Learning Hub -
OTs and Driving OTs

• Learner drivers who have completed a “Potential to Drive” assessment
• Parents / caregivers / families of learner drivers
• OT driver assessors working with learner drivers
• Generalist OTs, allied health assistants, support coordinators, support workers.

The “Get Driving” therapy toolkit has sets of activities to target the skills in the information processing cycle needed for driving:

• Motor activities
• Vision/processing activities
• Preparing for driving activities
• Passenger activities

Each activity has an instruction handout sheet, video/s and downloadable resources.

NDIS participants (self / plan managed only): $387.98
(equivalent of 2 hours of therapy support from CB: improved daily living)

Occupational therapists: $400 to access the online therapy toolkit

Young people with diagnoses such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD may have additional challenges making it more difficult to learn to drive. Clients can undergo a “Potential to Drive” assessment with an OT driver assessor to determine if they have potential to learn to drive and identify any challenges they may have, and whether they are suitable to apply for funding to assist with a specialised driving training program.

If your client / you / your loved one has a disability that makes it more difficult to learn to drive, they will probably need more help in improving underlying skills needed for driving (motor coordination, visual search and planning skills).
Driving lessons are full-on – there is a lot to take in, especially in the early phases.
We know for conditions including ASD and ADHD that focusing on one task at a time and building this up (eg developing visual searching skills when outside of the car or when in the front passenger seat) will then make it easier to integrate skills when behind-the-wheel on driving lessons.

For driving / generalist OTs: your client may need some “driving support sessions” to complement their driving lessons, in order to make sufficient gains with fundamental skills, to then have improved benefit from driving lessons.

For clients: If you / your loved one has a computer and a suitable person (eg parent or support worker) to support practice of activities, then you might wish to consider purchasing your own access to the course, to be able to work on skills outside of your driving lessons or any support sessions with your driving OT.

1. Email admin@drivingwell.com.au to request purchase of the Get Driving Toolkit through your NDIS plan.
We need your:

• Name
• NDIS Participant number
• Payment details (Plan manager / self managed)

Cost = $387.98 (equivalent of 2 hours of CB: improved daily living)

2. We will bill your plan then email you details to log-in with a “coupon” to access the Toolkit.

3. Log-in here: https://drivingwell.thinkific.com/courses/getdriving
Create an account, receive an email confirmation, log-in at any time!

Driving OTs and Generalist OTs: Click here to access the toolkit.

This therapy toolkit does not replace an OT driving assessment or potential to drive assessment.

OT driver assessors are NOT driving instructors, and do not purport to be providing training, demonstration, advice or instruction regarding learning to drive.

The therapy toolkit is for use ideally AFTER a potential to drive assessment, to develop underlying skills needed for driving (motor coordination, visual search, processing and planning).

Driving therapy sessions do not count towards driving lessons hours and do not replace the need for specialised driving lessons.

OT driver assessors are recommended to seek their own legal and/or insurance broker advice.

Driving Well Occupational Therapy accepts no liability regarding other persons’ decisions to provide practice opportunities for learner/pre-learner/returning drivers through passenger activities.

Driving OTs and Generalist OTs: Click here to access the toolkit. 

Acknowledgements to our clients Jacob and Adrian for demonstrating.

Acknowledgements to Dr Miriam Monahan, Driver Rehabilitation Institute for training and sharing of underpinning knowledge and research, to be able to develop this program.