Alice and Eleni I'm Different: Let Me Drive

First, this car is in neutral. It's secured. And my eyes and ears?

Are they in the middle of the head restraint?

They are now, yes.

Every year in Britain,

over a million and a half young people learn to drive.

You don't have to get on the bus or a train.

Around 50,000 of them have a disability.

Go to the toilet. Go to the toilet.

They would think, "Honestly,

"what's he doing slowing down when he doesn't need to?"

But this isn't stopping them.

There'll be people out there who go like,

"Oh, you can't do this because you're autistic."

If they don't like it, they should stay off the road, then.

But it does make things a little more challenging.

Now would be a good time to twitch.

'Potentially, if I twitch, I could kill someone.'

I feel like I want to stop now.

-You want to stop?

-Yeah.

HORN BLARES

Passing their test will change their lives.

I can drive to the music concert

and I can see Boy George and...

Dale Winton.

Visit every single Scottish wind turbine.

From first lessons...

Whee!

CAR HORN BLASTS

Did he just beep at me?

Stop!

Oh, my God!

-Oh, my God!

-Sorry.

That was very efficient.

..to the day they take their test...

You have got your driving licence with you, haven't you?

-I haven't.

-No! No!

No! No!

..the road to success is no easy ride.

I just need to pass.

I hate walking.

BRAKES SCREECH

Do you have sugar in your tea now, Alice?

Yeah, three, please.

-Three?!

-Yeah.

-You don't need three.

20-year-old Alice lives at home with her mum,

and has just started learning to drive.

How long have you been driving, Alice?

I think about three, four weeks now.

-Are you going to come and have some tea?

-Yeah.

I thought that with her nerves and with her autism and Tourette's,

I didn't think she'd be able to do it.

I thought she would have a massive meltdown, but she hasn't.

She's really impressed me.

This is her. One pound four.

Alice was born 13 weeks prematurely

and her mum was told her new baby probably wouldn't live.

This machine is actually breathing for her.

I look like a little baby alien.

Your head would fit in my hand, that's how tiny you was.

Your head would fit in there.

And look at you now, learning to drive.

At the moment, I'm biking everywhere and walking

and when it's wet weather, like it was yesterday,

it really frustrates me cos I always look at these cars going past

and go, "Oh, I wish I really had one at the moment."

Today, Alice is taking her fourth driving lesson

with instructor Graham.

Off the brake, a little gas.

Oh, God!

-Just relax.

-What have I done?

-Just relax.

Pull that down and then let go.

Clutch up slowly.

Alice wants to drive to be more independent,

but her mum has another reason. She's seriously ill.

When the doctor first said to me about what I'd got wrong,

the myelofibrosis, and explained to me what it was,

the first thing I said to him was,

"But I've got to live for my daughter."

And it was the first thing that comes to my mind.

This is part of the plan, isn't it?

To get Alice to drive and become independent.

That is what my whole aim is, yeah.

If the worst happens, then she can cope and manage without me.

For Alice to pass her test and gain independence,

she has to stop being overcautious.

She hasn't driven over 30 yet

and Graham wants to teach her to increase her speed.

A little bit more gas because we're in that 40 zone we want to be.

I feel like I want to stop now.

-You want to stop?

-Yeah.

Do you feel uncomfortable?

-Mm-hm.

-Yeah?

I think it's because I know I've got to go a bit faster.

You can do it.

We can do it together, can't we?

Mm-hm.

Then we're going to go gear number four, which is straight back.

I don't feel good.

You can beat that record from last lesson.

-No, I really don't feel good.

-Are you all right?

Talk to me, sweetheart.

I don't feel good.

You've beaten your record, you've got up to 45,

so you've done that without thinking about it, so you CAN do it.

I think it's because I need someone to talk to, sort of relax me,

-rather than sitting completely silent.

-Yeah.

Coming in to the left.

Straightening up onto the...

Clutch down.

Yes.

-That was kind of fun.

-Engine off.

Wow! Well done.

You should be proud of that.

KNOCK AT DOOR

That could be Tracey.

30-year-old Eleni...

Hello, Tracey, are you all right?

..has been learning to drive on and off for five years.

Her instructor, Tracey, has arrived to take her for a lesson...

..but before she can get in a car, she has to deal with her nerves.

What is it you're taking?

It's an anxiety tablet prescribed by my GP.

Eleni was told she had a condition when she was 22.

Asperger's syndrome is a communication difficulty on the autistic spectrum.

That's why my brain is on the go 24/7,

like a set of bongo drums, if I'm honest with you.

Going 80mph as though I was doing 200mph down the M1.

She can get very anxious when things start happening around her.

She sometimes thinks of hazards that are not hazards,

so she tends to get a little bit anxious when she sees

lots of things and her mind is all over the place.

Tracey has been teaching Eleni for the last year

and wants to find a way to control her anxiety.

Shut the world out.

Eleni's driving time.

OK? So we might need to do some deep breathing

-as you're driving down the road.

-Yes.

-You and me the same.

In through the nose, out through the mouth. OK?

It doesn't take long for Eleni's nerves to get the better of her.

-Are you OK?

-I'll live!

BOTH LAUGH

-Just a couple of deep breaths.

-To say the least, yes.

-Deep breaths.

Sometimes I get very anxious and stressed out

when people aren't getting out of your way

because when you're loaded with pedestrians on the road,

the one thing you can't do is rush on the road

unless you want a collision,

in which case, thank you, but no thank you, not today.

When Eleni gets anxious, she forgets to breathe.

Are you OK?

-Yes.

-Yeah? Are you still doing that breathing?

I heard you holding your breath for a second, there.

I thought you were going to go purple on me.

OK?

My chest starts to hurt to begin with.

I'm a fraction shaky in my fingertips and my arms,

but sometimes the roads are very unpredictable.

You never know who's going to be on them,

what the person or the dog, in some cases, is going to be doing.

You've got vans and cars and fire engines

in places you don't want them to be.

Let it roll forwards a little bit.

Gently bring it to the stop.

Keep your feet still, handbrake, so bottom to top.

Switch off.

And breathe. Well done.

-OK, how was that, then?

-All right.

I'll take another pill before I go to bed tonight, but anyway...

You want your pan?

Alice's mum wants to teach her daughter life skills

in case her illness gets worse and Alice has to support herself.

Have you washed your hands?

MUM LAUGHS

-INTERVIEWER:

-What's it like living with your mum?

Um...stressful at times.

Fun, but stressful

because we argue a lot.

-Are you going to have a go at doing an omelette?

-Yes.

OK. You want to tip that in there.

TIMER BLEEPS

That's going to be disgusting.

Why is it going to be disgusting?

Like a pancake, you've got to do it quick. Don't tinker with it.

No... Alice, Alice!

You're going to burn yourself like that.

You're going to burn yourself like that.

There's no point getting stressed, is there, doing it?

-Stupid!

-Well, you know, there's no point getting stressed.

-Alice.

-No.

I'll give her a few minutes, she'll calm down.

Do you stress your mum out?

Yeah, a lot.

Why?

Um...

I think a lot of people with special needs are a lot to handle,

more than a mainstream person.

Come on, you can do lots of things, Alice.

I know you can do lots of things.

Today, they have got... Let's take a look at the date, shall we?

They've got master data manager.

OK, IT application management officer...

Eleni is searching for vacancies online.

She's been trying to get a job in IT for the last seven years

but has found it tough going.

So you're looking for a job?

Yes, I'm looking to build a career in IT support.

And I will not stop until somebody gives me a yes.

How many job applications have you done?

Would you like a list?

SHE LAUGHS

No, well, I would say a few thousand, to say the least,

-to be honest with you.

-A few thousand?

Yes, well, I do say a few thousand is a rough estimate.

I've actually lost count. I've had so many interviews.

It's not just in England. I went all the way round Eastern Europe,

so we're talking Macedonia, Romania, Czechoslovakia,

Belarus, Russia, Romania, Ukraine...

..Kosovo.

Anywhere around the world that you can think of, basically,

until somebody gave me a yes.

Sadly, that didn't happen either.

Eleni's learning to drive to improve her chances of employment.

If and when I pass my test and I'm successful,

I will be getting a job.

-Do you think it will help?

-It will help tremendously, Guy,

yes, it will, because many employers these days, if one doesn't have

a driving licence, one loses out on the opportunity anyway.

Come on, then, Alice.

-Let's go for a drive.

-Have a good drive, Alice.

-Bye, Mum.

-Be careful.

Alice is comfortable driving over 30 now

but her next challenge is keeping her concentration when she drives.

When we get to the end of this road, we're going to go right, please.

Nice houses. Got to keep my eyes on the road.

So, you're looking at houses -

that put your position of your car just slightly wrong,

so you've got to keep focused on the road and your driving.

Then we're going to take the next road...

Alice's plan is to leave home and get her own flat.

She's started to look at potential properties...during her lessons.

Oh, God, hit the kerb.

Weren't looking then, sorry.

-Pull up on the left after this road for me, Alice, please.

-All right.

A little way just past it.

Right, when we came out of that junction,

you just said you weren't looking.

What distracted you?

The houses, the flats, I don't know. They distracted me.

But you are driving a car,

so where should your attention be?

Where the road is. Could have knocked someone off the pavement.

Yes, you're quite right.

So I need you to learn from that,

that when you're coming out of a road,

you've got to be totally focused on your positioning

and not let your eyes wander at houses and other things. Yeah?

-Mm-hm.

-OK, good girl.

Eleni's in a catch-22.

She needs to drive to get a job,

but without a job, she's struggling to afford her lessons.

So, how do you pay for your driving lessons?

Job-seeker's.

-Yes.

-Job-seeker's?

-How much is that?

-£144 every two weeks.

At £30 a lesson, she needs to get a job, and fast.

When I get into full-time permanent employment with an actual company,

then I can take more driving lessons.

Today, Eleni's got an interview with an IT recruitment firm.

Take a good look at that. See if you've got anything to offer me

on a contractor basis. Anything above three months or three months,

I'd be happy to take it on.

Sure, OK. Do you...? I think you mentioned when you came in,

but do you drive? Do you have a car?

I'm learning to drive as we speak.

So driving is one of those things where it can be really,

really important. If you're looking for roles like this,

it gives you a lot more opportunity.

-Flexibility and broadness.

-Absolutely.

-Thank you very much and have a good afternoon.

-You too.

-I'm out of here. Thank you.

-No worries.

He was very pleasant. I'd say the gentleman was very helpful, I have to say.

Do you think he can get you a job?

Yes, and of course, as soon as I have a job,

the sooner I can gain some more driving lessons

and then buy myself a car as soon as possible,

if it means getting myself into employment,

and I can broaden my horizons and go anywhere I please to work

rather than having to rely on public transport forevermore.

Eleni does find some money for another lesson...

..but the bad weather is making her extra anxious.

I don't think I like driving in the rain.

-What bit don't you like?

-All this.

-All of it?

-It's horrible.

-It's just chaotic today, isn't it?

There's usually more cars on the road, as well,

because people don't want to walk anywhere.

SHE SIGHS

What we can do here is, because we're coming to a 60 zone,

we can do what's called a blocked gear change,

so you can go from gear two

straight up to gear five because of the hill.

-So, clutch down...

-OK.

-..into gear five.

-So neutral...

-Yeah.

-Over to you.

-Yeah.

-Over to you. Over...

Over to you. Don't panic.

Tracey's strategy to calm Eleni down

is to get her to concentrate on her breathing.

-Oh, my God!

-How does that feel?

-Like a roller-coaster.

You're going about 50 there, so how is it feeling?

Do that breathing. Now back onto your gas.

That's it, well done. Anything you don't like the feel of,

just do your breathing for me.

That's it, go on.

-BOTH LAUGH

-Stop it.

Right, shall we focus again?

Oh, dear. You do make me laugh.

Somebody has to.

Alice and Eleni are both desperate to take their driving test

but there's a problem.

You've got an hour, OK?

Neither of them have passed their theory test yet.

Eleni has already failed four tests and this is Alice's first attempt.

43 out of 50 you need to get and you got 39,

so you're four questions away from passing.

It was literally 39 out of 43.

I was so close.

On Alice's third attempt...

-Did you pass?

-No!

-What have you got?

-I've got to get two more on my bloomin' video.

But I did pass on my questions.

She hasn't passed the hazard perception this time.

Oh, Alice.

And things don't go much better for Eleni.

One point off a pass.

Much better, but, you know...

..I'll have to do it again. I'm not giving up. Why should I give up?

I enjoy what I do too much to give up.

One point. Me and one point. Come on, I can do it.

So, it'll be seventh time lucky?

Yes.

Read the answer to see what it says.

I'm reading it.

But when you click the thing and it comes up correct,

it gives you a bit of information telling you about the sign.

Alice has failed her test three times

and is giving up hope of ever passing.

38.

Oh, no.

-She needs 43, is it?

-43 is the pass. 43 and above.

-Hey, Alice, remember...

-I don't care about it.

-No.

-You passed a mainstream course.

-And?

-You passed it.

-And?

-So you can pass driving.

-And?

-And you can pass driving.

Yeah, and?

I don't care.

-Yes, you do care.

-I don't care.

Some people who haven't got problems, Alice,

take far many more times than you've taken.

Doesn't mean you can't do it

just because you've failed on a few questions,

it doesn't mean you can't do it.

You've just got to work at it again and do it again.

How many do you need this time?

Two.

She only needs two more.

CAR STALLS

Even though Alice hasn't passed her theory yet,

Graham wants to see how her driving's progressing

and gives her a mock test.

-(What have I done?)

-Knock it down again.

That's it.

-Sorry.

-It's OK.

Oh, my God!

A pedestrian's walked into the road.

(Stupid...)

Gear.

SHE EXHALES

Well done.

Don't want to kill her!

Scared me.

Oh!

Sorry.

Pull up on the left, outside home.

Did she pass?

Unfortunately, not today.

However, she's done some really, really good stuff.

Something that wasn't planned was an emergency stop

-for a pedestrian running out in front of you.

-Mm-hm.

It frightened you, didn't it? But if you can pass that theory test

and we can get a test slot before the end of this year,

I really think you can do it.

Alice and her stepdad arrive

for Alice's fifth attempt at her theory test.

We are a little bit early, but, you know, it's OK.

Eleni goes in for her seventh go

and her mum's come along to give her support.

Most people just come because they want to drive a car.

For Eleni, it means so much more.

It's for her own self-esteem and her own self-confidence, I think,

that she needs to do this.

-I passed!

-Wa-hey! Let's have a look, let's have a look!

48 out of 50. Oh, well done, babe!

Bless you. You've tried so hard, haven't you?

Hey? You tried so hard and it paid off.

Look, you've got me crying now. Stop it.

Four years of hell.

Great, first the car, then the job.

I'm on the go.

Oh, a smile.

Big, beaming smile. So?

-I passed.

-Well done!

Am I allowed to give you a cuddle?

Well done!

-I've texted Mum.

-You did it!

That's brilliant. Great. Now we can move on now.

You did it!

I told you you could do it if you put some effort in.

Come here.

You did it, you did it!

Over the next few weeks,

Alice and Eleni work hard to become better drivers.

Oh, shit.

Where do you think it would help you if you were looking?

-That way.

-Yeah.

And stop.

-TYRES SCREECH

-Ooh.

That was very efficient.

Graham decides to set a test for Alice

to see if she can stop being distracted by houses.

This is where you're hoping to be living, is it?

-Down here somewhere?

-On the right.

We're just going to keep going past.

-We're not actually going to go in, but this is the area, yeah?

-Mm-hm.

Good, well done. Concentrated on the driving, which is good.

Left at the end, please.

-TRACEY:

-Take a nice deep breath in through the nose.

BOTH INHALE

Tracey increases Eleni's breathing exercises to help with her anxiety.

-That feels relaxing.

-Just do a few more.

Mm. OK, let's drive.

You're doing really well.

-You know what? You're focusing so much, I'm not hearing...

-TRACEY INHALES DEEPLY

Yeah? Cos you're doing really well.

You're focusing on what your car is doing.

After a year of lessons, it's the day of Alice's driving test.

Whee!

And at the roundabout we're going left, please.

So left at the roundabout.

-That way?

-Yeah.

No, I really don't feel good.

Are you all right?

-Talk to me, sweetheart.

-I don't feel good.

Over the last year, Alice has overcome her fear of going over 30...

You've beaten your record, you've got up to 45.

..learned not to be distracted...

We're just going to keep going past.

Good, well done. Concentrated on the driving, which is good.

..and mastered her manoeuvres.

Take your time. Don't rush.

Remember, lots of looking around.

Oh...

Well done.

Has Alice done enough to pass her driving test?

-INTERVIEWER:

-Well?

-I failed.

-You failed?

-Yeah, failed.

It was one junction, one poor decision on the day...

..and that's all that caused her to fail.

-So you're going to book it again?

-Yeah.

Eleni would love to take her driving test too,

but her lessons have come to a stop because she's run out of money.

INTERCOM BUZZES

-Are you Shona?

-Yes.

-Hello, Shona.

-Nice to meet you.

-Do you want to come on through?

-Yes.

Today, she's got an interview with an energy company.

She needs the job to start driving again.

Tell me a bit about yourself.

What do you do in your spare time, for instance?

I enjoy keeping fit predominantly.

-OK.

-I enjoy swimming above anything else because it relieves stress,

as many of you might have discovered.

The more you lap, the less stressed you get.

-Yes.

-In the swimming pool.

-It can get quite loud and busy,

so do you think you'd be able to...?

With all of that going on in the background,

that you're able to concentrate?

I'd have to be able to concentrate, to be honest with you.

Because if I'm dealing with information, I have to be...

Because I'm partially deaf in my left ear, you see...

This ear is fine, but if people are blah-blah-blah,

you know, all around me, it would be difficult for me to concentrate,

-if I'm being honest.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

Right. I will walk out with you.

OK.

Eleni has spent the last seven years struggling to find a full-time job.

She was ever such a happy kid, you know.

Really was, really happy, cheerful.

Yeah, look.

That's when she was with her sister.

Eleni's mum knows how hard it's been for her daughter to find work.

I just wish and hope that eventually somebody will realise her potential

and actually give her a job, I really do.

-Yes.

-Has it been tough for her?

It's been horrendous.

I've had hell, let alone tough.

Hell. Get your words right.

I'm so proud of her because she has never given in.

You've tried so hard, haven't you?

-Yes.

-Really, really hard.

And I refuse to stop because I have a human right.

-And... Yeah, you do. You do have a human right to go and work.

-Yes.

A few weeks after failing her first driving test, Alice has another go.

Well, this is it, Alice.

Yeah, shoot me.

OK. We will get out.

Remember the keys.

You have got your driving licence with you, haven't you?

-Don't tell me you haven't, Alice.

-Uh-uh.

-I haven't.

-No!

-That's the one I forgot.

-No!

-You keep it in here.

-No, that's my bus pass.

Oh, Alice!

No, no, no, no!

My fault.

My fault. I should have asked you.

You keep it in there.

I totally forgot. It's in my mum's house.

HE SIGHS

Eleni didn't get the job with the energy company,

but she's had some unexpected news.

Out of the blue, she's had a phone call from an IT company in Greece

offering her a job.

This is just me finishing my packing now.

-So you're going to go and live in Greece?

-Yes, I am.

What's that going to be like?

I'll find out when I get there.

It'll be a nice and different experience of me gaining

some world experience of what it's like to stand on your own two feet

and become more independent, but in a foreign country.

And I can't wait.

Take the risk while it's there or regret it for the rest of your life.

So, are you going to give up on your driving?

No, I'm not going to give up on my driving at all,

to be honest with you, no. I'll never do that.

And there are possibilities of physically passing my test

in Greece in the future if I can do that.

I hope this is not too heavy. Have you got everything in there?

It'll be at the airport, that's when it'll actually hit me

that she's not going to be at home.

HE CHUCKLES

I just want you to be happy.

You'll be fine, you'll be fine.

-I'm always fine, me.

-Yeah.

-Always was, always will be.

You will. You'll be fine.

-Come on, then.

-See you soon, Dad.

-Take care.

-See you soon.

OK, take care. Look after yourself.

-Be strong. OK?

-Yeah.

Just remember, go slow.

You got everything? Have you got your licence?

-Yes!

-Right.

Bye, Mum.

-See you later.

-Bye.

-Bye.

-Good luck!

-Thank you.

It's Alice's third attempt at her driving test.

-Well, Alice. This is it.

-Mm-hm.

I wish you good luck.

-Thank you.

-Take your time, drive smoothly

and you will do it.

OK, engine off.

Alice begins her test.

With the test over, Alice returns home.

Wonder what she's going to say...

Mum, bad news.

I passed!

SHE SQUEALS WITH DELIGHT

I'm so proud of you!

Oh, Alice, I'm so proud of you!

Oh, God! I'm so...

-You've shown everyone that you can do it.

-Mm-hm.

It doesn't matter what problems you've got, you can do anything,

-can't you?

-Mm-hm.

Oh, you must be so happy.

-He's going to start crying now.

-I am.

LAUGHTER

-It's wonderful.

-Yeah.

This is what I do the job for.

I like to give back...

..and...

she's done it.

INTERVIEWER: How does it make you feel to pass?

Like I'm a normal person and now I've got my independence

and I'm not feeling different now.

Now I can drive everywhere now.

Now, I can get my car.

CORK POPS