Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialists

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I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the role of a certified driver rehabilitation specialist from our guest lecturer today and the process of assessing clients to determine whether they are safe to drive or not.  I knew occupational therapists contributed to driving screenings and helped clients make modifications to their cars to be able to drive after an injury such as a spinal cord injury or as a disease progresses such as muscular dystrophy, but I did not what the assessment process entailed or treatment sessions involved.  I understand now that driving specialists use a variety of screens such as vision screens, cognitive screens such as the MoCA and Trailmaking A and B, sensation screens, and strength screens to assess a client’s ability to perform tasks necessary to drive safely. 

I learned many ways occupational therapists can incorporate driving interventions into their sessions from today’s lecture.  One intervention that could be used with an individual client who might not have the range of motion in her neck or trunk in order to turn to check her blind spots would be to enlarge the clients rearview mirror and add a small circle mirror to the client’s side mirror.  I would then have the client drive with the mirrors to ensure she can do so safely and knows how to properly use the mirrors.  This intervention modifies the activity of neck or trunk rotation when checking blind spots to allow the client to safely drive and be aware of her surroundings. 

Another intervention that could be completed in a group setting is educating clients on safe driving practices.  If I was treating at an assisted living facility and was leading a group for older adults who are still driving I would educate them on the need to be at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel.  I would give them each a sheet of paper and demonstrate that they need to sit a distance from the steering wheel that is at least the length of this paper.  If their cars are on site, we would go to a few cars, and they would practice sitting with the paper between them and the steering wheel to reinforce what they learned and have them practice positioning their seats at that distance and simulate driving. 

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