Hi,

I'm in the process of making an appointment to get a driving evaluation (because I don't want to depend on someone else or Access for rides the rest of my life if I don't have to :) ). As I understand it, a PT and OT examine you to see if you are physically capable of driving and if you'd need adaptive equipment, and then they take you for a behind-the-wheel assessment. Has anyone done this before? (On the preliminary paperwork, they asked if I had "spasm/startle reflex"...I thought, "Hmm, I could definately see me not being able to drive because of that." Guess we'll see, though.)

Anyway, if I am able to drive, I'm almost positive I'll need hand controls. BUT I would have to share my mom's car. Do any of you know if hand controls can be put on a car and my mom or whoever could still use the pedals?

YES THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONTROLS......BUT, GO THROUGH OVR ( I SEE U ARE FROM PA. THEY WILL PAY FOR IT ALL, JUST TELL THEM ITS FOR SCHOOL AND EMPLOYMENT. HERE IS THE SITE

http://www.dli.state.pa.us/landi/cwp/browse.asp?a=128&bc=0&c=27855

Steffers,
Absolutely! My wife and I own a Maxima and a Saturn coupe. Both have hand controls, and the pedals are still there so she can use her feet (she prefers to drive barefoot, so that's a good thing). The hand controls mount underneath the steering column and have shafts that attach above the brake and accelerator pedals. The stipulations are that the car MUST have automatic transmission, and power brakes and steering are highly recommended.

I have had evaluations and used hand controls over the years. Unfortunately the person that tested me did not want me to continue driving. I was taked out for a test the last time in the snow i was very nervous and I became startled once (when I wasn't driving) and he said I had a significant startle reflex. I thought I had a good to pass his standards this last time to train to get a license. I feel that they just gave up on me he said I was a fast learner and I have the capability to drive the car. I need help with changing lanes and practicing turns. My visual tracking is ok. He basically told me that I could not suceed ever (not in those exact words but I got his meaning. He said go to dr to find out what I should do if I could improve at all but I was never referred to a dr he just recommended that I not pursue driving at all and said good luck and connect the dots. Any suggestions would be welcome as to whether or not I should go to someone else should I just give up. I had the same person twice for the same test. Most people I know don't believe I can do it only a few. I am tried of people telling me I can't drive because I know I can I was driving although it wasn't in the best weather conditions. The person I had was very impatient also. I have good vision but my balance is not always I do process things a little slower than others but I can learn.

Raeam,
You should definitely seek out someone else who specializes in teaching the disabled to drive. I had an awesome teacher in Albuquerque (my hometown), and I can still hear him in my head sometimes (20 years later). I was very nervous the first couple of weeks after getting my license and buying my first car (1983 Chevette), and I had close calls every day for a week. In 20 years I've had five minor fender benders, and two were rear enders that were not my fault (they hit me). I've been pulled over several times for speeding and not stopping for a right turn at a red light, but my record has been clean for over eight years now (knock on wood!). Since 1986 I've owned six cars, and rented a Taurus with hand controls in Houston several years ago (fast car!). I attended college in Tulsa, and drove the 700 mile trip from Albuquerque many, many times by myself. I've also driven about half of Route 66, and drove from NM to CA and NY in separate trips.

So don't give up yet. Get a second evaluation.

thanks for the info, route 66.

I'll give an update after my evaluation, which is scheduled for July 31...I am afraid something similar will happen to me that happened to you, raeam, but I guess I'll hafta wait and see. My parents wanted to take me out to a parking lot to try with the regular pedals beforehand.....hmm, should be interesting :D.

Hi thanks for the reply actually I didn't explain that the last eval was actually my third the first one was when I was 19, and next two were with the same person at ages 21 and 26 so its been almost ten years. But i will not give up

I just read your post again wow you have done alot of driving you are an inspiration? What do you do for a job sounds like you have to drive alot. You are right I should not give up I have alot of negativity around me about driving so it does not help to have people always saying what I can't do supposedly. "Normal" people are not always good drivers either so they should'nt discourage a "disabled" person like myself. I have managed to get by without a car but it is hard in the winter not to have one and to look for for other jobs that I want to get without transportation of my own. My goal is to obtain an evaluation in the next few months. Thanks for your encouragement I don't get alot of that.

Steffers I hope that will not happen to you. If it does don't give up for as long as I have (almost ten years) its taken a while to even think about trying again but I have another permit and can afford it better so I may as well try. Most people just want me to accept the decision by the rehab driver instructor which I don't agree with. Good luck to you. I hope the person you have to test you is a fair person one that you didn't have before probably not is it your first evaluation?

Yes, it's my first evaluation. I spoke to the woman on the phone, and she seemed really nice. I also told her that I have absolutely no experience whatsoever with driving, so hopefully she'll be understanding and patient with me.

I want to drive for the same reasons you mentioned...I don't wanna hafta worry about getting a ride to work every day, not to mention everywhere else. We'll see what happens. If you haven't given up yet, I guess I won't either :).

Hi Raeam,
I assume you were asking me what I do for a living? I do graphic design from an office (magnet manufacturer) and at home (several clients), but that has nothing to do with the amount I've driven. I've just always enjoyed road trips. In fact, I met my wife online - she was here in Denver and I was in Albuquerque. We took turns every weekend driving 450 miles to see each other. After 3 months it got old, I moved here and we got married a month later. That was almost 9 years ago, and we don't know how we did that! We hope to someday drive and photograph the entire stretch of Route 66 that remains - Chicago to Santa Monica.

route66

So do any of you have any tips for using the hand controls, or for driving in general? I tried driving in a parking lot and was starting to get the hang of making sharp turns...but I had to go VERY slow (slower than you're supposed to...like barely moving :) ) because I couldn't turn the wheel fast enough otherwise. Is turning easier with a spinner knob?

I'm going on Monday and am actually really nervous about doing horribly...which probably isn't going to help me :rolleyes: :)

My number one tip: Don't be nervous Seffers! You just need to relax. I know that is all much easier said than done but if will help you out if you can, just force yourself to relax, you will do so much better. Good luck!

Yes, turning is MUCH easier with a spinner knob :) !

I'm glad the spinner knob is easier...maybe I won't do so bad then :)

And I kinda figured being real nervous wasn't a good idea, lol ;)

Yes to the spinner knob! I wouldn't be able to drive without it.

Welllll....I didn't do completely awful but I didn't exactly do great either :). I did really well with the hand control gas and brake...but I uh, couldn't exactly turn, and couldn't really stay in the middle of the road either. She said maybe I'd get better at staying in the middle with practice since that was my first time driving, ever. But for the turning she said my arm muscles are too weak (aww, my poor scrawny arms :) ) so I'd have to take away the power steering then see if I can do it.

Sooo now I have to be evaluated by someone else who has a car without power steering. Sigh. She did say she thought I could probably do it with pactice, though.

I'm just curious, but why do you have to be evaled on a car without power steering?

Because I couldn't steer with the power steering, lol...actually, I couldn't turn. The power steering gives resistance, and my arm muscles are so weak that it was "effortful" for me to make sharp turns. She said taking the power partially off makes it so easy you could turn using a pinky...which I don't know if I like, but I guess we'll see.

Actually, I didn't think I did *that* bad, and she said her wheel was harder than most to turn...so I'm going to lift weights until I see the other person and maybe I'll be able to use power steering after all.

ah, I see... The resistance varies from car to car. My mom's Blazer has little, but I've had 2 cars that had quite a bit. Almost seemed like you had to muscle the wheel around a bit. I think that was to give the car a "sporty" feeling. Good luck on your next eval.

Steffers,
Absolutely! My wife and I own a Maxima and a Saturn coupe. Both have hand controls, and the pedals are still there so she can use her feet (she prefers to drive barefoot, so that's a good thing). The hand controls mount underneath the steering column and have shafts that attach above the brake and accelerator pedals. The stipulations are that the car MUST have automatic transmission, and power brakes and steering are highly recommended.

Hi, folks,

I'm new to healthboards.com, so please forgive any incorrect netiquette. For instance, I have MS, not CP. I'm posting this here because I've just begun researching hand controls for my Saturn, and the message above came up in a Google search.

Here's my question: Can anybody here offer advice for somebody who has a Saturn SL-2, has been driving okay up to now, but is losing leg strength and thinks it may be time to start preparing for a transition to hand controls? The mechanical kinds look to me as though they might be hard to use, but I've seen a different, electronic, kind that uses a single wide handle that the driver pushes forward to go and pulls back to brake.

Ideally I'd like to get a unbiased professional evaluation of my case and my car, but I have no idea where to ask.

Thanks!

When I wanted to get a professional evaluation, I found the person I ended up using on this site:

http://www.aded.net/custom/directory/index.cfm

The one "field" I used was State/Province, and I think I had to search through all the other fields to find something. Hope this helps.

Oops, double post.

FilmSocBob,
I had to look up the SL2 to be sure which Saturn you were referring to. As long as you have auto transmission, it will work (no stickshift, manual). Your car and mine are the same size overall, but yours is four doors. Hope you can get in and out okay, because I am looking forward to replacing it with a larger coupe, not necessarily a Saturn. It is getting harder for me to get in and out, and I'm not overweight at all (not that you are, but even my skinny frame has a hard time with that car).

I've never heard of the latter hand controls you mentioned, but I'm suspicious about pulling back to hit the brakes. When brakes are applied, the force moves you forward, so it makes more sense to push the handle forward as on regular hand controls. They're very easy to use. Do you live in a city? Most cities, even not so large ones, have at least one shop that does this kind of work. Look in the Yellow Pages under Automobile > Adaptive Equipment.

~66~

I just purchased a 2000 Saturn 3 Dr Coupe which hand a Hand Operated Brake and Throttle on it. While it did not interfere with my driving, my husband and I did not need it and he has taken it off. It was working and he has reassembled it in one piece. It was installed locally and had been installed by previous owner in 2002. It is the left control set and controlled operation of both brakes and accelerator. The installation did require making a cut in one of the panels but doesn't detract and is hardly noticeable as just above steering column. The documentation in the car indicated the set was $500 + with installation a little over $200. Does anybody know how I can sell such an item to someone who might utilize it?

:angel: Hi, folks,

I'm new to healthboards.com, so please forgive any incorrect netiquette. For instance, I have MS, not CP. I'm posting this here because I've just begun researching hand controls for my Saturn, and the message above came up in a Google search.

Here's my question: Can anybody here offer advice for somebody who has a Saturn SL-2, has been driving okay up to now, but is losing leg strength and thinks it may be time to start preparing for a transition to hand controls? The mechanical kinds look to me as though they might be hard to use, but I've seen a different, electronic, kind that uses a single wide handle that the driver pushes forward to go and pulls back to brake.

Ideally I'd like to get a unbiased professional evaluation of my case and my car, but I have no idea where to ask.

Thanks!

Ok, update on this...for those of you who don't remember and/or don't want to re-read all 5 pages, I originally went for a driving eval in the summer. It didn't go so well because I couldn't drive straight, and my arms aren't strong enough to turn the wheel with power steering. They said the driving straight comes with practice, but that I would need to finish the evaluation in a car with "reduced effort steering".

I finally did that yesterday (the original lady had to write a report and send it to OVR requesting that they pay for an eval at the different place...and OVR lost my paperwork :rolleyes: ). So anyway, it didn't go horribly! I could turn a lot better with that steering and I was also doing a better job going straight. They said it's definately "doable" for me to drive but I'd need a lot of training since yesterday was basically the only time I've ever driven anything (I never had a bike or anything like that).

So NOW they want me to stay in a hotel closer to where their office is located and practice for 6-8 hours a day (YAWN, haha), for two weeks this summer, and then take my test.

Should be interesting :).

I am SO excited for you Steffers!! Way to go!! Good luck, if it is doable, I know you can do it!

Thanks! I'll let you know when I'm going in the summer so you can remind me again that you think I can do it ;)

Does anybody have any advice for me with driving?

I'm 14, turning 15 in June, so I still have about a year and a half before I need to start thinking about driving, but I've been thinking about it a lot lately because its all over this board, and plus my sister is thinking of getting her license soon.

I have mild CP-technically its diplegia but my whole body is affected. I guess my legs are more affected than my arms, so I was thinking that maybe hand controls would be better for me than the foot pedals. My mom's not so sure-plus her fear is that I'll tighten up in an emergency situation because of the CP. And then the startle reflex factors into the mix...

I really want to drive-although I know that there are many people out there, including my own mother and sister, who are skeptical. But if there's a way, I want to do it. Do you guys think hand controls might be better for me? If so, how much on average do hand controls cost and how do they install? I really need your advice here. If I can drive, I WILL do it, even if it takes a lot of hard work. I'm determined to drive-and determination always has gotten me through things before.:)

Hey, you sound a lot like me, and I was told it was "very doable" for me to drive--with a lot of practice, of course. When I was 16 my mom's attitude was "you'll never drive"...she's kinda overproctective, plus she didn't know if I could do it like your mom. Now, at 20 though, she's OK with the idea.

I went for a driving evaluation, which I think you should do to find out if you can drive at all, and if you would need hand controls. They know about my startle reflex and said it just depends on how much it afftecs you (my legs just jerk and since I use hand controls it's not that big of a deal). If you can drive and need modifications, I think Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) pays for them most of the time if you say you need them for college/getting a job etc. Find out if they have an office near where you live and get in touch with them.

This is the site I used to find the person for the evaluation (I'd use "State/Province" and "Facility Type"):

http://www.aded.net/custom/directory/index.cfm

Good Luck! Tell your mom there are experts who will evaluate if it is possible and safe for you to drive, and they will also teach you.

The first time I was ever in the car with the instructor, I was stupid and when he told me to switch lanes, I wasn't thinking, I forgot to LOOK and started to go out in front of a semi he beeped at me, I startled and I let go of the wheel... it was all very, very, bad but we didn't get hit and we all lived another day. I know though that is one of the reasons I don't want to drive, that coupled with the fact that the last time my mom took me out driving (this last summer,) I was very aware that I had no idea where my feet were... if that makes any sense :rolleyes:

Well it sounds like you technically *could* drive, but at the same time I think that it's better for people who don't really want to or don't feel comfortable to just not. I don't really know yet how comfortable I'll be, I haven't gone on the highway or anything yet.

How do you get around now that you live on your own, by the way? :)

Hi, i just wanted to jump in and say a little bit.

It's normal to not be albe to drive staight at first, and it's also normal to not want to drive very much. Even for some Able Bodied people like myself. I didn't care about getting my licence at 16. I actually din't get mine until i was 21, and i wasn't the only adult in my drivers ed class (although we were definaltey a minority). I feel like that allowed me to mature some before i started driving. But, that's not to say that i didn't make any mistakes. i still needed lots of practice and experience.
Also, it's normal to not be able to drive staight at first. I remember one time, my dad took me out on a empty road, and when i started going, he complained that i was weaving all over the road-- and i still to this day could swear that i was going straight!!
So, thinkgs like that happen to AB people, too. But with practice, we all do get better!!!:cool: :p ;) :wave: :) :jester:

Happy new year, everyone

Becky

Well it sounds like you technically *could* drive, but at the same time I think that it's better for people who don't really want to or don't feel comfortable to just not. I don't really know yet how comfortable I'll be, I haven't gone on the highway or anything yet.

How do you get around now that you live on your own, by the way? :)

I think with a *ton* of practice, a good teacher, a vehicle I'm comfortable sitting in (and getting in and out of!), a good pair of glasses, and hand controls that I could drive.

I just need all of those things, and on top of that, I need someone who is willing to help me do what it takes to get there (literally; ) because just getting to and from a class is something I can't do on my own because we don't have public transportation.

As of right now, I've had less then 50 hours of behind the wheel driving, I've only driven a few roads within 15 miles of my parents' home. (And I've never had a proper evaluation, even though my HS driver's instructror knew I had CP!)

The only good thing I've got going for me is that I've driven 8 different vehicles; cars, trucks, suvs and a van. I can tell you that I'm not at all comfortable driving because I just don't have the experience. (And I haven't driven on the highway either - the semi I cut out in front of was coming out of an industrial park.)

I think I can totally get over my fear of driving; if I can find the right things to physically accomodate me, and then I'd be comfortable. I bet it will be the same with you :)

To answer your question, my sister (lives a few hundred feet down the street) or cousin (lives in apt upstairs) drive me to the grocery store, post office and family events. My mom and/or dad have come out 2 or 3 times each in the six months I've lived here to take me to visit friends or to go on errans my sister and cousin can't. Otherwise, I'm on my own.

Well, I think an evaluation would be good for you since they specialize in teaching people with disabilities...and I think it's normal to be nervous because of not having experience! The first evaluation I went to I had to go to their office, but the second one the guy came to my house. Maybe if you called someone you could ask if they have arrangements to help you get there. All their vehicles (obviously) have all the adaptive stuff on them, and like I said before if you need them there are services like OVR that help pay for them.

I want to drive just so I don't have to worry about the lift being broken on a bus every other day, or the disabled transportation service making me an hour late for work all the time. At the same time it makes me nervous...if I could gaurantee somehow that I'd always have a friend/family member around to drive me I DEFINATELY wouldn't! Sigh, oh well :)

Well, I go for my driving training in about two weeks, June 18th-30th. I'm just hoping that I don't totally stink and get in an accident or something. People keep asking me if I'm excited to drive--I say yeah but in my head I'm thinking "Um, NO..." haha. At least this way I don't have to learn with my parents, who would freak out and be major backseat drivers like they were with my sister ;).

Anyone have any tips? :) I'll let you all know what happens when I get back...

No tips! :p But LOTS of good luck to you!

It's really not as scary as it seems! I'm sure you'll do great. Good luck!!

Thanks guys :)

Steff...

Hand controls generally do not interfere with the operation of the car by an non-disabled driver. Be sure to tell the evaluator what your needs are and be sure recommendations comport

Good Luck

NJCrip

Okay Steffers, driving is the bane of my existence, so I'm your girl here. First, you shouldn't be able to get into an accident since there's usually a brake on the instructor's side too. If you mess up they can stop the car.

Secondly, if the person is nice you should do fine with him or her. If he or she is jerky right away it's going to be more challenging. So if you can work with someone patient and kind you are far better off, and less likely to get scared. If you don't like the person right away, switch to somebody else. I can't emphasize this enough. You don't want someone to make you think you're a bad driver when you're not. You've gotta get your confidence up.

Thirdly, I'd say ask questions when you have them. Don't try to act like an expert and assume stuff. Go slowly when you want to. Remember you're a student; you're not supposed to know everything.

Last, reward yourself after every outing. Don't let anyone make it seem like you haven't done anything major, because you have. This takes serious guts for us. I'm still battling this. So go for it! I'm with ya!

Thanks for all the support, everyone--I actually got my license today (woohoo) :) . I did HORRIBLE the first day and was calling my parents saying I didn't think I would be able to drive, but then I improved quickly. So I was able to come home a day early (it would have been two but I failed yesterday because of parallel parking). It will be a while before I can drive because now we have to buy a van and get all the "stuff" put on it, then they do follow up training. Should be interesting to see if I can drive as well without someone beside me giving me advice ;).

I am so happy for you!! Congratulations!! :)

Congratulations glad you did well. I hope to go for some training soon although I am in the process of looking for another job so that takes up some time. Money is a concern. I know it will be expensive. I have alot of respect for people like you who suceed in what you need to do. I do have another permit so I plan to pursue this goal soon. Its been 10 years since I drove last. I've posted here in the past that it wasn't a good situation with the instructor. I did not drive straight and forgot some things. I didn't drive for very long though. It is my hope that I will have a better experience in the future. It is good to remember other people's successes. It means there's a chance for me too. I think it'll take a long time for me to get back into it again. I don't have alot of support or belief from others that I can do it so that is a negative definitely. I've had relatives who used to believe I could but now they don't. I guess the only thing that matters if I succeed despite their beliefs.

raeam, I was pretty much the same as you in the beginning...and since you said you didn't drive for long I'd guess your problems aren't unusual. Were the past instructors specialists in working with people with disabilities? That's what I had, and I also had a two-week intensive thing instead of a couple hours here and there. Look for a rehabilitiative driving specialist when you start back up again. There is a website I can find again if you'd like it, it may even be earlier in this thread. :)

The people I dealt with are working within a rehab center for the disabled. I took evaluations only drove a little probably less than 3 hours total. Most of the evaluation was written tests. I had nothing like you did. Nothing intensive like two weeks every day. It wasn't even talked about. The evaluation was 6 hours divided up in 2 hours so three appts altogether. Actually he finshed the eval in about five hours. So the drive time may have been 2 hours total or less. Its been awhile so I'm not sure. At the end of the 6 hours it is supposed to be determined whether training to is be recommended. The guy acted like I would never succeed and told me I was not good at driving. How can they tell so quickly? He did admit that he wasnt sure if I would be able to succeed or not but couldn't justify the training because he didn't think I would improve. It was difficult for a long time to think about driving for many years because of that experience. I felt like I was being treated like a child at times. He was very condesending. He even told someone about my case and said that people with cp have problems driving. I understand that but why be so negative? Obviously he choose this profession to help people. I do have the name of another instructor. From what I understand this person is a specialist in the area of driver rehab for the disabled. If you have the information about the website you mentioned please post it and thanks for your thoughts. I really don't know anyone else at the moment to discuss this with. I am not in touch with the people who do drive that have disabilities especially cp since that is what I have also it helps to have a place to compare notes with people that have similiar issues. If you have any other thoughts on this please let me know.

Found it! (I think the two fields I used to search were state/province and facility type.)

http://www.aded.net/custom/directory/index.cfm

I dunno what to tell you... on one hand that person was a supposed expert who said it was best for you not to drive (and I did the same thing originally--tests and then drove for a short time, and they decided whether it would be possible for me to try to drive). Maybe it was your performance on the tests, in combination with the driving, that led him to say that? On the other hand, my original evaluator also was unsure if I would be able to do it (she said "probably") but she still "bothered" with helping me find out :) (which, your guy wouldn't and that doesn't seem fair)

Since he said there was a possibility of it working out, and plus if you don't do anything you will always wonder, "what if I'd tried one more time?...", I'd say go to the evaluator you found and maybe even another if you find one through that website. Then, make sure they EXPLAIN why they think you can't drive, if that's what they decide, what your problem areas are and if you could do anything to improve...or, what kind of training options you would have. Things like that...that way, even if they say no, at least you will understand why and maybe then it wouldn't bother you so much.

Good Luck, let me know what happens or if you want to know anything else! :wave:

I will be contacting the person I talked to before about taking another evaluation hopefully soon. It won't be the same person as before since it will be at a different place. You are right that that I will wonder if I could have done it so I owe it to myself to try again. Actually the guy I had before was the second person I went to so the next time I go the evaluator will be the third person. I hope it works out better. The first person I ever went to said that I needed to mature somewhat. She seemed like she thought I might have a chance. I don't remember her being negative. I was much younger than. Just out of high school. I'm in my mid-thirties now. The problem is that I got stuck with the same guy after that and no it isn't fair that he didn't want to bother to find out if I could be trained. I will let you know what happens. I plan to take another test asap. I'm not sure if it will happen in the near future. My goal is to take another test within the next year. My permit is good for two more years. I want to start studying the manual again and possibly find out some ways that I could improve my skills. I know what some of the problems were the last time. Some of the problem I think was due to poor balance and feeling very nervous but alot of other people with cp drive so that has to be a way to do this... If anyone else has any other thoughts please let me know. I wish I still had a copy of the evaluation so I could refer to it. Unfortunately, my mom took it and I never found it again! Thanks for writing back and I will go to the website you gave me.:)