Driving

Source: Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, Susan Lillie, OTR

Many special needs young adults are eligible to drive and obtain a Driver’s License. If your child is over 16 and you think he/she might be eligible to drive, please check with your child’s physician regarding any needed medical clearance.

Formal Driving Evaluation—SCVMC no longer offers formal driver evaluations, but wants to provide information and resources for our patients. A comprehensive evaluation is the combination of a clinical assessment and behind-the-wheel assessment. A Bay Area community program that offers comprehensive evaluation services includes:

Adaptive Driving Services

Hazel Simin, OTR (408) 984-7949. Evaluations are typically not covered by medical insurance.

Information regarding driving with physical disabilities:

  1. Driving and Cerebral Palsy: http://www.driver-ed.org/files/public/Cerebral_Palsy.pdf

 

Driving and Spina Bifida: http://www.driver-ed.org/files/public/Spina_Bifida.pdf

 

Driving and Traumatic Brain Injury: http://www.driver-ed.org/files/public/TBI.pdf

Adaptive Driving Schools

Experience varies with instructor. Most Driver Instructors travel to your home and provide a training car. Driving instruction is not covered by medical insurance.

  1. Safe Driving School
    Website: www.TheSafeDriver.com
    Contact: Marc Samuels OT
    Phone: 650-455-3703

 

 

Driver Assessment Facilities

 

Adaptive Driving Aid

 

3155 Williamsburg Drive

 

San Jose, CA 95117

 

Phone: 1-408-866-7237 or 1-800-371-4243

 

Contact: Sam Graf, Rehabilitation Driver Consultant

 

Offers driver evaluations based out of the client’s home and, when appropriate, using the client’s own car. Mobile, on-site evaluations from Santa Rosa to Monterey. Offers driver education and training. Adaptive equipment installation. Prospective clients must have a driver’s license or temporary permit.

 

 

Apex Driving School

 

275 Fifth Street

 

San Francisco, CA 94103

 

Phone: 1-415-541-4090

 

Fax: 1-415-566-2941

 

Provides individuals with disabilities the essential skills for safe driving,

 

and when necessary for safety, assists their transition to a non-driver

 

status. Offers driver assessment/evaluation, education and training. Offers classroom instruction and On Road instruction. Offers licensing assistance.

 

Bond Driving School

 

3333 Balmoral Drive

 

Sacramento, CA 95821

 

Phone: 1-916-485-5779 or 1-877-907-BOND

 

http://www.bonddrivingschool.com/

 

Offers specialized adaptive driving instruction using the vehicle owned by the person with a disability.

 

 

Simply the Best Driving School

 

648 Northfield Drive, Suite C

 

Sacramento, CA 95833

 

Phone: 1-916-929-7085

 

Offers adaptive driving evalations and training.

Books

 

The Disabled Driver’s Mobility Guide

 

AAA Traffic Safety and Engineering

 

1000 AAA Drive

 

Heathrow, FL 32746-5080

 

E-Mail: publicaffairs@national.aaa.com

 

http://www.aaapublicaffairs.com

 

Contact your local AAA office or go to their website. Includes information about adaptive equipment, vehicle modifications, driver training and related services