Occupational Therapy Driver Rehabilitation Program

Anyone who has physical, visual or cognitive challenges and needs assistance learning or regaining the skills to drive may benefit from Ohio State’s driving rehab program. Our program also provides services to assess fitness to continue driving for people with progressive medical conditions.

We provide driving evaluations and skill-development services for:

• Older drivers, including those with early onset dementia, Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease 
• Drivers with acquired disabilities, including physical or visual impairments, or those who have had a stroke, brain injury or other condition
• Novice drivers with diagnoses such as spina bifida, cerebral palsy, autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

We help people obtain their driver’s license for the first time or get it again if they sustained an injury or had an illness that prevented them from driving for a period.

How do I participate in the driver rehabilitation program?

Please follow these steps to participate in our driver rehabilitation program:

• You’ll need to obtain a physician's referral stating, “OT driver rehabilitation program,” that includes all pertinent diagnosis and contact information, to be faxed or sent via electronic medical records.
• We’ll contact you to schedule the appointment upon receiving the referral.
• A valid driver's license or learner’s permit is required for any on-road portion of the program.
• Call 614-293-2001 if you have any questions about the process.

Driver rehabilitation services offered at Ohio State

Following your referral to us from your physician, our driving rehab program provides these services:

Occupational therapy driving evaluation

This appointment consists of a clinical evaluation and on-road assessment in a hospital-owned vehicle with a brake on the passenger side. The clinical portion assesses:

• Visual acuity, visual fields and depth perception
• Visual-perceptual skills
• Reaction time, strength and mobility
• Cognitive skills, including attention, decision-making and memory

The on-road assessment starts in an open parking lot before progressing to the roads. The assessment may be modified based on the driver’s skill level. Upon completion of the evaluation, all results and recommendations are shared with the client and the referring provider.

On-road training

We provide behind-the-wheel instruction in state-inspected training vehicles that are equipped with instructor controls on the passenger side and a wide range of adaptive equipment options. Training focuses on how to safely operate a vehicle using vehicle modifications, compensatory techniques and safety procedure training. Vehicle modifications may include:

• Spinner knob
• Hand controls
• Left foot accelerator
• Turn signal crossover

Bioptic driving program

Bioptic telescopic spectacles, which have a small telescope implanted in one or both lenses, allow people with vision impairment to obtain driving licensure when their vision doesn’t meet state standards. The telescope is used for brief periods to spot distant targets, such as road signs and traffic signals. Individuals with vision loss due to nystagmus, albinism, optic neuropathy, macular degeneration and other eye diseases may be candidates for our bioptic driving program. Candidates will be seen by optometrists and fitted with bioptics prior to entry to our program.

High-tech evaluation and training van

Through our driving rehab program, you can preview the assistive devices that are on our training van before making any modifications to your vehicle. Features on our van include:

• No-effort steering system
• Electronic gas and brake system
• Touchpad static secondary control
• Voice scan in-motion control

This allows you and your family to make important decisions about what might be necessary for your vehicle.

Transportation services

While you’re awaiting evaluation and training, we can connect you with community transportation to help you get to and from work, school or leisure activities, if necessary. Some of the community transportation programs we work with include:

• Public transportation
• Shuttles
• Senior transit services, and more

Vehicle-modification recommendations

We provide written prescriptions for vehicle modifications that allow for passenger transport or independent operation of a vehicle as a driver. The prescription is used by NMEDA (National Mobility Equipment Dealer Association) certified dealers to install the vehicle modifications.

People of legal driving age with diverse medical conditions seek the Driver Rehabilitation Program at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center for evaluation and training that will enable them to drive more safely. Here’s why:

Personalized care: You will receive a personal clinical assessment to evaluate changes in physical functioning, vision, perception and processing abilities that could impact driving safety. Assessments are given by a licensed and registered occupational therapist and will lead to an individualized care plan.

Special services: Our nationally certified driver rehabilitation specialists, who have special training in medical conditions and their implications on driving, do on-the-road assessments.

Accredited programs: Ohio State’s rehabilitation driving program is licensed by the Ohio Department of Public Safety as a Class D, Disability Driver Training School.

Additional driving rehabilitation resources

Columbus offers several transportation options. View our transportation guide here.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has produced a series of short videos to show how different medical conditions can impact driving. Watch these videos here.

For more information on driver rehabilitation, reference the resources below:

• American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.
• Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists
• Ohio Driver Training