
If you’ve experienced an injury, illness or medical condition that’s affected your ability to drive, our specialized Driver Rehabilitation Program can help facilitate your return behind the wheel and back on the road to independence.
Services are selected based on your physician’s recommendation and your individual needs. We provide evaluations and training for adults 18 years old and older who would like to resume driving after an illness or injury, including:
• Experienced drivers who sustained a cognitive or physical injury or illness, including stroke, traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury.
• Older adults affected by medical changes.
• People who require vehicle modification recommendations for personal transportation.
We’ll evaluate your current skills, assess your potential to drive and, when appropriate, identify ways to rebuild your skills safely and with confidence. If adaptive tools or vehicle modifications would make driving safer and easier, we can help with that, too.
Contact Us
Eager to get back into the driver’s seat? Start by talking to your doctor about whether you’re ready to begin driver rehabilitation. If you get the go-ahead, request a prescription for an evaluation. Next, call us!
Mary Free Bed Driver Rehabilitation
Mary Ives Hunting Center
360 Lafayette Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone: 616.840.8161
Fax: 616.840.9952
Mary Free Bed Driver Rehabilitation
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation at Munson Medical Center
3988 W. Royal Drive
Traverse City, MI 49684
Phone: 231.421.1599
Fax: 231.421.1606
OUR SERVICES
Your rehabilitation specialists will coordinate the Driver Rehabilitation Program services best suited for your needs.
Comprehensive Driving Evaluation
A comprehensive driving evaluation is an assessment of your ability to drive or return to driving. If you need special equipment or vehicle modification, we’ll provide information about what’s available and how much it may cost.
The evaluation may include:
• A clinical evaluation performed by a Mary Free Bed occupational therapist, who will assess things such as your vision and motor function. He or she also provides insight into your strengths and any potential problem areas that could affect your ability to safely drive.
• A functional driving evaluation by your driver rehabilitation specialist will assess your driving skills in a variety of traffic situations. This professional also will review your medical history, driver’s license status and driving history to gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors that affect your ability to return to the road.
• Wheelchair access compatibility assessment (if applicable).
• Education about adaptive equipment (if applicable).
• Documentation that may include prognosis for success, an estimate of time necessary for training and licensing, summary of vehicle and adaptive equipment needs.
Driver Education and Rehabilitation
This training is based on your individual needs. We’ll also guide you through the licensing process. If you require vehicle modifications, we’ll provide specific information to help you make a purchase decision.
Driver education/rehabilitation includes:
• Behind-the-wheel experience with a driver rehabilitation specialist.
• Road test with licensing authority.
• Vehicle modification consultation (if applicable).
Driver Rehabilitation for Experienced Drivers Needing an Assessment
This evaluation may be the right choice if you’ve experienced a head injury or stroke. These injuries can cause changes in your visual, perceptual and cognitive skills. A professional assessment of your driving skills may be necessary before you return to driving. In some cases, training may be required to help you or a family member compensate for any changes in skill.
Driver Rehabilitation for Older Drivers
Our driver rehabilitation program may be appropriate for you or a family member having trouble driving related to factors such as:
• Slowed reaction time
• Vision problems
• Degenerative disease affecting ability to drive
We’ll evaluate your current driving skills and create an assessment of what’s needed for you or your family member to continue driving safely. We can provide training, tips or vehicle modifications as necessary. When appropriate, we’ll provide information about driving retirement and alternative forms of transportation.
Driver Rehabilitation for Drivers Needing Vehicle Modifications
Driver re-training is helpful if you already have a license but need vehicle modifications because of an amputation, stroke, spinal cord injury or another condition. We’ll not only teach you how to drive modified vehicles, but also help throughout the process of obtaining your own modified vehicle. We have various driving systems available for trial use and can modify a vehicle specifically for your training. We also can provide detailed information about adaptive equipment, costs and maintenance.
Vehicle Modification Assistance
A driver rehabilitation specialist will provide you with a consultation, assistance and training, as needed, if you’re purchasing a modified vehicle with adaptive equipment.
Vehicle modification assistance includes:
• Modification process
• Test drive and conformance inspection
• Vehicle familiarization
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here are some of the questions we most frequently hear from patients interested in driver rehabilitation: