Driving can present unique challenges to those with autism; and, while there are no legal regulations regarding individuals with ASD around driving, there are a few things to consider when teaching someone with autism how to drive! If you have a child or a loved one with autism, we can help give them the skills they need to be independent and perform everyday tasks, like driving, safely and efficiently. ACES offers our patients custom autism and ABA therapy plans to help improve their lives and, as a result, the lives of those surrounding them! Here are some considerations for those with autism learning to drive.

Fine Motor Skills

People with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) tend to not develop the fine motor skills required to drive safely as well as someone without autism. Skills like controlling a gas or brake pedal, carefully turning the wheel to guide a car around a corner, or quickly reacting to changing road conditions, are all things that someone with autism may struggle with. While these may be more difficult to master, your child can absolutely be taught how to do these things well if they want to!

Interpreting the Environment

Driving is a semi-social activity as every driver needs to interact with other drivers, react to decisions made by others, and interpret road signs and other communication! While this can be a lot for someone with autism to take in, our ABA therapy programs are able to teach people with autism the skills they need to do this well and safely drive on the road. If you have a child or a loved one with autism, bring them to one of our ACES locations to help them learn social skills and the ability to react to changing social situations.

Driver Communication

Communication is a big deal on the road, whether that is letting another driver know what you're doing or taking in information from another driver. This is something that people with autism tend to struggle with and can make it difficult for them to drive safely. If someone you know with autism is struggling to communicate well, our ACES autism therapy can help them to socialize and communicate well so they can be independent, whether that's on the road or in the classroom!

Fear

One of the hardest things for someone to overcome is fear. When it comes to driving, it can be very overwhelming for someone with autism to get on the road. This can often become a big roadblock and make it difficult for someone with ASD to learn to drive. This can be overcome, however, with skill improvements and ABA therapy! Reach out to ACES today to get started with improving skills and maybe overcoming fears.

While driving is not for everyone, people with autism are often able to safely communicate with drivers, operate a vehicle, and react to changing conditions. Many times, these skills need to be taught. At ACES, our incredible autism therapists are able to teach your child or loved one the skills needed to eventually start driving if that's what they want to do! Find an ACES location near you to get started today!