Driving Instructor Specializing in Autism to Speak at CHOP Center for Autism Research Seminar

Philadelphia, PA, December 01, 2015 --(PR.com)-- When veteran driving instructor Michael Mercadante launched his own driving school last year, it was with the intention of primarily serving individuals with learning differences, a group he had already been training for years.

“Driving has changed a lot over 50 years, evolving from a physical skill set to a cognitive one,” says Mercadante, founder and instructor for Modern Driver Institute. “Driver's ed hasn't really evolved to keep up. I opened my own school so I could teach my own way, based on the latest research, crash statistics and psychological methods.” Modern Driver Institute opened its doors late in 2014, and has enrolled more than 80 students, only 25% of whom are neurotypical teenagers - the "bread and butter" of most driving schools. "More than half of our students are diagnosed with autism, while another 25% come to us with general anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and a number of other conditions," Mercadante said.

Mercadante will be a guest speaker at a "Next Steps into Adulthood" seminar about transportation issues for those on the spectrum. The seminar is presented by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Center for Autism Research, and will be held at their offices at 3535 Market Street in Philadelphia on Tuesday, December 1, 2015, from 6:00PM to 8:00PM. Mercadante will also be fielding a question-and-answer session following his presentation. The seminar is designed to help provide information to individuals on the spectrum, as well as their parents and caregivers.

Mercadante is the founder and primary instructor at Modern Driver Institute, a private driver training school licensed by the PA Department of Education, where he serves students throughout southeastern PA. He holds a Master's degree in Psychology, with a specialization in Educational Psychology, and is currently working on his Ph.D.