St. John’s United provides comprehensive driving evaluations and training for return to driving with our Driving Rehabilitation Specialists. Our occupational therapists have completed advanced training in this specialty area to provide this service to the community.
Our driving rehabilitation program can address:
- Medical Return to Driving
- Older Adult Safety Evaluation
- Adaptive Equipment Evaluation
What does a comprehensive driving evaluation entail?
An occupational therapist (OT) driving evaluation is an objective assessment of a person’s physical, mental, and visual abilities to drive safely. The evaluation process typically includes:
- Clinical testing
An assessment of movement, sensation, thinking, and vision
- Behind-the-wheel evaluation
A driving assessment in a vehicle with safety features, such as an instructor’s brake
- Discussion of outcomes
A discussion of the driver’s strengths and weaknesses, and how to improve their driving safety
The evaluation results can help determine if the driver needs adaptive equipment, driver training, or rehabilitation. Adaptive equipment can include: steering devices, hand controls, foot pedal extensions, special mirrors, ramps, lifts and custom seating.
Medical Return to Driving
When returning to driving after illness or injury, there may be some questions about fitness to drive. Completing a comprehensive driving evaluation is an important part in receiving medical clearance to return to driving and to protect yourself from driving risks and potential liability.
Diagnoses that may impact driving:
- Stroke
- Traumatic brain injury
- Diabetes
- Multiple sclerosis
- Spinal cord injury
- Brain tumor resection
- Parkinson’s Disease
Older Driver Safety Evaluations
Maintaining safe driving habits as we age reduces the risks of driving and supports independence. It is important to be aware of physical, visual, and cognitive changes which can impact your safety while driving. A comprehensive driving evaluation to assess any changes you may experience is an important step in staying safe on the road.
Diagnoses that may impact driving:
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Dementia
- Alzheimer’s
- Macular Degeneration, cataracts or visual field loss
- Arthritis
- Neuropathy
- Stroke
- Subdural hematoma
- Effects of chemotherapy
Completion of a comprehensive driver evaluation may be requested by you or your family or may be required by your doctor to determine the effect of age-related changes on your driving fitness.
Adaptive Equipment Evaluations
Injury, disability and physical changes do not need to be the end of driving. Modified vehicles and adaptive driving equipment can help you get on the road when you are not able to use the standard vehicle controls. We provide evaluation and training in the use of hand controls, left foot accelerator, and/or steering devices.
Training – After a comprehensive driving evaluation to assess your equipment needs, we will complete several training sessions to build the skills needed to drive with adaptive equipment. A written prescription for the equipment will be completed by the therapist once safe use of the equipment is demonstrated in our vehicle. A typical pathway to driving with adaptive equipment includes the evaluation session, 2-4 training sessions and a final fitting after modifications are completed in your personal vehicle.
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