BMV Revisited: A Driving Desire to Drive

Son Fickle Fan just flunked the written driver's ed test. And he's okay with that. So are we. 

For months, FF and I have been wending our way through the Indiana Rules of the Road manual in preparation for the Bureau of Motor Vehicle's multiple choice test. We'd go through a chapter or a few pages whenever I had a day off work that wasn't otherwise crammed with appointments. So he's been prepping for this for awhile, but he also knew from the get-go that:

• he might not pass the test on the first try.
• he can take it again.
• passing the test does not necessarily mean he will ultimately get his driver's license.

For those of you newbies, who've just joined us, FF already has his state ID card from the BMV. You can read about that experience here. 

The fact that he was just fine with not passing the test today is in itself a victory. No meltdown. No outrage. No extreme disappointment. We actually went out for lunch afterward to celebrate the fact that he'd taken the test. It's that level of maturity that gives me a lot of hope. 

Let's detour here a little, though. Am I shocking a few of my readers out there? Are you turning blue at the thought of someone on the autism spectrum driving through the streets of your town? First of all, you shouldn't be. More and more Aspie adults (including Daughter Dearest) are on the roads. See this recent NY Times article on the subject.  Moreover, a study from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia indicates that adolescent drivers on the spectrum actually have fewer accidents than their neurotypical peers,  possibly because many of them are very cautious and are sticklers for rules, and many tend to drive short distances, avoiding highways or traffic congested areas. 

Secondly, having a driver's license can make a huge difference in the ability of a person to live an independent life--go to college, live in an apartment, run to Target and "do the Dew" whenever they want, and (most importantly) get a job where they don't have to be dependent on public transportation. You would be amazed at the number of people with disabilities who have to get up in the wee hours of the morning to catch a 6 a.m. bus so that they can transfer and bus hop across town to work at their jobs. You probably wouldn't be as surprised to learn that a lack of flexible transportation is one of the primary obstacles to getting and keeping a good job. 

So, yes, we support FF in his dream to get a driver's license. But do we worry about that? Have ya read this blog before!?! Of course I'm worrying! It's what I do.

He actually squeaked by and passed the rules section of the test today but had too many wrong answers on the road signs section. But, knowing FF, he will pass the test. He now knows what he needs to study and he'll get it done. Plus he admitted to lots of stomach churning this time. He was nervous. Now that he knows the routine, he'll be much more at ease next time out. 

Then what? Oddly, the Indiana public school system no longer requires or even offers driver's ed. Not sure when or why that went away--budget cuts, liability, beats me. So Hoosier teens can either pay to take driver's ed with a private instructor or company, or they can just take the written test on their own and then obtain their required 50 hours of driving practice with white-knuckled parents or another responsible, eligible grown-up.  

I would've preferred group training instruction for FF combined with simulator driving before he ever has a set of keys placed into his hands. Neither of the private instructors in town offers simulator training. But Easter Seals Crossroads in Indianapolis does and last time I checked (admittedly it was awhile ago) so did a hospital located about an hour from us. Both have programs specificaly designed to teach people with disabilities how to drive. From what I had heard, individuals who've passed the written test can appy for a slot in the training program, but there may be a long wait until they're admitted to the program. I also know that this is another service we'll be paying for out of pocket. 

But one of the most important reasons to use the instructors at Crossroads is that they'll make the ultimate call as to whether or not FF should get a license at all. They're in a better position to assess his level of judgement, focus, abilty to make quick decisions, and all the other components of good driving that could be challenging for him. No matter how many hours of training and drive time someone logs in, he/she may not, ultimately, be able to be a safe driver. Having that decision come from a trained third party is extremely important. 

Meanwhile, we're still trying to log in some bus-riding practice.