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After developing driving programs at facilities in three different states, Susan Pierce had a strong desire to develop a community-based driving program in an occupational therapy private practice setting. In April 1990 with the encouragement and assistance of her father, Brooke Pierce, she founded Adaptive Mobility Services, Inc. in Orlando, Florida. Soon Carol Blackburn joined the company as a senior OT and driver rehabilitation therapist. As the demand for their services continued to increase, the company expanded with several driver rehabilitation therapists and PRN driving instructors. Requests began to come in from vocational rehabilitaion counselor, attorneys and RN case managers to for wheelchair and home assessments and OT functional evaluations. As a result, the aspect of for other community mobility services grew. Adaptive Mobility Services, Inc. has provided driving and community mobility services to clients all over the state of Florida (as well as other states) with referrals from such sources as workers compensation, vocational rehabilitation, physicians, rehabilitation nurses, case managers, attorneys and the medical advisory board with the department of driver licensing. The company continues to be a strong community service provider today for all age and disability groups. Over the past 10 years the referrals for driver evaluations for older drivers has tripled requiring a focus in that areas as well.
On a national and international level, Susan Pierce and Carol Blackburn are widely known for their passion and commitment in teaching therapists about driver rehabilitation services. Their professional development courses have been uniquely developed for therapists who require advanced education and training in the field of driver rehabilitation. Through their course offerings over the past 27 years, they have taught and worked with over 2000 therapists to date to educate and enhance their skills in this specialty area of occupational therapy. Their blend of classroom instruction with real-life stories of their personal experiences in the field and hands-on learning opportunities has been a successful formula for getting occupational therapists into the field. What started in 1982 as telephone conferences with inquiring therapists, quickly evolved into 1, then 2 day courses that Susan offered on her weekend time. By 1987 the courses were in so much demand that Susan and Carol had developed a formal 2 and ½ day course. Today that course has become two, is offered a minimum of twice a year and is a total of 9 days. There are also 4 separate courses offered by Adaptive Mobility Services, Inc. with the newest one being a specialty within a speciality, Bioptic or Low Vision Driving. This course is taught by one or two experienced OT driver rehabilitation specialists that work in states that approve Bioptic for driving.
Susan and Carol hope that their legacy is not only the large number of successful drivers on the road with various disabilities but also the many therapists that are providing this valuable service in many areas around the world.
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