Tips for the OTP: Help Your Patient Return to Driving After Illness or Injury.
🗺️ Driving in an unfamiliar area without GPS is stressful. 𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘫𝘶𝘳𝘺. Navigating the return to driving without support or guidance creates more stress and frustration than is necessary. As an OTP, you’re uniquely positioned to support these clients with expertise and empathy,…
Read MoreTips for the OTP: How to Talk to My Patient About Driving Retirement
𝘋𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘴? 🛑 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼. Driving retirement often becomes a traumatic loss of independence where clients and their families are left to figure out their next steps… 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺.…
Read MorePat Summit Foundation’s 5th Annual Dementia Symposium
It was a privilege for Adaptive Mobility to attend the Pat Summitt 5th Annual Dementia Symposium, which took place from May 2-3, 2024, at the Knoxville Convention Center. With a strong emphasis on both pharmaceutical and non-pharmacological management options, this event brought together professionals and a wide range of specialists to exchange knowledge and information…
Read MorePenn Memory Empowering Caregivers Series
Penn Memory Empowering Caregivers Series Addresses Driving and Dementia Susie Touchinsky, a distinguished occupational therapist and certified driver rehabilitation specialist, shines as she shares her insights during the Penn Memory Empowering Caregivers Series on Friday, October 27, 2023. Penn Memory Empower Caregiver Series The Penn Memory Empowering Caregivers Workshop Series is a dedicated initiative to…
Read MorePractitioner Strategies for Driving & Dementia – Supporting Successful Driving Retirement
Practitioner Strategies for Driving and Dementia – Supporting Successful Driving Retirement Over the past two decades, our understanding of dementia care and management has evolved significantly. As a result, valuable insights into the complex world of dementia, driving, and cognitive decline have emerged. In this blog, I will share key insights and practitioner strategies for driving…
Read MoreVision Changes? An OT Driver Rehabilitation Specialist May Help!
Vision Changes? An OT Driver Rehabilitation Specialist May Help! How to stay safe on the road if you have eyesight issues When we drive, we are constantly relying on vision as our primary sense to keep us safe. Therefore, if we have issues with our eyes or pre-existing conditions which affect eyesight, we are bound…
Read MoreSusie’s Journey – Creating an Ideal Life
Everything happens for a reason. In 2018, I woke up to an early calendar invite from human resources. In that moment, I new my life was about to change. I was working as the director of a growing driver rehabilitation program with a major rehab company. Never had I anticipated being part of the huge…
Read MoreVehicle Technology for Drivers with Disabilities
Vehicle Technology for Drivers with Disabilities One of the cool things about technology is how it can be used to make everyday tasks easier. With technology, we can press a button to open a door, enter a room and have a sensor turn on a light, and speak to any voice service (like Alexa) to…
Read MoreWhy In-Person Training is Monumentally Important for OTs in Driver Rehab Practices
As OTs we value education & training that includes coursework and fieldwork. Frankly, the combination of the two is what we’ve known since our undergraduate days. In the specialty area of driver rehab, where OTs learn to assess driver’s abilities, then train/retrain drivers using adaptive equipment, both coursework and in-person training are absolutely essential! __________________________________________________…
Read MoreHow becoming physically or mentally impaired affects your license?
In Pennsylvania, what happens to my license if I become physically or mentally impaired? Do you live in the state of Pennsylvania? If so, did you know that your healthcare provider is required by law to report any medical related conditions that may impact your driving? As long as you are 15 years of age…
Read MoreBuilding Your Driver Rehab Practice
Tips & Resources for Establishing Systems Chances are that you entered the world of driving rehab because you were passionate about helping others reach their driving goals. It is less likely that you began this journey in order to enjoy all of the paperwork, systems, infrastructure, and policies required to run a business. Well, fear…
Read MoreBecome an OT DRS
Last month, you learned all about Implementing Driver Rehab Services into your Practice by gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct driving risk assessments. Now, it is time to take the next step and consider becoming a Driver Rehab Specialist by completing our PART 2: OT Driver Rehabilitation Specialist Training. Our Part 2 offers…
Read MoreMarketing Your Driver Rehab Services
Now that you have decided to add driver rehab services to your practice, you need to determine how you will market them. First, answer the question – what is your goal for this program? Are you hoping that driver rehab becomes a cornerstone service you provide? Or, is this just a tool to have in…
Read MoreImplementing Driving Rehab Services into your Practice
You’ve decided that offering driving services will add great value to your practice, but you don’t know how to get started. No worries, we have you covered! Adaptive Mobility Services offers the education and training you need to get moving in the right direction. Whether you are looking to open a new business or enhance…
Read MoreWhat does it take to become an OT Driver Rehab Specialist?
When families or caregivers become concerned about a person’s ability to drive, a driving risk assessment can provide the answers drivers and loved ones need in order to make informed decisions. The role of an occupational therapist in these situations, specifically OTs who have received specialized Driver Rehab Specialist training, is crucial for the safety…
Read MoreMeet Susie Touchinsky
If you’re cruising along the streets of a Pennsylvania town and pass a car occupied by two people who seem to be thoroughly enjoying their drive, you may have just seen Susie Touchinsky and one of her clients. As “the Driving OT,” Susie has the pleasure of training people who have suffered an injury or…
Read MoreAddressing Driver Concerns
The topic of driving and the thought of not being able to drive can bring up a lot of emotions – worry, anxiety, stress – to name a few. I get it. So when I first meet a driver, I like to share that it is my goal to maximize their independence and safety.…
Read MorePartnering with Occupational Therapy
I often work in partnership with referring physicians, and occupational therapy practitioners. I want to see clients who are ready for the car. So partnering with the doctors is essential. When I get a referral, I generally know that the doctor believes the patient is ready, therapy is reaching their goals and the person…
Read MoreOccupational Therapy Driving Evaluation Process
April is OT Appreciation Month. And, I am SO proud to be a part of the OT community. This vocational calling is a huge privilege. As I do this work, I often get asked what the evaluation process looks like for someone who wants to drive again. It feels scary and intimidating and, frankly,…
Read MoreStroke Recovery Includes Occupational Therapy to Learn to Drive Again
A stroke doesn’t have to keep you from behind the wheel. Stroke recovery includes Occupational Therapy to learn to drive again. For over a year after his stroke, my client regularly went to physical, speech, and occupational therapists to help him recover from his stroke. Finally, he went home in a wheelchair…
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