Driving Evaluation and Training Program
Rancho’s Occupational Therapy (OT) Driving Evaluation and Training Program was established in 1957 and is one of the few in the nation that has a full time driving program, that does OT driving screenings as well as inpatient and outpatient clinical driving evaluations and on-road training using either a modified car or van with adaptive driving equipment.
Referrals come from individuals, family members, physicians, health care professionals, California Children’s Services, Victims of Violent Crime, Department of Rehabilitation, Department of Motor Vehicle Driver Safety Office, other hospitals, worker’s compensation, and case managers. We work with AARP, AAA, CHP (California Highway Patrol), AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association), and ASA (American Society on Aging) on CAR FIT, helping mature drivers find their perfect fit in their vehicles.
The program evaluates teenagers who are first time
drivers with chronic disabilities to 90+
year olds who never had formal driving training
but have multiple medical conditions and age-related changes.
Disabilities/medical conditions that individuals have
may include:
- Adult Brain Injury
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Stroke
- Amputation
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Arthritis
- Polio/Post Polio
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Cerebral Palsy
- Spina Bifida
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Guillain Barre
- Dementia
- Others
Services
- Pre-driving screening, assistance with the Department of Motor vehicles to obtain a special instruction permit. Assistance with the DMV procedures with the Driver Safety Office.
- Driver education for new or experienced drivers
- Information, referrals, and/or counseling about other programs, resources, funding sources for disabled parking, vendors for modified vehicles and driving equipment, alternative transportation.
- Passenger evaluation for modified vehicles
- OT Clinical evaluation to assess functional abilities (strength, coordination, sensation, reaction time, fatigue, pain), vision (saccades, acuity, color, night vision, glare recovery, peripheral, tracking, center alignment), perception (spatial relations, figure ground), cognition (safety judgment, quick decision making and processing, road knowledge, executive functioning, map reading, memory, etc.).
- Evaluation of vehicle and equipment needs
- Behind-the-wheel evaluation of driving skills and on-road training in modified vehicles
- Preparation for DMV licensing or review transportation alternatives.
Statement of the problem
Individuals who are physically or cognitively challenged may want to know if they have the potential to drive; some may want to know if there is an easier or safer way to continue to drive (newer equipment or technology, user friendly vehicles). Family members/concerned individuals and/or health care professionals may want to know if driving should be discontinued for the driver in question and what the other available transportation options are. Physicians need to know if it is safe for their patients to drive because of liability issues. Some individuals are denied the privilege of driving, having their license suspended because of a disability (i.e., right leg amputation, lower extremity paralysis, stroke), but may have the potential to drive safely after proper equipment assessment and training. Seniors may have modified their driving, avoiding traffic, freeways, and bad weather but may need a refresher course on-the-road. Even the Department of Motor Vehicles may need input from a hospital-based driving program regarding the driving skills, medical and functional disabilities/abilities of individuals.
Our driving program can assist with the above-mentioned concerns. Our ultimate concern is for individual safety, public safety, and meeting desired community mobility needs for individuals to participate in occupational roles and lifestyles of quality and satisfaction.
For more information contact
Occupational/Recreation Therapy Department
Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center
7601 E. Imperial Highway
Driving Program, Bldg 900, Room 91
Downey, CA 90242
Tel: (562) 401-7081
Fax: (562) 401-6167