Why We Care

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We want to provide a quality alternative to driver training in Burlington. We understand that not all students learn the same and some need more or less explanations discussions and lectures.  We want you to know that your child will be trained in a way that works for them and you will be informed throughout. Its a shared responsibility between the student, us and the parent to create a driver who sees safety and behaviour while in the vehicle as THE most important thing.  

We work with Occupational Therapists, at the moment with people who have had illnesses that require  assessing and retraining to meet the MTO licence standards. 

We also believe that living in Ontario means you should learn how to drive on snow and ice, not drive in fear and learn by expensive mistakes. 

Kevin was requested to be the instructor input in 2 Winter Driving videos highlghting the benefits of Winter Tires by the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada.

 http://www.betiresmart.ca/2018/11/13/canadian-drivers-believe-winter-tires-saved-them/ 

See Tip 1 and Tip 3

The owner and principal instructor, Kevin Cronin spent 7 years running a pilot driving school program for Canadian Tire. Back in 2011 he retired as a Director in an IT company when a co-worker's son was killed in a single vehicle crash attributed to texting.  He saw the effect that the death of that 17 year old had on the family and decided to see what he could do to reduce that happening to others.  He became a Driving Instructor in 2012.

Kevin's instructional credentials come from a career in the British Army.  He was trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was an Instructor at the Royal Military College of Science.  Noted as an exceptional instructor with an ability to connect with students and teaching from a point of relevance to the student.

A lifelong "gearhead", trained on vehicles from military tanks to London Buses.  A fast car enthusiast owning a series of sports cars and over several years of track training has achieved the Advanced Driver Certificate with the Porsche Club of America.  Kevin still competes in off-road motorcycle competitions and is a former President of an Off-Road Vintage  Motorcycle Group .

Kevin has 4 children, one was identified as having ADHD at 7, although it was apparent in JK.  This led him to read about ADHD and assess himself and his other children.  Having also discussed this with Occupational Therapists, and his wife, its become pretty clear he has ADHD too.  He looks on it as a superpower, it just doesn't fit sometimes with the way society is structured.  This also lead him to look at Asperger's and Autism, there are similarities and differences to all of these Superpowers.  

It became clear that using his teaching abilities, his ADHD enthusiam, and his empathy for those who also struggle to find a fit in life, he could help make teenagers harness these skills to become exceptional drivers.

It is not without its challenges, ADHD kids are identified as those that take risks, are impulsive and intelligent.  Children in the Asperger's and Autism range are also intelligent but may find the need for precision, process and familiarity, and are often unduly anxious about other road uses.  But at Yellow Umbrella we want to use the superpowers to create lifelong safe and respectful drivers.