A broken bone. A torn muscle. A spinal cord injury. One of the most
difficult aspects of coping with a disability - sudden or not, temporary or
permanent - is the loss of your freedom to get around. For many people,
using public transportation or getting a ride with a friend is an answer.
In many cases, however, you don't have to rely on the kindness of friends
and family. You can continue to drive with the proper assessment, adaptive
equipment, and training. With any type of injury, the step is an evaluation
by a trained assessor or occupational therapist. Your physician will advise
you of the seriousness of the injury or illness, of course, and my
recommend an assessment of your ability to drive. "Assessors are trained to
evaluate the driving ability of people with a wide range of conditions,
from a broken right ankle, to a stroke, to Parkinson's or Alzheimer's
disease," says Chuck Butler, AAA's director of Driver Safety Services. Your
doctor or the state office of rehabilitation services can recommend
qualified assessors or occupational therapists. The Veterans Administration
also conducts driver assessment and training for U.S. military veterans and
certain members of their immediate family.
After the evaluation, the occupational therapist or assessor will specify
the adaptive equipment and special training you'll need to continue
driving. The complexity - and cost - of the equipment depends on the
disability. "Each disability is as different as a persons fingerprints,"
says Becky Plank, executive director of the National Mobility Equipment
Dealers Association (NMEDA). "If your right leg is broken, for example, you
need a left-foot accelerator, depending on the assumed length of the
injury. A broken arm may simply require an automatic transmission." Or, if
your right arm is too weak to shift the gear selector, you may need a
"cross-over gear selector" to let you shift with your left hand.
With more serious disabilities - a spinal cord injury, for example -
drivers need hand controls and possibly someone to accompany them when
they're behind the wheel. "Usually, the equipment needed for broken bones
and other short-term injuries isn't worth the time or money," says Plank.
Equipment costs alone can range from $20 to over $2,000, and delivery and
installation (not to mention training) can take three weeks or more.
Furthermore, some adaptive equipment requires a doctor's prescription and
special restrictions on your driver's license. The restrictions must be
removed from the license when you've recovered sufficiently and no longer
need the equipment
The Right Hardware
Although the costs and hassles may be prohibitive for temporary injuries,
most experts recommend adaptive equipment for people with disabilities
lasting a year or longer. The Association of Driver Education for the
Disabled (ADED), a professional organization dedicated to maximizing
transportation options for those who need them, can refer you to local
members for help. "Be sure to buy from a source with a degree from ADED,"
says Ray Cerna of ADED. Cerna cautions that ADED does not certify
organizations, but individuals: vendors displaying the logo have at least
one ADED member on staff.
The VA also tests and approves more complex adaptive systems, such as hand
controls, van lifts, and low-effort steering and braking systems. Before
you buy, ask if the equipment meets VA standards for safety and quality.
Even the best equipment must be installed and aligned properly to function
safely. Proper installation really is a matter of life and death: experts
warn that it's a job for technicians with specialized training, not for
do-it-yourselfers, or even ordinary mechanics. NMEDA certifies installers
and conducts quality-assurance programs, including audits of its members'
performance (800/833-0427). Look or installers displaying an NMEDA
certificate.
Back to School
Driving a car with adaptive equipment means learning a whole new set of
behind-the-wheel skills. AAA's Butler stresses that education and training
are essential for safe driving - part of a "systems approach" to improve
mobility for those with a disability. He recommend training only from a
certified instructor with experience in teaching drivers with disabilities.
Call your state motor vehicle agency and ask about certification and
regulation of disabled-driving instructors. When you talk to prospective
instructors, ask whether they've been trained not only in driving
techniques, but also in teaching those techniques to people with special
needs. Ask whether the instructor is ADED certified, or whether he or she
has taken AAA or ADED training courses for disabled-driver education.
With good equipment, good training, and plenty of practice, you can reclaim
your mobility - and your freedom - even after a disability.
The Disabled Driver's Mobility Guide, a resource guide for assessment,
equipment vendors, and training, can be obtained from your local AAA club
or by sending $7.95 to AAA Traffic Safety and Engineering, 1000 AAA Drive,
Heathrow, FL 32746-5063
Editors Note: "Copyright 1997 by AAA's Car & Travel magazine: reprinted
with permission"
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