The ability to drive your car may very well mean more than just accessing a mode of transport. From your perspective, this represents your independence. It gives you the chance to travel where you please when you need it most.
For participants who live with a form of disability or a need for rehabilitation, you will likely be involved with some form of occupational therapy. How does this apply to your driver’s licence? The two are interconnected as driving departments assess your fitness and suitability for the road.
This is a great time to see how the process proves to be beneficial and what you can gain from the experience.
Identifying Any Driving Challenges
Retaining a driver’s licence with occupational therapy assistance is always possible. The key is to understand what kind of challenges you face. Your vision and perception, strength, response time, coordination, temperament and issues around memory and decision-making all come under scrutiny. Therapists are in place to offer support and training to make real-time improvements before you undertake the test.
Tailoring a Personal Program
The obstacles you face are unique. Here is where the OT driver assessment process is able to be managed, giving you a platform with a professional to work on particular issues and modify an approach that applies to your needs. This type of individual care ensures that you can create personal goals and drive towards them step-by-step. You work on your own schedule and engage your current abilities instead of considering what others do.
On-Road Assessment
How do you master a driver evaluation under these conditions? Your therapist will practice with you in the vehicle during on-road training. They observe how you handle the vehicle. What challenges do you face? Do you meet the criteria? There are points of improvement they will see as you attempt to control every on-road aspect of the upcoming test.
Reviewing Adaptive Demands
Part of the process with any independent driving program is seeing how the car itself can be altered. Perhaps the seating or mirror can be adjusted. Maybe steering or grips can be enhanced. Whatever the scenario, therapists will be present and available to offer their own guidance and recommendations. They will be in contact with automotive specialists to see how some subtle changes can make a world of difference.
Building Confidence
So much of this journey surrounds your mental state. The physical side can be managed, but what is your state of mind? Learning about occupational therapy demands with driving centres around your confidence levels. Do you feel empowered and in control? Targeted interventions afford you the time and platform to build your self-esteem and overcome hurdles that everyone in these moments encounters.
Having Real Conversations
In the best-case scenarios, you complete the driver examination and receive your licence without any provisions included. Others however have to face certain realities. They either receive a licence with strict stipulations or are not able to control a vehicle at all. There will be avenues to engage tests down the line, but therapists will be in position to have real conversations about alternate solutions if the challenges are too extensive.