Have you ever heard of Steve, the car instructor? Let me tell you, this guy is a total legend. Here's why…
So, my son Bailey—who is neurodivergent and, like most teens, loves to drive—had his first driving lesson with someone who talked at him for 30 minutes straight. They bombarded him with lengthy, intricate sentences for thirty minutes while he sat in the car. If you know Bailey, you can imagine his eyes rolling from boredom and inability to take it all in.
After that lesson, he was more confused than ever.
Enter Steve, the legend of driving instructors. Bailey passed his P's test on his first attempt on Monday, after just two lessons! Let's not underestimate his dad's ability as an exceptionally skilled driver who is also teaching him.
So, what’s Steve’s secret? After talking with him, we can all gain the following knowledge about instructing someone with learning difficulties:
Keep it simple. He broke everything down into simple strategies and used no more than three steps per instruction—something Bailey could actually retain and remember.
Let them move. Instead of talking for ages, Steve let Bailey drive while slowing the process down, so he felt in control the entire time.
Show compassion and relate to them. This was HUGE. Steve connected with Bailey by sharing relatable stories, like how he’s coached some of his own mates. It made all the difference. For my little dopamine chaser, it kept him engaged and interested.
Safety is always the top concern for a parent when your child is behind the wheel. Steve’s approach to that was next-level. Here’s the part that really stuck with me: Steve showed up at our doorstep last night, gave Bailey a thoughtful gift, and had a heartfelt concern about car safety. He discussed the potency of a car and teens' susceptibility to peer influence, and urged Bailey to avoid taking on any risky challenges. That token Steve gave him was a reminder to stay alert and safe.
Honestly, I was so moved. It's vital for teens to have someone of influence in their lives, not just their parents words, and he truly cared. And the kicker? We only had two lessons with him. This wasn’t about making money. Steve’s genuine dedication to keeping our community safe was clear and incredibly refreshing.
If you live on the Northern Beaches in Sydney, I can’t recommend Steve enough. He doesn’t just prepare your kids for their driving test—he gives them tools they’ll remember, along with the confidence to handle the stress of the test itself.
And here's a takeaway for those of us working with neurodivergent people in any area of life: find the right leader, the one who gets you, and they’ll help bring out those superpowers. When Bailey is hyper-focused, there’s nothing he can’t do. It just takes the right person to help him—and anyone else—unlock their full potential.
Be safe out there B boy! 💪🏼
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