An invitation by DIDU to attend a CPD seminar

Whether you are recently qualified as an ADI or looking to increase your existing driver trainer knowledge, this seminar will develop a number of thoughts on how driver training as an ADI can be refreshed by a new approach or how you can appraise and deal with those clients who may challenge your abilities.

John, with his oldest first time pass - 75 years young!Our presenter, John Brown (ADI and author of “Driving is Turning Disability into Ability” and “Driving is More about Psychology than Systems”) asks you to consider the following:

• “Have you ever taught someone who inexplicably just ‘could not get it’ and you felt you had failed them?”
• “Have you ever taught a perfectly ‘normal’ student and wondered why they did not learn to drive in the usual way?”
• “Were you one of those who struggled either academically or to learn a new skill, but knew you were actually quite bright and felt bewildered as you failed to attain your potential?”

The DSA have just issued this press release:

"Driving examiner strike - candidates to attend tests.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union is asking its members to take strike action on Monday and Tuesday, 8 and 9 March.
If you have a driving test booked for either day, we ask you to attend as scheduled.
We won’t know the effects of the strikes until the day as not all of our examiners and staff are members of the union.
We don’t know at this stage who will attend for work, which is why we ask that you arrive for your test regardless.
You don’t need to do anything and there is no need to contact DSA.
If you can’t take a test because of the action, you will have the test rebooked automatically, free of charge, and an appointment confirmation will be sent by email or post.
If your new appointment isn’t suitable you can change it online."

If you want to build your own website, but think it might be too technical, this course is for you. If you have your own website, but are unsure about making alterations and updates, you will benefit too.
To access the course, members need to be logged into this website.

DIDU website creation course

Features:

• HTML editing
• Free website template
• Domain names
• Hosting your site
• Free software for editing your site
• Free software to get your site on-line
• SEO - Search Engine Optimisation

Click to view full size (pop-up)

Flushed with success from January's competition (see below), Si (T312) has offered this image for this month's contest. Thanks, Si.

Entry has closed, please:

VOTE NOW

It's official. After weeks of rumours, LVG, the parent company of Red Driving School, Red Instructor Training and Red Fleet Training has gone into administration.
There have been a lot of posts on our forum discussing Red over the last few days. If you are an ADI or trainee affected by this, you might want to register on the forum where you will receive a sympathetic ear and lots of good advice.

Link to BBC story
Link to Financial Times follow-up story with input from our own Adrian Lewis
Latest news - Red is saved?

Can't wait for your copy of "Despatch" - the DSA magazine?
Then download it now!
Apparently, it's undergone a makeover...

The latest issue is now free to download. Thanks to Tony, and everyone else who contributed to make this one of the best ever editions.

Download the winter 2009 - 2010 issue

Please email Tony (the editor) if you would like to submit an article, have any comments or suggestions, or would like to advertise to our growing membership.

Other back copies are available:
TWF back copies

Members of the EC and the CPD sub committee have been beavering away to provide Continuing Professional Development opportunities for DIDU members.

By the end of February, members will be able to access both seminars and online content to improve their skills as an ADI, and to meet the DSA's requirements when (if) they become compulsory.

Subscribers to DIDU's magazine "The Way Forward" and forum users will already know that they can make their views known via the CPD questionnaire.

If you haven't filled in the questionnaire yet, please visit this:

LINK

and make your views known. All replies are welcome, from members and non-members alike.

Watch this space for more news!

Voting has closed, here is the result:

Several entries got a massive one vote each:

• "Knowing that weather forecasters can be unreliable I use this to get home quick if it rains."
• "Can I join in the charity drive from lands end to john o groats?"
• "What do you mean it's not suitable for the motorcycle test, It's got two wheels, and I don't really want to skid anyway."
• "Does the lack of head restraints mean I'll have to do a role play check test?"
• "Introducing "The Gordon". Slow, difficult to handle and goes downhill fast."
• "The government announce that MPs will get now perks in line with their performance. Introducing the new ministerial limousine."

But the winner by a mile (or with five votes) was T3:

"BSM announce their new fleet for 2010."

Congratulations! If anyone has a picture suitable for the caption competition, please forward it to:
webmaster@didu.co.uk