multi tasking, though I have good days and bad days. On a good day, I feel I can conquer the world and that I'm on fire, multitasking to my hearts content. On a bad day, I feel like my head will explode if someone interupts a sentence, of if the radio distracts me. There's just too much genius at work in my brain, see? !
My first driving instructor was obsessed with describing every mechanical detail- i.e as you change gear the cogs are doing this, and blah blah blah. I thought I was going mad. I once pulled over into a layby to let him finish his monologue whilst I worked out how to turn on the windscreen wipers.
I wasn't identified with dyspraxia until I was 31. Suddenly everything made sense- why I became so easily stressed, how I couldn't cope with noisy pubs, why I would get so confused in meetings. I believe I had already developed incredible coping mechanisms, but suddenly here was a chance to grasp dyspraxia with every positive cell in my body. Now I recognise that the way in which my wonderful haphazard brain works is the very reason why I am also incredibly creative, why I know an awful lot of things that most people don't remember ( but don't remember the major things that most people know!), and how I have such a vivid imagination that I can dream up writings and pictures that earn me a part time living alongside my main job. And with a bit of determination, and working with it rather than fighting it, I've now held down my career for five years, and taken higher qualifications with more in the pipeline.
To anyone reading this who is dyspraxic, then congratulations ! You have the gift of a wonderfully chaotic mind. Find ways to work with it. Recognize that you will have good and bad days. Identify all the coping strategies you have already developed without realizing it, and develop new ones if you can.
I'm about to start learning to drive again though. Wish me, and all the other road users, the very best of luck!
Hi,my name is Ian and I'm a driving instructor in the U.K.
I am currently teaching a man with dyspraxia.Can anyone hepl me?
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