3 Easy Steps to Explore OT & Driving

Susie Touchinsky and a group of four driver rehab specialists smiling while holding certificates outside.

Yes!!! I love that you are taking a moment to check out this article and explore your unique OT role with driving! When it comes to driving, fitness-to-drive, and even adaptive driving equipment, we OTs have a unique set of skills that can greatly help our patients. Whether you are an OT thinking about driving…

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Safe Driving Tips for Transporting Grandchildren

Two children in the middle row of a car. One is strapped into a car seat the other is wearing a seatbelt. Behind them in the very back row is another young child.

Are you a grandparent lending a hand with transporting grandchildren? As offices across the country start to reopen, many parents return to the office for work, leaving grandparents in charge of childcare.  This includes handling everyday tasks such as running errands, doctor appointments, and taking the kids to activities or other events. This also means…

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Why you need to talk to your patients about non-covered services.

Car Driving in the Sun. Driver Enjoying Scenery and the Vehicle.

Why you need to talk to your patients about non-covered services. Listen, as occupational therapists, we have all been there. There is some great resource, program, provider, device that is NOT COVERED and we think…. hmmm… will my patient go for this? Should I even bring it up? Can they afford it? Maybe there is…

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How has the past year changed our need to drive?

A young man driving a car.

How has the past year changed our need to drive? In my opinion, one of the best outcomes from 2020 has been the increased acceptance and opportunity for working from home, ordering necessities online, and having more access to food & leisure right at our fingertips (thank you DoorDash). For my clients with disabilities, this…

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OTs Who Address Driving Change Lives!

Closeup of a hand on a steering wheel.

Hey, there fellow OT Superheros! I am excited to connect with you. Did you realize that OTs who address driving change lives? It’s true! But you don’t have to take my word for it… check this out: When OTs address driving we give more than feedback on readiness for an IADL, we give hope. We…

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Driving Post-Stroke with a Left Foot Accelerator

A vehicle with adaptive acceleration equipment.

Meet Michael. Michael has returned to driving post-stroke with a left foot accelerator! Please join me in congratulating Michael on passing his adaptive equipment driving test on a very cold and windy Tuesday! Michael is a young, very independent, hard-working father. About a month into the pandemic, he woke up, alone in his home, unable…

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Start Your Own OT Driving Risk Assessment Program

Hand of a driving rehab client using adaptive driving equipment attached to the steering wheel.

Calling all Generalist Occupational Therapy Practitioners: Start Your Own OT Driving Risk Assessment Program The OT Driving Risk Assessment is quickly becoming the next big trend in healthcare. This is a reimbursable service covered by the trained occupational therapy practitioner and it is easily integrated into the standard OT evaluation or the current plan of…

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ACL (Allen Cognitive Lacing) for the Win!

Closeup of a hand on a steering wheel.

And the Allen Cognitive Test (ACL) comes to the rescue again for a win!! Hello OT friends! I used the ACL (Allen Cognitive Lacing Test) to understand my client’s readiness to drive again! It is really a great tool. This time my client, had no more than an eighth-grade education and grew up as a…

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Be OK with Not Knowing

Closeup of hands driving a car.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND WHEN THE WORLD KEEPS SHIFTING AND IT’S HARD TO KEEP FINDING YOUR BALANCE? I use a mantra – Be OK with not knowing. It helps me focus, center, and re-group. I like to remind myself that not knowing is part of the process and part of what I need in my…

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My Renewed Love for OT

Susie Touchinsky, owner of Adaptive Mobility, sitting in the passenger seat of a car with a client behind the wheel, both of them smiling.

How starting my own private practice renewed my love for OT Setting the Stage It is July 1, 2020. I am home today with my daughter. My small private practice has survived COVID-19 and the 3-month state-imposed stay at home orders and I have found my renewed love for OT! The primary elections are approaching…

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Become a Driver Rehab Specialist

Closeup Hand driving a car

Change Lives. Become a Driver Rehab Specialist! Follow Our 3 Part Process to Become a DRS & Change lives! Part 1 In the Clinic Part 2 In the Car Part 3 Mentorship   Part 1 In the Clinic: Building Blocks Bundle (10 ONLINE Courses – 25 hours) Part 1: Driving Risk Assessment starts your introduction…

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Driving After a Stroke

A road that goes through a forested area.

Did you know that in the United States every 40 seconds someone has a stroke? It’s true! Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability.  Stroke reduces mobility in more than half of stroke survivors. It can change the way we see, move, taste, think, and more. Therefore, it is important to see a…

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Wheelchair Users can Return to Driving

Young woman in a wheelchair getting on the car

Are you a wheelchair user looking to return to driving? Wheelchair users can return to driving & we can help! Listen in to commonly asked questions & answers as Braun Ability sits down with expert Susie Touchinsky! Q & A As a wheelchair user, I want to be able to drive my vehicle.  What are the…

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Driving with Adaptive Equipment: Following this Easy Process

A person driving a car using adaptive steering equipment.

Ready to drive after an arm or leg injury? Wondering what equipment options are out there? We’ve got you covered! Let’s explore driving with adaptive equipment! Here are a few facts about adaptive equipment: There are lots of equipment options, from simple to complex. It helps you drive after a stroke, amputation, neuropathy, or any…

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Decipher Driving Rehab Credentials

A person driving a car. You can see their forehead in the rearview mirror.

Let’s decipher the driving rehab credentials! The world of driving rehab is riddled with credentials – SCDCM, CDRS, DRS, and more. Does any of it make a difference? Let us help decipher these driving rehab credentials. Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (DRS) Driver rehabilitation specialist (DRS) is a general term that may be used by anyone with…

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Occupational therapy in nursing homes

Lonely senior woman in nusring home reading a book

I love being an occupational therapist. Before I founded Adaptive Mobility Services in 2018, I spent several years working in a skilled nursing facility setting as an occupational therapist. In general, the goal of occupational therapy is to help nursing home residents become more independent through meaningful activities and exercises. By improving life skills, substantial…

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Is Driving Still an Option if I have Parkinson’s Disease?

A person driving a car. You can see their forehead in the rearview mirror.

Absolutely! Driving with Parkinson’s may still be an option! While Parkinson’s disease can impact how we move or how quickly we respond, many clients continue driving after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. However, it is important to partner with your doctor and driver rehabilitation specialist (DRS) to make sure you still have the skills needed…

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As the referring OT, what should I know about my local driver specialist?

A person driving.

What questions should I be asking my local driver specialist? An occupational therapist just reached out to me with the following question, “How do I find a good driver specialist?” This OT works in an outpatient clinic. She sees a wide range of diagnoses and has recently started completing pre-driving screens, or clinical assessments. She…

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AOTA 2020 – Boston

Are you attending AOTA’s annual conference this year in Boston? Wondering what courses to attend? Check out this curated list of all things driving and community mobility-related featured this year at AOTA’s conference. Make sure you drop by Booth 1314 in the transportation zone to say to Adaptive Mobility! 2020 AOTA Boston Conference Curated Activity List…

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What does falling have to do with driving?

The side mirror of a car.

Is there a connection between falling & driving? Yes, there is! Did you ever consider the connection between falling and driving? The AAA Foundation is reporting that drivers with a history of falling are 40% more likely to be involved in a car crash. Falling is something we all want to avoid. And driving is…

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