When a person gets their driver’s license, they gain a sense of independence and freedom that can make a significant difference in their sense of self and quality of life. If you have a disability, it’s still possible to have that experience with the right driving modifications and accessibility advancements.
Did you know that more than 60% of people with a disability drive a motor vehicle? Adaptive driving allows people who are living with a disability to learn, or relearn, how to drive with the proper techniques and assistive tools. By learning about the ins and outs of adaptive driving, also known as assisted driving, you’ll gain a better understanding of why it can be an essential part of a person’s health and wellness journey with a disability.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about what adaptive driving is, how it works and how we use it at Ability KC to help patients gain independence through our driving rehabilitation program.
What is adaptive driving?
Let’s start with the basics by defining adaptive driving. Adaptive driving refers to modifying a vehicle so that it’s safe, effective, and comfortable for a driver with a disability or neurological condition.
Adaptive driving is taught in a program as part of a patient’s therapy and rehabilitation. It can be beneficial for:
- People who were born with a disability and want to learn how to drive
- People who want to return to driving after an injury or disability
- People who want to continue driving with increased safety precautions due to a change in their condition or disability
How adaptive driving works to help someone with a disability
For a person with a disability, getting behind the wheel can make a huge difference in their overall wellness. It helps them see that there are ways to still take part in day-to-day activities. Adapted driving does more than give them a sense of independence — it gives them access to opportunities that keep them engaged and active in their community, which can improve their quality of life.
Adaptive training involves evaluation and training to ensure that the patient is physically, mentally and emotionally ready to get on the road with as much confidence and safety as possible. Evaluation includes clinical cognition, physical, and vision assessments, as well as therapy recommendations. Training focuses on learning how to efficiently use adaptive equipment and incorporate safe driving habits.
The main aspect of adaptive driving is the modifications and assistive tools for the vehicle to ensure that it can be properly accommodated for a driver with a disability. This can look different for every patient based on their abilities and challenges. It can include:
- Ability to drive from a wheelchair
- Hand controls for brake and accelerator
- Pedal extensions
- Automatic transmission shifters
- Steering aids for people with limited upper body strength and mobility
- Hands-free assistive devices for signals, headlights, etc.
However, adaptive training goes beyond the physical act of driving. Getting behind the wheel for the first time, or returning to driving with a disability, can also pose a challenge for a person’s mental health. That’s why adaptive driving training may include relaxation techniques and stress management strategies to soothe anxiety or frustration behind the wheel. It also involves training for accident avoidance and defensive driving.
What to expect from Ability KC’s driving program for adaptive driving
At Ability KC, we teach adaptive driving as part of our driving rehabilitation program. This specialty therapeutic service is led by highly trained instructors who are all members of the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists.
With our adaptive driving program, we serve individuals who have conditions such as:
- Arthritis
- Brain injury
- Cerebral palsy
- Dementia
- Spinal cord injury
- Development disabilities
- Limb loss
- Multiple sclerosis
- Spina bifida
- Stroke
Along with evaluation and training for adaptive driving, we also give our patients hands-on experience behind the wheel in a safe environment. We have a fleet of cars as well as an adapted driver training van for them to use. The van provides people with the ability to drive in a wheelchair and test out equipment that may work for their own vehicles. It also features highly specialized equipment and seating that aren’t common in other cars.
Ability KC is a designated Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (CORF) with a Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.