GSU Occupational Therapy Driver Rehab Program
What is driver rehabilitation?
Driving and community mobility are linked to personal freedom and independence, playing a vital role in our lives. The ability to drive is key to accessing employment, health care, shopping, and socialization. Driver rehabilitation services involve specialized evaluations, training, and mobility planning to maximize access to those important life functions.
Who needs driver rehabilitation services?
The client base for driver rehabilitation includes individuals with physical disabilities, injuries or surgeries resulting in loss of limbs, strokes and traumatic brain injuries, neurodegenerative disorders, aging older adults, and teens with atypical neurodevelopment.
Many residents of the Chicago Southland have elevated risks for health conditions that could affect driving. The Chicago Southland is an aging population with 14.7% of citizens in Will County and 16.2% of citizens in Cook County 65 years or older. In Will County, 8.76% of the population, or 56,202 people has a disability. The Illinois Department of Public Health reports 4.21-11.7% of citizens in areas of the Chicago Southland have reported they’ve had a stroke before—far over the national average of 3%. Several communities in the region are medically underserved and are also exposed at an elevated rate to social and environmental factors that adversely affect health— making the people of this region much more likely to experience conditions that lead to decreased or impaired driver fitness.
In addition, public transportation infrastructure in the region is limited, making it even more difficult to mitigate the impact of driving limitations on essential life functions. In a Community Themes and Strengths Assessment (CTSA) by the Will County MAPP Collaborative, the community rated “Access to Public Transportation” as the #1 issue within the home.
Community mobility has a major impact on a person’s overall health and wellness. Driving and community mobility support is within the scope of Occupational Therapy practice. Occupational Therapists as well as other allied health professionals can specialize in driver rehabilitation. However, there are few such trained professionals relative to the need for these services, especially in the south suburban and rural region served by GovState.
Donation Questions:
Email us at engage@govst.edu or
Call us at +1.708.235.7510