TRAINING SO YOU CAN PROVIDE:
You Need Driver Rehab Training that is Designed for Occupational Therapists
Whether your practice is an independent operation or part of a larger healthcare system, there is great value in adding a driver rehab specialty service.
The problem is the path to becoming a specialist isn't always clear. Adaptive Mobility is proud to offer a range of education to support you the OT! Whether you are the OT generalist looking to add a driving risk assessment to your clinic or the OT looking to become a specialist in the car, we've got you covered.
From enhancing your clinical skills to liability considerations to setting up a specialized vehicle and developing your in-car skills with specialized hands-on training, Adaptive Mobility provides the training you need to get started!
Adding a new area of specialty is hard enough. You are already anxious about serving your clients in the best possible ways and minimizing risk to your organization.
Let us help you down the road of OT and driving!
Become An OT Driver Rehabilitation Specialist
There are a variety of ways to become a driver rehab specialist, but it can be difficult to know where to start. Our driving rehabilitation specialist program has got you covered. We work with:
- People who are seeking to become a driver rehab specialist.
- OT specialists wanting to open their own driver rehab practice like ours.
- OT specialists seeking to fulfill their ongoing education requirements with online courses.
- OT working for a hospital.
- OT completing research in driver rehabilitation.
- OT using driving simulators for patient therapy.
- Outpatient driving rehab programs.
- OTs looking to perform driver risk assessments.
Adaptive Mobility Provides OT-Specific Training
Three levels of training
Why Choose Adaptive Mobility’s Driving Rehabilitation Courses & Training
At Adaptive Mobility, we recognize the value of further education for occupational therapists who want to broaden their range of skills and services. Our curriculum for driving rehabilitation specialists is created to provide you with the skills and real-world experience you need to succeed in this fulfilling industry.
We provide the thorough training you require, whether your goal is to become a driving rehabilitation specialist or you just want to add driving risk assessments to your clinic.
Our Driver Rehabilitation Specialist Program’s Approach
We have two foundational ways you can grow, learn, and develop as an occupational therapist in our driver rehab program:
1. Online Driver Rehabilitation Classes Online
We have a wide range of online classes that aim to develop your knowledge and provide the tools you need to succeed as an OT and a driving rehabilitation specialist. We have courses online to develop your driving risk assessment or online courses to help you set up your OT driving rehab practice. As you go through our online course catalog, you’ll see specialized online driver rehab courses focused on topics like:
- Online Course For Cognitive & Visual Perception Skills For Driving
- Online Course For Vision & Hearing For Driving
- Online Course For Strength, Coordination, & Sensation For Driving
- A Variety Of Online Course For Diagnosing Driver Risk
- So Many Free Resources To Grow Your OT Practice
Take our free OTs Role With Driving Course today!
2. In Person Driver Rehabilitation Mentorship & Coaching
We provide in-person mentorship and training because we want to see your practice succeed. Few occupational therapists specialize in driver rehabilitation, and within the United States, there are only around 200 certified driver rehabilitation specialists. We want to see our field grow and more occupational therapists become certified driver rehabilitation specialists.
There is a need for more driver rehab solutions. In our field, we are all on the same team, seeking to help people who want to reclaim their freedom and drive independently again.
3. Our Free Driver Rehabilitation Courses & Resources
We have so many free resources for occupational therapists and people who are just getting started in their journey of becoming certified driving rehabilitation specialists. We have free introductory online driver rehab courses, IADL checklists, brief cognitive assessment test overview courses (BCAT), and a generalist’s resource to integrate driving (GRID). See our full list of courses and resources.
Are you looking for OT Driving Rehab Education?
Looking to expand your OT clinical approach to driving? Take our free 3-hour course to expand your knowledge on OTs Role With Driving.
This is the foundational course to help OTPs improve client engagement and motivation by incorporating driving goals — in every practice setting. Be the OT who helps clients regain independence beyond basic ADLs.
Other Free OT DRS Resources
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- Building Your Dream OT Driver Rehab Practice: In this free masterclass, we cover how, in 12 weeks, you can start your own OT Driver Rehab Practice.
- Readiness to Drive: IADL Checklist: A free checklist developed by Dr. Miriam Monahan and Dr. Anne Dickerson. The Checklist is a list of specific performance skills commonly performed independently by young adults in broad categories of everyday activities or instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), including personal and healthcare skills, home and family responsibilities, cooking and kitchen activities, interpersonal relationships, and community skills.
- Generalist Resource to Integrate Driving: This was written by Dr. Terri Cassidy, Dr. Anne Dickerson, and Susie Touchinsky.
- BCAT Brief Cognitive Assessment Test System Overview: Adaptive Mobility sits down with the creator of the BCAT to talk about the BCAT system in detail.
- FREE BCAT Part 2: CBS 8 & 15-for-Me: Join us as Susie sits down with Dr. William Mansbach of the BCAT and Enrich programs to talk about new resources - the CBS-8 & 15-for-me.
- BCAT Driving Self Assessment: Not a formal assessment but a useful survey to have your clients perform a self-assessment on their driving. It can also be used as an OT intervention tool to start the conversation about driving.
- Plan For The Road Ahead: Plan for the Road Ahead is a website dedicated to supporting drivers and their families. Resources include information for planning driving retirement, mobility readiness, transportation plans, and more. Provide these resources to your patients or as part of your treatment sessions to help drivers prepare for the transition from the driving seat to the passenger seat.
- Blog
- NHTSA Older Drivers
- PennDOT Physician’s Role With Driving
- PennDOT Medical Reporting Form
Enroll In Our Driver Rehabilitation Specialist Program
Our online academy for driving rehabilitation specialists is committed to helping occupational therapists become the best in driver rehabilitation. We offer the instruction, materials, and guidance required to be successful in this particular sector of expertise.
To begin your journey towards being a qualified driving rehabilitation specialist, enroll in our driving rehabilitation specialist courses right now. See which of our online courses best suits your professional objectives.
Build Your Driver Rehab Business With Adaptive Mobility
When you work with us at Adaptive Mobility, you receive more than online courses and in-person training. You join a community of occupational therapists and certified driver rehabilitation specialists who want to see each other succeed in helping our local communities and regions. Begin your journey with our online driver rehab classes and partner with Adaptive Mobility Services today!
Susie Touchinsky, OTR/L, SCDCM, CDRS is an occupational therapy certified driver rehabilitation specialist, with experience as a driving instructor, and owner of Adaptive Mobility Services, LLC serving southeastern, PA and surrounding areas including Orwigsburg, Reading, Hershey, Harrisburg, Allentown, and throughout Pennsylvania.
For decades, Susie has been committed to helping drivers understand and improve their driving ability and confidence after medical illness, a major medical event, health conditions, and injury.
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OT-to-DRS FAQ
A driver rehab specialist (DRS) is a professional who evaluates how a person is operating physically, visually, and cognitively as it relates to driving a vehicle. A person usually works with a DRS after injury or illness or due to aging. DRSs provide assessment, training, recommend adaptive vehicle equipment, and help determine if driving is appropriate for an individual.
Many driver rehab specialists begin with a degree in occupational therapy. Then, they complete specialized training (such as Adaptive Mobility’s DRS education program), obtain any state specific licenses, and begin practicing in the field of driving rehab. After experience is gained, a specialist may then apply to take the CDRS exam.
The exact amount depends on experience, setting, and location. Many have the flexibility to work around their own personal schedules more than they would in traditional work settings, which can help to increase income. Many have comparable rates to what they would be making in the traditional occupational therapy setting. In personal practice, Susie (owner of Adaptive Mobility) has been able to account for her standard OT salary by working 3 to 4 days a week as a DRS. Plus, owning her own business comes with other benefits.
After earning your degree in occupational therapy, becoming a driver rehab specialist can range between a couple months to a year, depending on your training pathway. Connecting with an experienced OT driver rehab specialist for mentorship is also strongly encouraged. After 1 to 3 years, many will have gained the hours of experience needed to explore the certification exam.
OTs already have specialized knowledge of therapy and treatment for people with physical, visual, or cognitive challenges. They can apply these skills to driving a car by recommending adaptive equipment and teaching people strategies for modified driving techniques so that they can be more comfortable behind the wheel. OTs are also a really great help considering the way a driver fits and connects with their driving environment, or vehicle. The OT driver rehab specialist may also provide recommendations for supportive technology or other vehicle features based on individual driving needs.
Occupational therapists are already usually kind and compassionate individuals who want to help others. This translates into the patience and understanding it takes to help people return to driving. They also have expertise in areas that directly impact driving a vehicle, such as movement abilities, visual-perceptual skills, and cognitive capabilities.