A driver rehabilitation evaluation is a comprehensive evaluation and is tailored to the individual and the disability. It should include:
Medical and Driving History: It is important that the Driver Rehabilitation Specialist have a complete medical history, including medications and supplements. This will allow the driver rehabilitation specialist to determine if there are other factors to consider that may have an impact on the persons disability that may not be evident with the primary diagnosis. Driving History lets us know what you are comfortable with or not and gives us clues to your previous driving abilities and behaviors.
Physical Assessment: The driver rehabilitation specialist may look at mobility of your limbs, neck and trunk, coordination of your arms and legs, sensation in your arms and legs, balance and transfer abilities. They may also look at your ability to break down and store your wheelchair or mobility device. Brake reaction time may be assessed.
Visual Assessment: Minimally visual acuity and peripheral vision should be assessed to determine you meet your states standards. Depending on diagnosis or age, other areas may be assessed and may include depth perception, color vision, scanning, and the ability of the eyes to work together.
Cognitive Assessment: Minimally screening for orientation to person, place, time, and ability to follow simple directions should be done. Depending on the persons diagnosis a number of other tests that are designed to look at things like concentration and attention, ability to pay attention, ability to pay attention to two or more things, and visual perception; which is how the brain perceives what you see.
Behind-the-Wheel Assessment: Unless there is overwhelming reason to not take a person on a behind-the-wheel assessment, all individuals should be given an opportunity for a Behind-the-Wheel Assessment using a driver education vehicle with a training brake. While research may indicate people with scores below a certain level have a poor prognosis for driving, the research results do not have specificity to an individual.
For instance, let's assume that 90 percent of the population who score above or below a certain level on a test are unable to drive. That means 10 percent can. Do we not let the 10 percent who can, drive? So it is important to give as many people possible the option of a Behind-the-Wheel test.
Reasons for not going on to the Behind-the-Wheel Assessment may include vision or medical conditions such as seizure that does not meet the Texas (or your state’s) minimum driving criteria; the person has an inability to follow simple directions, so that the therapist cannot be assured the individual will follow their instructions while driving, so that safety cannot be assured; lack of valid driver license or permit, if required by state.
If you are unable to transfer to a vehicle or expect to drive from your wheelchair, you should make sure the program has a van with wheelchair entry access.
In Houston, you can get an adaptive driving rehabilitation evaluation from Strowmatt Rehabilitation Services. Owner/operator Chad Strowmatt has a background in occupational therapy. Strowmatt offers a complete, licensed service that covers everything from evaluation to comprehensive training.
