I too have a medical condition, and was planning to learn in an automatic anyway. Dad reckons I should try a manual first to see how I get on with it but I don't know... got 5 months to think about it, I guess.

Good on you, Dave. You shouldn't let one instructor put you off. My old taxi driver claims that he used to be a driving instructor and said I'd never get a provisional as I'm disabled I'm sure there are people out there who have passed with far worse disabilities than I have. I'm sure you'll do better with your dad or a specialist instructor who would be better able to understand how dyspraxia affects you and have more patience to teach you.