Driver Rehabilitation

Occupational therapists may practice in the area of Driver Rehabilitation. This specialty area helps people who have lost the ability to drive due to to regain their driving abilities. The following charts will provide an overview of the aspects of Driver Rehabilitation and the requirements to practice in this area.

Driver Rehabilitation evaluation process and therapist certification requirements:

Skill area Type of Evaluation Certification Requirements Physical mobility Clinical evaluation of range of national motion, strength, mobility. certification and state license Visual perceptual skills Clinical evaluation of visual Occupational therapy national motor skills, depth perception, certification and state license reaction time. Cognitive skills Clinical evaluation of Occupational therapy national orientation, decision making, certification and state license judgment, planning ability Behavioral status Clinical screening of Occupational therapy national psychological status certification and state license Instrumental activities of daily Clinical or home evaluation of Occupational therapy national living home and community mobility certification and state license Vehicle entrance/exit abilities On site evaluation of vehicle ­Occupational therapy national and seating needs within the entrance/exit, seat positioning, certification and state license vehicle mobility within the vehicle ­Driver Rehabilitation Specialist or Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist Ability to transport mobility On site evaluation of ability to ­Occupational therapy national aids, such as , transport mobility aids certification and state license walkers, etc. ­Driver Rehabilitation Specialist or Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist Driving ability on the road Behind the wheel evaluation of Occupational therapy national driving ability, with or without certification and state license adaptations ­Driver Rehabilitation Specialist or Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist ­State certification as a driving instructor

Driver Rehabilitation Intervention

Driver rehabilitation intervention can include clinical treatment to strengthening underlying driving skills, behind the wheel training to apply skills, adaptations to vehicles to compensate for decreased driving skills, and education in driving and community resources.

Examples of Driver Rehabilitation Intervention

Clinical Treatment Behind the Wheel Adaptations Education Training Therapeutic exercise to Use of bilateral upper Wide angle mirrors to Need for and use of improve neck and extremities to operate compensate for limited adaptive equipment for shoulder range of vehicle controls and neck and trunk range driving motion maneuver the vehicle of motion steering wheel Education in special Weight training to Left foot brake driving rules based on improve upper or Training in reaction disability lower extremity time when applying the Hand brake and gas strength vehicle brakes controls Training in location of and use of public Visual motor tracking Driving simulations in a Built up steering wheel transportation when and speed tasks to driving simulator to or steering knob driving is not possible improve reaction time train driving skills lift for Training in visual Actual on the road trunk or back seat recognition of road and training, graded based street signs, vehicle on the client's driving or ramp controls, driving rules abilities. for a van for drivers with impaired memory or Fully adapted vehicle learning for severe limitations in mobility

Gaps and Pathways Project: The Gaps and Pathways project is a collaborative effort between the ​ American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The program is in the process of developing tools, resources, and initiatives that will be compiled into one general resource for driver rehabilitation programs and state licensing agencies regarding. The overall program will support service to aging drivers who are medically at risk.