Origami - Driver Rehabilitation

Mission:

Blending safety, judgment, self-esteem, and independence in the areas of community mobility.

The decision of whether an individual is capable of driving is one of the most important decisions of the health care professional. At Origami Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center, provision of specialized, comprehensive services for persons with special driving needs is offered to ensure that a SAFE decision is made. The following services are available:

Clinical Driving Evaluation and Retraining:

Evaluation consists of a combination of standardized and non-standardized assessment tools for visual-spatial perception, tactile-kinesthetic perception, motor performance, and cognitive skills. The Useful Field of View (UFOV®) pre-driving assessment is incorporated to further evaluate skills needed for safe driving within the community. Computerized exercises, paper/pencil activities, community-based practice, and functional scenario training are tailored to the client’s cognitive, perceptual, and motor needs.

Sheltered Hands-On Driving Evaluation and Retraining:

Utilizing an electric GEM vehicle equipped with vehicle appointments (i.e. turn signals, hazard lights, horn, headlights) allows clients to drive in safe, but realistic terms. The driving course is located on Origami’s 35 acres of land.

This provides the evaluator with clinical observation of visual-spatial perceptual functions such as visual attention, depth perception, spatial relations, visual scanning, size/shape discrimination, visual processing speed; motor skills in such areas as fine/gross motor coordination, range of motion, reaction time, motor sequencing, motor planning, motor control, and needs for adaptive technology; and cognitive skills such as the anticipation of hazards, concentration/attention, following directions, problem solving, decision making, sequencing, judgment, reasoning, impulse control, rules of the road, and knowledge of regulatory and traffic signs.

Clinical and simulated driving evaluations/retraining are completed by Origami’s Registered Occupational Therapists. Collaborative arrangements with community driving services make behind-the-wheel evaluations, vehicle modifications/retraining, and driver’s education available at Origami provided by Certified Driving Rehabilitation Specialists.

Origami’s Occupational Therapists are specialized in Cognitive Perceptual Motor Retraining (see attached article published in the Journal of Cognitive Rehabilitation). CPM is a systematic approach utilized for the remediation of deficits in sensory-motor, perceptual-motor, and cognitive functioning. In additional to the CPM specialization, Origami’s 35 acres of land allows for functional assessment and training using an electric GEM vehicle. It is essential to evaluate an individual’s performance within a clinical setting as well as a functional, safe environment.

Disabilities may be neurological, developmental, or age-associated changes. This may include, but is not limited to, acquired brain injury, stroke, Alzheimer’s/dementia, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, muscular dystrophy, visual disorders, Parkinson’s disease or other sources of trauma.

Origami will need information provided by the client’s physician to help evaluate the individual’s needs. A physician’s prescription is required to initiate services. We suggest that the physician requests an “Occupational Therapy Pre-driving Evaluation.” Any of the following may be a referral source: case managers, rehabilitation professionals, counselors, physicians, insurance companies, family members, and self-referral.

Services are not generally a covered benefit under traditional health insurance policies; however, services may be covered under private or specialty insurance policies or 3rd party payers.

The individual is notified of the evaluation results and recommendations approximately 5 business days following its completion. At the conclusion of the evaluation, possible outcomes may include recommendation for:

Clinical driver’s retraining
Sheltered hands-on driving course retraining
A behind-the-wheel assessment by a community driving service
Vehicle modifications and/or retraining to accommodate physical needs
Referral to a Neuro-ophthalmologist/ophthalmologist or other specialists
Discontinuation of driving secondary to safety concerns
Re-evaluation at a later date
Release to resume driving responsibilities