Legally forbidden from driving...because of Asperger's

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Recently, several years after achieving the legal age limit, I attempted to get my driver's license. I was required to submit to a review by the state medical board. I passed examinations by two doctors. At the interview, I mentioned in passing that I had Asperger's, and talked about a couple of difficulties it caused for me. Those idiots completely ignored the recommendations of my doctors and denied my license...based on the fact that I have Asperger's. I didn't even provide any sort of official diagnosis document. I just said that I had it.

Oh, well, I guess I should have known they would listen to me, considering I have dual degrees in psychiatry and neurology and am currently the dean of Johns Hopkins. Oh, wait, no...I'm just a college student!

That...is wrong. Asperger's is not a reason to withhold a license. You should tell someone. I am fairly certain that that is not legal....

I would appeal their decision if it's possible.

Get a lawyer.

I agree, that is f****d. What state do you live in?

why in the heck were you required to have a medical review? where do you live? I know of having to do an eye exam, but wow.

Why did you tell them you have Asperger's? Their job is to filter and occasionally reject applicants, not to help you by providing services. Only disclose AS to those who can help you with it. It's not unethical to withhold information about a condition that will not impair you, if that is so.

That is a violation of your charter rights since the doctors confirmed it does not affect your ability to drive...Its like denying black people licenses because they are black.Id go to court about it if I were you.Driving may be a privilage, but that doesnt mean the government should have the right to discriminate based on something that has no affect and has been proven to have no affect on your ability to drive.

I only had to do an eye exam...no medical review...

For my first license in Tennessee I only had to do an eye exam. I'm heavily nearsighted, but with most states you can take the exam with corrective lenses, on condition that you get a restriction put on your license that requires you by law to wear glasses/contacts while driving.

They also had a section to write any physical or mental disability that "may interfere with your driving ability." I have an Asperger's diagnosis, but I didn't write it down because it doesn't and shouldn't affect my ability to drive in any way.

The first mistake you made was mentioning Asperger's in the first place. Now given, they did put you through a medical exam, but since you got a pass grade from that, you should have been ok with not mentioning it. The review is only supposed to deal with conditions that may interfere with one's driving ability; however, the fact that you voluntarily disclosed your diagnosis before the committee implies that it DOES affect your driving ability, even though you and I know it doesnt.

Given, that was a mistake, but everyone makes mistakes. Now here is my advice to rectify your mistake:

First, get legal counsel. Even if you don't need a lawyer to represent you, it helps to have one. Their job is to learn about the convoluted labryinth that is law and invoke it to the client's benefit; thus, they will know the appeal process better than you will and can help you in that respect.

Second, get an expert opinion. If you have a psychiatrist that you visit, talk to them about it. They should be able to present medical evidence that you are indeed fit to drive, which you can then review before the committee.

Finally, prepare yourself mentally for the task of driving, because I can forsee one of the possible outcomes of your appeal being a practical exam to ascertain your ability and whether or not your mental state affects it. If it comes to that, make sure you know what you're doing. If you blow them out of the water with your superb driving skills without faltering, there is no way in legal hell they can deny you a license. But you'll probably be under more scrutiny than the average applicant, so if you'll pardon my language, don't f**k it up.

The law is on your side. Like Tory said, states can't deny licenses unless the person is an illegal immigrant, has previous traffic offenses resulting in a suspended license, is physically/mentally unfit to drive, or other reasonable cause. The phsycially/mentally unfit clause is usually reserved for severe cases, i.e. amputation of limbs, schizophrenia or other psychosis - i.e. when the person endangers himself or others by attempting to drive. Aspergers does not fall into this category, therefore with a proper appeal they should give you the go-ahead.

I don't have a license cause of I'm blind, but I know from other people that licensing docs can be bigots. Still, I think they can't deny you a license based on something they haven't objectified somehow. In the case of a psych diagnosis this would mean an official diagnosis.

I don't have a license because my Autism spectrum condition really is severe enough to restrict that kind of thing. However, when going through that time in my life, I never recall seeing anything forbidding Asperger's patients from getting their license. That's uncalled for!

Where I live you have to take a written test and you have to get better than a 70 to pass. Never heard of having to take a medical test though.