Our driver rehabilitation specialists are experienced occupational therapists with advanced training in driving rehabilitation. We provide driving evaluations to determine safe goals for travel.

All three steps take about 4 hours.

Step 2 of the driving evaluation takes place in our driving rehab car. We use our car because it has special equipment for added safety.

Don’t worry! We appreciate that driving someone else’s car requires adjustment. Therefore, the first thing we will do is give you time to get use to our car. Then, once you are ready, the evaluation will begin.

During step 3 of the driving evaluation, we will talk to you and your family member about your outcome. Your DRS will talk about patterns of safety or concern with driving. Outcomes may include return or continue driving, additional driving training, hold on driving with plans for re-evaluation, or driving retirement.

No, as specialists, we evaluate your performance with driving and any impact from illness or injury. We work with you, your family, and doctor to help determine safe goals with driving. At times we will be asked to send reports to the department of motor vehicle, but we will always discuss this with you first. The department of motor vehicle is the licensing agency holds all authority for your driver’s license.

Sometimes, if you have not driven for a while, or you are recovering from a new injury, driving training may be helpful. Training is also provided if you are learning to drive with adaptive equipment. After your evaluation, your specialist will talk to you about recommendations for driving training and provide you with a plan. Driving training sessions typically run from 1.5 to 2 hours and the number of training sessions vary from driver to driver.

If you have loss sensation in your right foot, or have loss the use of your arm or leg, there may be adaptive equipment options to make it easier to drive. During your driving evaluation, we will help select and trial adaptive equipment options.

Common adaptive driving equipment options include hand controls (for using the left arm for gas & brake while the right arm steers), steering devices, adaptive mirrors, and left foot accelerators (for using the left foot for gas & brake).

Yes, all drivers must be able to independently transfer into and out of a sedan driver seat to participate in our program’s client services.

Outcomes are shared with your referring doctor, and may be shared with your state licensing agency.

Please bring with you to your appointment:

Valid driver’s license

Physician referral ordering “OT Driving Evaluation and Treatment”

Completed Intake & Signed forms

Payment (Checks made out to ‘Empower Driving Solutions’)

If your driver’s license has been suspended, please reach out to us. We may still be able to help! Our specialists are skilled with understanding various state licensing & permit processes.

Many of our clients are recovering from a medical illness or injury and therefore need to secure their doctor’s permission to participate in the driving evaluation. The referral order for an, “Occupational Therapy Driving Evaluation & treatment,” serves as permission to evaluate you.

Prior to your appointment, you will be provided online access to our forms including a medical release, release of liability, and attestation of driver’s license. Please take your time to carefully read and sign these forms. Please note we require all forms to be completed and signed prior to participation in our program services.

Payment is due at the time of service via check, cash or credit card (checks are preferred). Checks may be made out to Empower Driving Solutions. Your specialist will collect payment at the start of your appointment.

Empower Driving Solutions is a private, case based practice. Driving evaluations generally are not covered by health or car insurance and we do not bill insurance. Should your health or car insurance provider cover this service, we are more than happy to provide you with a copy of your driving evaluation to submit for reimbursement. Please note, payment is still due at the time of service and any insurance filing is the responsibility of the client.

When you schedule your appointment with us, we block off several hours to be able to provide you with individualized care. We understand that things do come up and you may need to reschedule your appointment. Should you need to do so, we request you reschedule any needs at least 48 hours in advance of your appointment. This will provide us with enough time to help reshuffle our schedules.

Appoint cancellations that occur within 48 hours, are subject to a cancellation fee of $50. Cancellation fees will be billed directly to the client via invoice.