Occupational Therapy Driver Rehabilitation Program

This program supports safe driving through evaluation, on-road training and education in adaptive equipment.

Contact: 614-293-2001

Learning to drive or regaining the ability to drive again after an injury or medical condition is a much-anticipated step toward independence and improved quality of life. Driving not only provides essential mobility for daily activities, work and social engagement, but it also fosters a sense of autonomy, confidence and reconnection with your community.

For many, learning how to drive or returning to driving represents a significant milestone. The occupational therapists with the Driver Rehabilitation Program at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, understand the importance of helping you live your life to the fullest, including getting you behind the wheel safely. Our team can also help guide decisions about the safety of continuing to drive if you’re experiencing a change in function.

What is driving rehabilitation?

Driving rehabilitation is designed to help people with medical, physical, visual or cognitive difficulties learn or regain the skills necessary for safe, independent driving. This specialized occupational therapy service helps to:

  • Identify at-risk drivers
  • Determine your fitness to drive
  • Provide driver rehabilitation and training
  • Teach novice drivers with medical issues or learning difficulties to drive

The occupational therapists in the Driver Rehabilitation Program at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center are Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialists (CDRS) and licensed driving instructors. They provide driving services to those affected by neurological, orthopedic or developmental conditions, or to those who have experienced age-related changes in function. Through our adaptive driving program, our goal is to restore or enhance driving abilities to help you remain mobile and improve your quality of life.

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Occupational Therapy driver rehabilitation program

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Our Team

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Susan Wolf, OTR/L, CDRS

Occupational Therapist

Susan Wolf, OTR/L, CDRS, has extensive experience in outpatient rehabilitation and over 10 years of experience in the field of driving rehabilitation. At the Assistive Technology Center, Susan provides clinical and behind-the-wheel assessments and training for young adults through seniors. Susan is an instructor for the central Ohio Bioptic Driving Program. She also has specialized training for adaptive driving equipment and meeting the driving needs of individuals with autism. Susan enjoys addressing mobility needs for each individual.
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Mary Miller, OTR/L, CDRS, LDI

Occupational Therapist

Mary Miller, OTR/L, CDRS, LDI, has been working in the field of occupational therapy since 2014. She has years of experience in inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, currently specializing in driver rehabilitation at the Assistive Technology Center. Mary has obtained specialty certification as a certified driver rehabilitation specialist and licensed driving instructor. Mary provides clinical and behind-the-wheel driving assessments for clients with a variety of diagnoses and skill levels. She has extensive rehab experience with patients who have neurologic, orthopedic, cognitive and visual conditions and is a member of the central Ohio Bioptic Driving Program.
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Elizabeth Gauen

Rehabilitation Engineer

Elizabeth Gauen joined Assistive Technology Services at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in 2019. She works both in the Wheelchair Seating Clinic and the Driver Rehabilitation Program, with a focus on high tech driver rehabilitation. Elizabeth enjoys collaborating with physical and occupational therapists and applying technology to meet each individual's unique needs.
Emily Haffner OTR/L, CDRS, LDI

Emily Haffner, CScD, OTR/L, CDRS, LDI

Occupational Therapist and Driving Team Leader

Emily Haffner, OTR/L, CDRS, LDI, has worked in the field of driving rehabilitation since 2013. She is a licensed driving instructor and is also a certified driving rehabilitation specialist. Emily provides clinical and behind-the-wheel assessments for people who want to return to driving or learn how to drive. She has extensive experience working with adult neurological populations and with adaptive equipment and vehicle modifications. In addition to driving rehabilitation, she has advanced skills in knowledge translation and implementation and enjoys working on ways to bring evidence from research into practice.
Nick Bell

Nick Bell, OTR/L, CDRS, LDI

Occupational Therapist

Nick Bell, OTR/L, CDRS, LDI, has been providing skilled occupational therapy services since 2017. He specializes in driver rehabilitation in Assistive Technology Services at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. Nick provides clinical and behind-the-wheel assessments for clients with a variety of diagnoses and skill levels. He has extensive rehab experience with individuals with autism spectrum disorder, as well as patients who have neurologic, cognitive and visual conditions.
Christine Kennedy

Christi Kennedy, OTD, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist

Christi Kennedy, OTD, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Assistive Technology Center. She is an early career professional and received her OTD education from Ohio State where she gained advanced experience at the Assistive Technology Center and as a student intern with a local wheelchair supplier. Christi is passionate about finding a just right match between equipment and users and regularly advocates for the needs of her patients. She is a leader in complex power and manual mobility with skills in propulsion analysis, pressure mapping and custom seating.

Christi shares her time as a Driver Rehab Specialist focusing on new drivers, aging drivers and neurodivergent populations. She also shares her time in the Smart Clinic at the Assistive Technology Center helping match people with adaptive gaming equipment, home automation devices, and other assistive technology. Christi enjoys collaborating with PT, OT, SLP and Rehab Engineering to best serve her patients.

Andy Van

Andy Van, OTD, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist

Andy Van OTD, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center Assistive Technology Center. He is an early career professional who joins the team from the inpatient rehabilitation setting, where he treated both orthopedic and neurologic patients. Currently, Andy shares his time between driver rehab and the Wheelchair Clinic. He provides clinical and behind-the-wheel assessments for aging drivers and drivers who require adaptive equipment. He also conducts wheelchair evaluations for power and manual mobility with skills in propulsion analysis, seating and pressure mapping. He is passionate about supporting individuals with disabilities in living their lives as independently as possible, engaging in the activities they want and need to perform without the burden of discomfort or increased pain.

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