Drake Center: Specialized Medical & Rehabilitative Care
Evaluation and Training for Safe, Independent Driving
Persons with disabilities or illnesses are sometimes limited in their ability to drive. Drake Center’s driver rehabilitation is designed to evaluate these individuals for driving potential and provide specialized training — by occupational therapists and other staff members who are licensed driving instructors. Trained staff carefully assess each person’s needs and, if appropriate, help him or her develop safe, independent driving skills that meet real-world needs.
Eligibility for participation
To be eligible for driver rehabilitation, the potential participant:
- Must have a physician prescription ("occupational therapy evaluation and treatment for return to driving" or "occupational therapy evaluation and treatment for adaptive equipment in driving").
- Must possess a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit.
- Must be diagnosed with a physical or cognitive disability.
- Must be at least 18 years old - or, if under 18, must already have a valid driver’s license.
Range of services
Phase one: evaluation
The evaluation is a two-part process usually completed in three hours. (The individuals assessed have a wide range of diagnoses — including stroke, head injury, multiple fractures, amputations, Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, dementia, spinal cord injury, and others.)
The clinical evaluation is required before the individual is assessed behind the wheel.
The behind-the-wheel evaluation (in Drake Center’s vehicles) tests a person’s basic driving skills. Other areas that can be assessed include pathfinding, visual scanning, decision making, recognition and reaction to potential hazards, and defensive driving.
Phase two: training
The behind-the-wheel training includes instruction in
proper vehicle transfers, driving with adaptive equipment,
use of problem-solving techniques, and defensive
driving.
Special features
-
Drake Center’s training vehicles are available to provide
opportunities for clients with a wide range of needs.
The fully equipped car includes a variety of adaptive
devices. The specially equipped van is the only one of
its kind in southern Ohio and is designed to serve
people who cannot transfer in and out of a car. Adaptive
equipment for the van is ideally suited for clients
with more severe disabilities (the client cand rive from a
wheelchair if needed).
- Adaptive devices in vehicles (call for details) include the following:
-
Car - Hand controls (left or right, for acceleration
and braking), steering devices, turn-signal crossover,
left-foot accelerator, and pedal extensions.
-
Van - Hand controls (for acceleration and braking),
steering devices, horizontal steering, variable-effort
steering, electronic gas and brake, fully automatic
lift, six-way power seat. The van’s equipment
will allow the client to drive from a wheelchair
if needed.
Program/instructor credentials
Drake Center’s training vehicles are available to provide opportunities for clients with a wide range of needs. The fully equipped car includes a variety of adaptive devices. The specially equipped van is the only one of its kind in southern Ohio and is designed to serve people who cannot transfer in and out of a car. Adaptive equipment for the van is ideally suited for clients with more severe disabilities (the client cand rive from a wheelchair if needed).
-
Car - Hand controls (left or right, for acceleration and braking), steering devices, turn-signal crossover, left-foot accelerator, and pedal extensions.
-
Van - Hand controls (for acceleration and braking), steering devices, horizontal steering, variable-effort steering, electronic gas and brake, fully automatic lift, six-way power seat. The van’s equipment will allow the client to drive from a wheelchair if needed.
Drake Center’s program is licensed by the state of Ohio as a commercial driving school. Staff members are occupational therapists and other staff members who are licensed driving instructors. They also participate in continuing education to increase their knowledge and skills and to stay abreast of developments in adaptive equipment technology.
Professional affiliations
Drake Center is a member of the Association of Driver Educators for the Disabled and The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association.
Call for more information
For more information on Drake Center's driver rehabilitation services,
please call:
Local: 513-418-2798
Long-distance (toll-free):