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Hi, my name is Cindi Burt.  I will be providing a weekly blog about driving with a disability. I thought I should tell you a little about myself in this first blog and my vision of this blog.

I am an occupational therapist specializing in driver rehabilitation.  I work for Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan in Detroit.  We have three outpatient locations where we provide driver rehabilitation throughout .the Metropolitan Detroit area.  I have been on occupational therapist for over 25 years and have been specializing in Driver Rehabilitation for over 10 years.  I love my job. 

People ask me how I do my job year after year.  They think it is depressing, they think I am crazy to get in a car with people.  Well it is not depressing.  I get to see the best in people in the worst of times.  I have seen people face life-altering challenges with attitudes and perseverance that would amaze most people.  As for getting in the car with patients, I let everyone else think it’s scary, but I smile to myself because what they really do not know, is that I have the best job.

As an occupational therapist, our role is to return a person to their roles and occupations that give meaning and satisfaction to their lives – everyone wants to drive again.  It is that last step to independence.  Driving means freedom, it allows one to work, to engage in activities that have meaning to them on their own time, without relying on others.  It means independence.  To have a small part in that is truly rewarding. 

Living in Detroit, the car capitol of the world, cars mean a lot to the people I help.  I have seen big guys cry, when they realize they can drive again.  I see what it means to people.  Again, I have the best job.  That is not to say that despite having the best job, I sometimes have the responsibility to tell someone that they can no longer drive.  It is the hardest part of my job. For people where I recommend driving cessation, I hope they come to understand that I have evaluated them fairly and thoroughly before coming to a decision that will alter their life.

As for this blog, I would like to talk about topics that interest you.  I will blog about driver readiness, the evaluation process, adaptive driving, funding resources, and licensing requirements.  I hope to get feedback on topics you would like me to address too.

I also want everyone to know that there is no substitution for a professional evaluation.  Information addressed in this blog is meant to be general in nature and cannot be applied to an individual.  A professional evaluation is recommended.  To locate a professional driver rehabilitation specialist, go to http://www.aded.net/  under membership directory or to http://www.aota.org/ and go to the “Older Driver Safety” section and then to the section titled “Find a Driver Rehab Specialist”