This course provides a broad overview of medical conditions and the driver rehabilitation process.  Topics include acquired, congenital, developmental and progressive disabilities; visual impairments, eye diseases and disorders and the older driver and the aging process as they affect driving, driver assessment and training. The course content is tailored to target the needs of driving instructors with an emphasis placed on how the specific sequelae of disabilities can affect driving performance.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will identify common perceptual, physical and cognitive challenges within the aged population and appreciate how these challenges can affect driving performance.

2. Participants will identify perceptual, physical and cognitive challenges associated with common acquired and congenital disabilities and will appreciate how these challenges can affect driving performance.

3. Participants will have and understanding of the driver assessment process and implications for driver training.

4. Participants will be able to identify the roles of  the Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialists and the Driving Instructor and how this partnership works.

5. Participants will be aware of ADED’s Best Practices.

Abstract: The executive function and intellectual capabilities of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders varies significantly between individuals with ASD, and this plays a significant role in their ability to drive. The DRS/CDRS must assess these functions using a variety of tools, including interview, standardized testing, and behind the wheel assessments in order to determine if driving is a realistic and achievable goal for these consumers. 

Learning Objectives:

1.         Participants will develop an understanding of ASD as defined in the DSM V

2.         Participants will understand executive dysfunction and associated behaviors that may be problematic when learning to drive

3.         Participants will be provided with case studies using new DSM V criteria to determine likely challenges with driving

Eligible for one contact hour

Teens are a vulnerable population when it comes to driving- as car crashes are the biggest killer of young adults. After nearly a decade of decreasing motor vehicle fatalities, recent crash data indicates a deadly reversal of this trend. To combat this Shepherd Center’s certified driver rehabilitation specialists used their specialized training to create AutoCoach, an innovative app that makes it easier for adults to effectively teach their teens to drive defensively and safely. This year, in partnership with the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and CapTech, Shepherd Center will launch AutoCoach 2.0. This second incarnation of the app will be geared towards parents of teens with both physical and cognitive disabilities. As the leading brain and spinal cord injury hospital in America, Shepherd has a responsibility to not only tackle our number one mechanism of injury, but to focus our injury prevention efforts towards the population that we serve.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will understand the nationwide trends in motor vehicle crashes
• Participants will understand the scope of fatalities and injuries associated with motor vehicle crashes and how this translates to Shepherd Center’s patients.
• Participants will learn about the four E’s of prevention- engineering, enforcement, education, and EMS
• Participants will be able to understand a new plan and pathway for teaching teen driving to teens with cognitive and physical disabilities.

Eligible for 1 contact hour

This 1.5 hour course. Medications can have side effects that impact safety behind the wheel. Despite high prescription and over-the-counter medication use, most drivers using medications have never talked with their health care providers about how the drugs might affect their safe driving.  The goal of this presentation is to explain the range of effects of legal, illegal, over-the-counter, and prescription medications that may impair driving ability.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this seminar, participants will:

• Identify different classes of medication that may impact driving.
• Understand red flags for driving with respect to medications and/or polypharmacy.
• Discuss resources to obtain current information regarding specific medications, their interactions and potential impact on driving safety which may range from positive to negative to neutral.
• Assess the potential impact of cannabis use and driving.

This 3 hour course focuses entirely on behind-the-wheel training, providing participants with techniques and strategies to target the problem areas linked to the specific situation/disability of their client. This course also teaches effective communication techniques to use with specific special populations, including how to facilitate learning and how to provide appropriate feedback.

Learning Objectives:

1.  The participant will identify strategies to improve driving difficulties associated with visual perceptual challenges resulting from ageing or disability.

2.  The participant will identify strategies to improve driving difficulties associated with physical challenges resulting from ageing or disability.

3.  The participant will identify strategies to improve driving difficulties associated with cognitive challenges resulting from ageing or disability.

4. Participants will appreciate the role of the certified driver rehabilitation specialist and learn how and when to collaborate with them in order to develop and adjust realistic goals based on the client’s functional abilities.

5. Participants will identify and practice effective communication techniques to facilitate driver training with specific special populations.

This 2-hour course will connect the clinical and behind-the-wheel evaluation outcomes to assist the driver rehabilitation specialist on how to modify their training approaches for behind-the-wheel intervention based on the client’s evaluation outcomes and individualized needs.  Training approaches for different symptoms and diagnoses that raise special concerns for driving will be discussed to assist with developing a client based plan of care. Best practice for documentation and communication with the client and other professionals will be discussed. This course will review the strategies discussed in the previous workshop for intervention; such as re-evaluation, driver cessation, potential plan of care for training, and how to determine if training is not appropriate.

Objectives:

• Recognize evidence-based training approaches and compensatory strategies to remediate common cognitive perceptual deficits related to neuro based injuries (TBI)
• Understand BTW training techniques that may help address cognitive perceptual difficulties for clients with learning disabilities.
• Understand BTW training techniques that may help address compensatory strategies for age related changes.
• Understand potential outcomes of training and use of objective re-assessment to ensure progression of driving skill development or determine when training should be terminated.
• Build skills to develop an intervention plan for clients presenting with cognitive-perceptual difficulties.

This course focuses on the most common low-tech primary and secondary control modifications, such as hand controls, left-foot accelerator, pedal extensions, aids for steering wheel (spinner knob, turn signal extension, etc.). Clinical assessment findings will be related to the equipment selection criteria to help the driving specialist determine the most appropriate equipment to meet the needs of their client. Behind the wheel training techniques and tips as well as the equipment fitting process will be covered. Case studies will be used to illustrate the concepts and allow the participants to apply the information presented. Appropriate documentation will be discussed as it applies to communication with the mobility vendor, client and funding sources. ADED Best Practices and the NMEDA guidelines will be reviewed to help the driving specialist understand their role in the provision of this type of equipment.

This course includes the Adaptive Driving Equipment Behind the Wheel Review. Course participants will be required to examine, and test drive/sample a variety of adaptive driving equipment under the guidance of a Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist, an ADED Mobility Equipment Dealer Member, or at an ADED Conference expo. 

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to identify low-tech primary and secondary control modifications
• Participants will understand which adaptive equipment and modifications are available for specific client medical conditions and functional deficits
• Participants will understand how low-tech adaptive equipment for operation of primary and secondary controls are installed
• Participants will understand documentation for primary and secondary modifications and how to best communicate with others involved in client care
• Participant will understand ADED Best Practice Guidelines and NMEDA Guidelines related to low-tech primary and secondary control modifications

Spectrum of Driver Services / Spectrum of Driver Rehabilitation Program Services Documents and Quiz
You can use the document to assist as you answer quiz questions.
You have 24 hours to complete this quiz, you must complete the quiz in one session you cannot start and then continue at another time.
Read and answer the questions carefully.

These Best Practice Guidelines are intended to support ADED’s mission to promote excellence in the field of driver rehabilitation, thought leadership, and advocacy in support of safe, independent community mobility. In writing the ADED Best Practice Guidelines, the authors had full knowledge that this document does not stand alone: it is to be used in conjunction with the ADED Code of Ethics. Together, these documents form a firm foundation for the driver rehabilitation profession. It is ADED’s position that any person involved in the delivery of driver rehabilitation services (including but not limited to driver rehabilitation specialists (DRS), driver educators, allied health professionals, mobility equipment vendors, manufacturers, clients, and families) will conduct themselves in an ethical and professional manner. In order to promote the best outcome for clients, prudent clinical judgment should be used at all times, including consideration of applicable laws and other guidelines or resources that may exist regarding the delivery of driver rehabilitation services.

You can use the document to assist as you answer quiz questions.
Once you begin the quiz, you have 24 hours to complete this quiz, you must complete the quiz in one session you cannot start and then continue at another time.
Read and answer the questions carefully.