The Missing Link: Why Standard Learner Driver Books, Guides and Manuals Fail Autistic and SEND Learners
- Simon Harrison
- Oct 15
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 16
The Missing Link: Why Standard Learner Driver Books, Guides and Manuals Fail Autistic and SEND Learners
Learning to drive is supposed to be a journey toward freedom and independence, but for many autistic and neurodiverse learners, it often feels like a road paved with sensory overload, communication barriers, and intense anxiety.
Standard driving guides and traditional instruction simply weren't designed with these challenges in mind. They focus on the what (the rules of the road) but completely ignore the how (how a neurodiverse person processes, feels, and learns behind the wheel).
We created a book to bridge that gap.
Why not listen to our podcast about my book on Spotify
Introducing: The First Guide Designed for Understanding, Not Pressure 💚
Autism – The Road to Driving: A Supportive Guide for Autistic and SEND Learners isn’t a generalized rule book—it's a compassionate companion for those who experience the world, and the road, differently.
Written by Simon J. Harrison, a specialist who is both a qualified driving instructor and an alternative therapist/educator, this book draws on years of experience to create a calm, structured, and genuinely supportive learning framework.
"Many learners on the autism spectrum experience the world — and the road — differently," says Simon. "This book helps them, and those supporting them, to find calm, confidence, and independence through understanding, not pressure.”
It’s Not One Book, It’s Three Essential Guides
To provide support at every stage, the book is uniquely structured into three accessible parts, ensuring it meets the needs of learners, parents, and professionals:
1. The Simplified Illustrated Step-by-Step Guide
A clear, visual introduction to the driving journey. This section helps learners prepare, find their comfort zone, and understand how lessons can be adapted to fit them—not the other way around. It includes vital, practical tools like the P.O.R. Plan (Pull Over and Reset) for managing sensory overload and anxiety.
2. Linnea’s Driving Map: A Relatable Story
A short, illustrated story that follows Linnea, an autistic learner, on her journey from her first lesson to achieving independence. This is a gentle, empowering way for learners to see themselves in her progress and understand that confidence grows with repetition and structure.
3. The Detailed Professional Handbook
This section is a comprehensive, research-informed guide for learners, parents, and driving instructors. It dives deep into everything from managing sensory needs and test anxiety (including CBT, NLP, and mindfulness tools) to legal steps, reasonable adjustments, and strategies for instructors supporting neurodiverse students.
Why This Book Matters: You Deserve Confidence
This is the first book that truly bridges the worlds of driver education and neurodiversity.
It acknowledges that autism and SEND are not barriers to learning to drive—they simply shape how a person experiences the world. By providing the right structure, empathy, and tools, every learner can achieve success.
This book is for:
Autistic and SEND learners preparing to start lessons.
Parents or carers supporting a neurodiverse learner driver.
Driving instructors committed to inclusive, sensory-aware teaching.
Driving with confidence starts with understanding.
Autism – The Road to Driving: A Supportive Guide for Autistic and SEND Learners is available now on Amazon in paperback and Kindle.
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