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Driving is the ultimate activity of daily living. It facilitates our social gatherings and is a necessity in today’s society. When ability becomes compromised due to a decline or change in health, the individual, their family, and health professionals such as occupational therapists are faced with a difficult decision for the welfare of the individual.
While these decisions and interventions can be guided by many tools, the first step in this process is accurate assessment. This type of evaluation helps to determine if your medical condition or age may be affecting your driving ability.
Fitness to Drive Assessments and Treatment for:
Physical Disabilities
A physical disability can range from a stiff neck to quadriplegia. A Fitness to Drive Assessment will determine the best adaptations for your specific needs and will provide you with a prescription for custom installation. The Program includes training using the modified equipment that has been prescribed for your specific physical needs.
Brain Injury/Learning Disabilities
Often after brain injury or stroke, reflexes and mental functions are affected. This may result in the person being unsafe to drive either temporarily, or in some cases, permanently. A Driving Assessment can determine if a learning disability or a brain injury affects your ability to drive safely. Skills such as attention, concentration, judgement, decision making, problem solving, speed of information processing, multi-tasking and reaction time are assessed in clinic and behind the wheel to determine safety to begin or resume driving. Potential to benefit from driver training would be determined at the time of assessment.
Anxiety behind the wheel
A motor vehicle crash is a traumatic experience for everyone, not only for the physical pain and suffering if causes, but for the psychological trauma and anxiety that can linger on for months and years.
The Driver Desensitization Program helps to reduce anxiety and pain, and to restore driver confidence.
Seniors
Age alone does not stop a person from driving. When family members, family doctors or even the person himself/herself are unsure of driving ability, they are often referred for an evaluation. Driving is a complete skill that requires certain physical, visual, and mental abilities. Participation in a driver assessment will determine if a senior has the visual, physical and cognitive skills to continue driving safely. Through a comprehensive assessment, fitness to drive is determined. Adaptive equipment, altered driving techniques and self-restriction are often very helpful to keep seniors driving longer and safely.
“Self-confidence is the first
requisite to great
undertakings.”
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