Blog - All of Our Thoughts on Driver Rehab

Question: How can I improve my client’s reaction time? I was recently asked by an OT colleague, what can I do to improve my client’s reaction time? What is reaction time & how is it measured? Lots of things come into play when it comes to a client’s ‘reaction time.’ If we think about reaction…

The Driving Pathways by Diagnosis Sheets for OT Practitioners was developed by American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and Genesis Rehab Services through support from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). to be used when developing client specific interventions for driving. The resources are based on common medical diagnosis groups including arthritis, cardiac conditions, stroke,…

Is your client a driver? Are you ready to help, but not sure where to start? Use these resources: To initiate positive conversations on safe driving and community mobility. As general education for drivers, families, physicians, and other members of the medical team. To lead short educational presentations. Educational resources for vehicle technology, physical fitness,…

Have you ever thought, maybe I want to be a driver rehab specialist? Or maybe you are on the other side of the fence thinking, why would anyone do that? Listen in as Susie shares how it all started! She talks about how she found occupational therapy, navigated into driving rehab, and the twists and…

Lesson’s Learned from My First 30 Days in Private Practice This spring my professional career hit a major traffic jam when I was laid off and found myself searching for an alternate route. To say it was difficult, would be an understatement. I was not quite sure what I would do next, but I knew…

Get a peek into our relationship as Dr. Buddy Touchinsky & I go live to chat about Driving Rehab Listen in as we talk about: What the heck I do all day Occupational therapy Driving rehab Who needs a driving evaluation How to learn more! https://www.facebook.com/doctortouchinsky/videos/641934942860197/  

I got a great question today about driving simulators and brands. Here are some quick thoughts: Driving Simulators DO NOT REPLACE a driving evaluation However, driving simulators are great for preparing the client to return to driving or, in some cases, to help with driving retirement conversations Not all driving simulators are created equal! So…

What is Driving Retirement? Driving retirement is the transition from being an active driver to becoming an active passenger. Driving is a significant and very meaningful occupation. Many of us identify driving as the link to independence, to our identity and to supporting other key occupations. Losing driving as an occupation can feel devastating to…

This week, I worked with a client whose stroke left him with expressive aphasia. While he was able to easily understand what was said to him, at times, he had trouble finding the words to answer questions and even express himself. Can you imagine how frustrating this is? He had recovered well in all other…

With the changes the dementia disease process causes in the brain, it is no surprise that the ability to drive would be affected. Current research related to individuals with dementia and driving indicates that it is not a matter of if they should stop driving, but when they should they stop driving. Therefore, in this…

When working with a client with dementia and caregivers, remember that the conversation about driving retirement is most likely more for the benefit of the family, as opposed to the person with dementia. The person with dementia will most likely not be able to abide by driving retirement independently and will require the support from…

Conversations about driving and community mobility do not come naturally for most OTs. But this is an important topic we all need to address. Here some tips to help you be be more confident during your next conversation about driving. Strategies for Effective Driving Conversations: Find a role model – conversations and interventions Remember to…