I'm 17 years old with CP and I really want to be able to drive. I took the written test when i was 16, in drivers ed, and passed. I know for sure that i won't be able to drive a car without hand controls. I've searched online endlessly trying to find some place that could give me lessons. i haven't found a place yet.
it's just so fustrating because i want to get a part time job somewhere. The thing is my aunt who is my legal guardian doesn't have a car. She says if she had one she'd be more than happy to help me with the job situation. I think that if i had a car it would just be easier plus i'm going to college in less than a year. it would just be easier all around if i could drive. Anyone who could help with my situation, it would be very greatly appreciated!
:)

Hi Sasha615,
what State are you living in? Are you in the USA? If you are, contact your nearest GM (General Motors) dealer. GM has supported driver's with disabilities since World War II. They can provide you a car with hand controls or point you to the people that can. If you were in Montana, I could help you. I've been using hand controlled cars all my driving life. I got my license when I was 16. I am 54 now. Go to your nearest Wal-Mart and ask one of the disabled drivers that park in the special parking areas, where they got their equipment. Do a Google search for "adaptive driving"...

Musicmaker, I've never used hand controls, but might look into them for the future. I'm kind of confused on how they work though... what happens if you need to use 2 hands to steer around a curve or something? You wouldn't be able to accelerate or brake, would you?

edited because I can't type today!

JellyRJFan,
it's really simple... one lever controls the brake and the gas. Right or left handed. Just pull down towards your lap for the gas, release the lever and it goes back up, then push the lever in towards the dashboard for the brake. After some practice you never take you hand off the control except when you use the cruise control.

As far as steering, beginners use a spinner knob so they can turn corners using only one hand, After time you can steer and corner or turn using just one hand without a spinner knob, or suicide knob as we called them. Haven't you ever seen your father or mother steer corners using just one hand? It is really easy with a little practice...

Yay, someone else to relate to! I don't have my license either. Only I'm 18, and college is coming up THIS year...*sigh* I don't think I need hand controls, either. I have an appointment with a place that tests to see if a person has the ability to drive (potential ability) on August 3....I hope that provides me with some answers....because I leave for college on August 28....I'd love to chat more if you want. :)

thanks for the replys. i live in florida by the way and all i know so far is that florida doesn't have that much to offer...yet anyway :)

Sasha615,
you live in Florida, the elderly capital of the USA! The elder population needs adaptive stuff to, just like us with CP do. You should be able to find just what you need, if you just search... Try www.google.com for your computer info searches...

david it would be great to hear the advantages and disadvantages of a disabled driver.
thanks :)
Sasha615

Hi David,
just what are the advantages and disadvantages of being a disabled driver? I have been driving a car equipped with hand controls for 38 years. I can walk using 2 canes, so my rigid frame wheelchair goes in the trunk of my 92 Lumina Euro and my 96 Buick Century. There are MANY different brands and styles of hand controls, and I used a spinner knob when I was learning to drive, but when it broke on a curvy road, I quickly learned to drive without using one. I don't think Sasha615, JellyRJFan or nutcase16 use wheelchairs, at least on a regular basis. I never leave home without mine

I only use wheelchairs after surgery... but that doesn't mean there aren't times when I would kill for one, hahaha! I vaguely recall learning to walk during PT/OT using a walker, but I can walk independently now. Of couse I'm on the ground or running into things every 5 seconds, but other than that I am pretty good on my feet. I'm thinking about getting a left foot gas pedal because my right foot can't really move, and there have been rare occasions where it's slipped off the gas. Luckily there was no one around at the time, but it's a little scary when that happens! I have an appointment next week for my annual review, I plan to ask about Botox... I really hope that will help a little.

Thanks for the replys on the advantages and disadvantages of being a disabled driver, some of them made me crack up laughing! :D
Sasha615

Hello again,
we can joke about a lot of things. These young people are just begining their driving careers, and there is a lot of serious issues that will face them. To follow my advice will only serve to give them useful knowledge to never sweat the "small stuff"... Driving was something I always knew I could do. I never had any dificulty becoming a driver. These girls shouldn't either!

thanks for the replys. i live in florida by the way and all i know so far is that florida doesn't have that much to offer...yet anyway :)
thanks for the replys. i live in florida by the way and all i know so far is that florida doesn't have that much to offer...yet anyway :)

Sasha,

I live in FL, and I obtained my DL probably two yrs ago or so. I actually am still getting used to driving. I am confident in everything except changing lanes. Right now I just try to make sure I don't have to change lanes much :)

Anyway, after I obtained my Learners permit (written test), I was able to get the local Voc Rehab to help me with the lessons, etc. At the time they had certain criteria you had to meet before they would help you. I think you had to already have access to a vehicle, and you had to have a job.

It took me several years to be able to take driving lessons because I was kind of stuck in a catch 22 at the time because I had to have a job before Voc Rehab would pay, but on the other hand I couldn't get a job if I couldn't drive.

Soo, I ended up getting a job in on the weekends when someone could drive me. I also was/still am going to school. This also helped my case when I went back to Voc Rehab to ask them to help with my lessons which at the time were (75.00/hr :eek: ).

Voc Rehab approved me for driving lessons at that point. I took lessons at the local rehab hospital. I think I ended up taking 16 hrs. :) During the lessons, I used the vehicle that was owned by the rehab hospital.

I did had to be evaluated before I actually started the lessons to make sure I was physically and mentally competent, and also to determine what equipment I would need.

Voc Rehab also paid to have the hand controls installed in the vehicle I drove so that was nice also.

I don't know where you live, but I would first contact your nearest rehab hospital and ask them if they have a drivers training program, or else try contacting your local Vocational Rehabilitation office and see if they can help you.

Sorry this is so long.

Christine

Hello!

Is anybody out there who started with manual transmission and then changed for automatic gear and drives a "normal" non hand control car?

(I made my driving lessons last Dec. in a regular car with manual transmission but I think an automatic transmission could help me a lot because although I can use my both feet and drive with a standard transmission it takes too much to focus on everything and I´m too stressed and in panic when driving and I really HATE to drive:( In fact, since Dec. I did not drive but I would love to because I need it...

Thanks a lot in advance

(I have spastic diplegia and walk unassisted)

Here we go with "mainstreaming" difficulties again. I was not mainstreamed unitl I was 16, I took drivers training at 15, IN SCHOOL and used a hand controlled driving simulator. The cars were equipped with hand controls and the controls were adaptable to each driver's ability. At 16 I was already licensed and I drove myself to my AB High School. Being able to drive at 16 really helped my acceptance by the AB world,

Remember, this was the Los Angeles, California Unified School District in 1965. They had money back then

Hello!

Is anybody out there who started with manual transmission and then changed for automatic gear and drives a "normal" non hand control car?

(I made my driving lessons last Dec. in a regular car with manual transmission but I think an automatic transmission could help me a lot because although I can use my both feet and drive with a standard transmission it takes too much to focus on everything and I´m too stressed and in panic when driving and I really HATE to drive:( In fact, since Dec. I did not drive but I would love to because I need it...

Thanks a lot in advance

(I have spastic diplegia and walk unassisted)

I have to commend you for your courage to drive a manual transmission car in the first place! Are you living in the United States? So your overall body coordination is good? Driving an automatic transmission car with hand controls is what I have been doing for over 38 years. If you could control a manual transmission, an automatic would be much easier for you... I have Spastic Diplegia CP and I walk assisted

Buy or aquire a car with power brakes and an automatic transmission. It doesn't sound like you need hand controls at all. You may need to take some more drivers training classes to get over your panic and stress though...

ADVANTAGES
1. Great parking spaces, when available.
2. Safer, because with the hand controls you always have the brakes right there (no delay), versus an AB person having to lift their foot from the gas to the brake. That split second could make a difference.
3. When buying lots of stuff or large items, people tend to be more willing to help you get the items to your vehicle.
4. Once I was able to talk my way out of a speeding ticket because I told the officer I was "trying to get used to these hand controls." However, I don't recommend that to anyone and would never do that again.
5. Sometimes it's kind of fun to see the faces of other people when getting out of the car. Most of them wonder how in the world you can drive, and their faces show shock, admiration, amazement, etc. (great way to get dates if you're single) Also, it's fun when I park in a handicapped spot and my wife gets out before me. Often times people look at her with contempt because she's able bodied and they assume I am too ("How in the world can a handicapped person drive?" is their thinking.) Once they see me get out and retrieve my walker, they feel really stupid, and their faces show it. Once a drunk woman at an outdoor restaurant saw this happen and verbally gave my wife a hard time, talking to her friends. My wife smiled and waited for me. Once the lady saw me she looked ashamed and went inside. It was great..she had made a total idiot of herself!
6. The suicide knob is a blast.




hahaha.. Number 4 is halariuous. I think I'll try that if push comes to shove..
I do recall a time a couple of years back when I was pulled over for speeding and was genuinely sweating bullets since this would've killed my insurance rate given my age at the time. The cop comes over does all the standard stuff.. Shines his flashlight in the car, does a double take on my hand controls looks at my licence and lets me off with a warning.. I was lucky.. I realize that, but since I don't get many breaks, I'll take it :)

I got my licence at 17, I'm now 23, and really I've had no issues with driving. I have to attribute some of this to my parents though since they let me drive
their boat, jetski and snowmobile and at a young age. I was a fan of speed ever since the age of 10 but luckily my driving record doesn't show it. :) It was my dad who got me to take the driver assesment and training.

Also, a question for those of you who've been driving adaptive cars for longer than I have, do any car rental companies cater to our needs? I would be a setback if I couldn't find a rental place that rents cars with hand controls..

Have any of you tried the portable types? I have no idea if they work just as well or if their safe to operate for that matter.

Hello again Freestyles,
Most of the larger Car Rental companies like Hertz, Enterprise and Avis will have hand-controlled cars available with some notice. I have had to wait for as little as one day to as much as 2 weeks for a hand-controlled car. I have used a standard one-lever hand control all my 38 years of driving. The portable units are bolt-on and they seem to be safe and good

Thanks for the quick reply Musicmaker.
I use the same type of hand controls you do.. My question is do the portable ones operate the same way?

Who manufactures them?

Enterprise in Virginia had the portable models. I imagine that all the rental car companies use the portable controls. This is logical because of the nature of the rental business. They have to be able to change cars often. I don't know the manufacturer's. My 92 Lumina's controlls were installed by a GM dealer. I've never had a problem with them. I just keep them tight and oiled. I bought the car new, and they reimbursed me for the $400 I paid for the controls