NeuroRehab Center
Adaptive Driving Program
The Adaptive Driving Program is designed to help determine if someone is safe to resume or continue driving. This program is a licensed driving school through the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. As a part of the program, the occupational therapist evaluates the client's driving skills and assesses the need for special adaptive equipment if a loss of function has occurred. This evaluation includes both a clinical assessment and behind-the-wheel assessment.
This assessment includes and evaluation of:
• Physical skills such as strength, endurance, coordination, range of motion and sensation
• Need for adaptive vehicle controls
• Abstract thinking and problem solving
• Memory function
• Ability to follow directions
• Attention span and response to distractions
• Visual acuity, night vision and glare recovery
• Reaction time
• Response to various traffic situations
• Knowledge of traffic rules and procedures
Who may benefit?
The adaptive driving program can help assess the skills of persons who have experienced:
• Stroke
• Amputation of arms and legs
• Head injury
• Paraplegia
• Neurological impairments
• Arthritis
• Orthopaedic conditions
• Visual impairments
• Loss of function due to aging
• Cardiac conditions
• Diabetic conditions
Referrals
Clients that wish to participate in this program will need a written order from a physician, a driver's license or permit and some type of payment. Payment sources may include private insurance, vocational rehabilitation, worker's compensation or private payment.
When someone is recovering from a physical or mental injury or illness the ability to regain driving skills is seen as the final step in returning to an independent lifestyle. Being able to go to the grocery store, the post office and the bank promote a person's feelings of independence.
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center's Adaptive Driving Program provides an evaluation to help people and those that care about them know when to get back to driving and if special restrictions or equipment are needed to regain this independence. The occupational therapist will provide this information with the ability to teach the person how to use their new equipment.
For Additional Information
For additional information about the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Comp Rehab Adaptive Driving Program please contact our scheduling coordinator, Penny Brown at (336) 716-8004. We are located at 131 Miller Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.