MBE given to Julia Malkin for special needs services – photos now available!!

31/12/2010 — exceldia

Nearly a year after ‘Autistic Driving School’ was filmed, Julia Malkin received an MBE in the 2011 New Year Honours List for her services to people with special needs.

The MBE stands for ‘Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire,’ and Julia was one of 606 recipients of this honour in the New Year 2011 list.

The Investiture took place on Tuesday, 1st March 2011.  Pictured is Julia with The Queen in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace, just after being Invested into Membership of the Order.

The MBE was reported in the Leicester Mercury on 31st December 2010  - click on the link to read it!

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Unsung-heroes-join-stars-honoured-Queen/article-3052739-detail/article.html

You can also see details on page 7 of a Leicestershire magazine, at http://idocs.blaby.gov.uk/external/news-information/contact/contact-issue-07-spring.pdf

Details were also in the Despatch e-zine for driving instructors, at http://resources.govdelivery.com/resources/UKDSA/dsa_despatch_february2011.pdf – on page 5, or click on ‘Spotlight’ at top of page.

The MBE is the greatest achievement yet for Julia and Excel Academy.

Let this MBE stand as proof of evidence that people with autism can succeed, regardless of the odds against them, and also let this be an example to the world in general so people will not write us off!!

On receipt of the MBE, 1st March 2011, 12.30pm.

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Thanks everyone, for helping Excel Academy campaign for autistic pupils!

24/11/2010 — exceldia

From January 2012, learner drivers will no longer have access to the official theory test questions used in the theory exam.  At present, pupils can revise questions before the test, but as from the above date only ‘practice’ questions will be available.

Many pupils with an autistic spectrum condition (ASC) will have difficulties passing the theory test under these conditions unless extra support is laid on for them.  This is because they need the meaning of the questions explained to them prior to test, so they know what the questions ask of them.  Without this support, only a few will be able to pass.

The DSA, as a result of the campaigning by Excel Academy, has agreed to have the exam questions checked in advance of January 2012 to bring them in line with the communication needs of a candidate with an ASC.  This would not have been possible with your help, and all credit is due to you for backing Excel Academy’s campaign.

What Julia Malkin has achieved, as one of the UK’s most highly qualified and decorated driving instructors, is proof of what a person with autism and Asperger syndrome can do.  The DSA has now come to appreciate this fact.


‘Thanks for all who have backed Excel Academy’s campaign and signed the petition!  Thanks to you pupils with autism have a chance to drive!’ 

- Julia Malkin MBE, September 2011

 

Together we have ensured that pupils with an ASC can continue to have the right to drive and pass the tests!!  Well done everyone!!

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BBC3′s ‘Autistic Driving School’ video clips

03/06/2010 — exceldia

With thanks to Firecracker Films for allowing permission for these clips to be shown.

Here are 4 excerpts from ‘Autistic Driving School.’

Trailer from ‘Autistic Driving School.’

Julia’s Story

This is part of the documentary, ‘Autistic Driving School’ which was broadcast on BBC3. It tells the story of Julia Malkin, the most qualified driving instructor in the UK.  It shows her battle with autism and her mission of inclusion in education both inside and outside the driver training industry.

Julia and Sarah

This excerpt from ‘Autistic Driving School’ shows Julia Malkin meeting and teaching Sarah Ponari from Birmingham.  Sarah has Asperger syndrome and hasn’t driven for several years. What this clip doesn’t tell you is that the whole session of film you will see was done on the day Julia and Sarah first met each other.

The ‘Revolutions’ Course for ADIs 

Teaching pupils with autism can present a challenge for driving instructors.  In this part of Autistic Driving School, Julia is going through sequences of her award-winning ‘Revolutions’ course with another ADI.  Julia is playing the part of an autistic pupil in a real-life on-road situation.

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Exceldia in the Leicester Mercury

27/05/2010 — exceldia

Julia Malkin was interviewed by the Leicester Mercury in May 2010 following the success of ‘Autistic Driving School’ on BBC3.  This article was published on May 22nd, 2010.

Read the original article at http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Long-road-redemption/article-2189524-detail/article.html

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Excel on the Box!

15/04/2010 — exceldia
Autistic Driving School

Autistic Driving School

Julia will soon be in a BBC3 TV programme called  ‘Autistic Driving School’  to be broadcast as part of the ‘Living with Autism’ season starting Thursday 22nd April 2010.

For this show, Julia had to be filmed with two pupils she had never taught before – one from Birmingham and one from Wellingborough.  Both these pupils have  autism.

Filming involved long and tiring schedules including going to Nottingham to film a presentation on autism at Nottingham Trent University and also part of the ‘Revolutions’ course for driving instructors - including a live panic attack in a moving vehicle to test the control of another driving instructor!

This will be shown on BBC3 at the following times:

  • Thursday 29th April at 9.00pm
  • Thursday 29th April at 11.45pm
  • Sunday 2nd May at 9.00pm.

Watch the trailer fro the show at http://www.firecrackerfilms.com/broadcast/autistic-driving-school/

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