After an illness or injury anyone with a physical impairment of one limb or more, such as loss of motion, strength, coordination or sensation; visual disturbance such as a visual field cut, where a portion of your peripheral or central vision is lost, double vision or visual impairments of the mobility of one or more eyes; or impairments in cognition, including things like memory, visual perception, problem-solving, behavior, attention and concentration, should have a driver rehabilitation evaluation.
Driver Rehabilitation Specialist
The difference between a driver rehabilitation evaluation and driver training is the driver rehabilitation specialist has special training in the area of disability and medical conditions. Most often the driver rehabilitation specialist comes from a rehabilitation background, usually occupational therapy or they may have a driver education background. The professional from the rehabilitation background should have specialized training in driver education and the driver education professional should have specialized training in medical conditions and their implications on driving.
It is a good idea to question the professional's background and experience. There are two professional organizations dedicated to expanding the knowledge and skills of the driver rehabilitation specialist. The Association of Driver Rehabilitation Specialist is one of the organizations. They support professionals working in the field of driver rehabilitation through educational seminars and certification.
Driver rehabilitation professionals who meet specific experience and continuing education criteria and who pass a certification examination are certified by the Association of Driver Rehabilitation Specialists and will have CDRS after their names.
Occupational Therapy Association
The Occupational Therapy Association is also dedicated to expanding the skills and knowledge of the occupational therapist working in this area. They offer continuing education opportunities at conferences and through professional journals and publications and offer Specialty Certification in Driving and Community Mobility.
Driver Rehabilitation Specialists should have membership in one or more of these organizations. Although there are many good qualified driver rehabilitation specialists without certification, certification may be a good indication of continuing dedication to education in the field of driver rehabilitation
The American Occupational Therapy Association has a listing of Driver Rehabilitation Specialist on their website. It allows a variety of search criteria such as name, state, zip code and type of program. The Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists has a listing of Driver Rehabilitation Specialists on their website at and also allows search by name, company, state or email address.
See Related Articles
Discover how you may be eligible for financial assistance for driving with a disability, in Funding a Driver Rehabilitation Specialist & Adaptive Equipment.
Before you think about handing your teen driver the keys to the car, read Are You Modeling Good Driving Behavior for Your Teen Driver? to make sure you've done everything you can to prepare them for the road.
