Driver Education Services in Indiana

Adaptive Mobility Services, Inc. provides specialized driver education for persons with a variety of disability or age. The service for a new or inexperienced driver is provided by an occupational therapy practitioner that is a Specialist in Driving.

The in-vehicle instruction and practice will take place in one of our dual-controlled vehicles with adaptive driving equipment if needed. Depending upon the person’s needs and experience, we may use textbook study, classroom instruction and video viewing to augment the in-vehicle education and instruction. Our Driving Specialists have developed a intervention strategy to work on mock situations that one may encounter while driving. For example, what they should do with a flat tire, if they took a wrong turn, if they had a collision with another vehicle, if they got pulled over by a policeman or they realized they were lost.

The State of Indiana requires a new driver to have a Learner's Permit in order for us to allow you to drive one of our training vehicles. If you are having difficulty passing the written test to obtain a Learner's Permit, please contact us and we may be able to assist you.

Driver education for people with a disability must be structured uniquely for an individual. The typical sequence and teaching methods for driver education must be adapted for the particular person we are working with and for their own learning style. The lessons are structured with goals but flexible as necessary for the individual's needs and challenges. Our Driving Specialists background in the allied health field of occupational therapy adds greatly to their ability to tailor instructions and teachings per the driver’s learning level and style. We will not only work on the person's ability to physically operate a vehicle but also his or her skill level in using all necessary cognitive or executive function abilities. For example, planning a route from home to school or work, sequencing several errands with good mapping but also time management, and GPS training if needed.

We are experts at activity analysis and use this successfully with the task of driving. Our Specialists teach one-on-one and progress the driver in traffic and speed as the proficiency develops. We are not just teaching a person to operate a vehicle. We want the person to also be a safe, defensive driver so we want every new driver to become proficient in these areas as he or she progresses in the driving lessons:

• driver and traffic knowledge
• perceptual skills
• traffic risk recognition
• control skills in the avoidance of a collision

As occupational therapy practitioners, we understand the importance of patience as a person with a disability learns a new activity or task. We believe that driving is the most complex task that most people do in a day's time so we will take the time to progress each person and be patient if one takes a little longer than another person.

We teach driving performance skills in a sequential, progressive process from the simplest to move complex skill level. We teach knowledge and skill required for safe physical operation of the vehicle before teaching the visual and thinking skills required for good control and for quick and anticipatory thinking. Our staff will start with simple tasks first and progress to more complex tasks as the person is ready. For example, we will teach the person how to steer and allow him or her to become proficient with this task before we adding the turn signals and mirror use. Then we will add practice with speed control in an off road setting and couple with steering control. As proficiency increases, we will move the person onto low traffic streets and begin working on lane markings, traffic lights and stop sign intersections.We want the driver to be proficient in visual awareness and scanning before expecting the person to make quick, independent and safe decisions.

Our therapists have a passion for this specialty field and will work very hard to help each person achieve their independence in driving if possible. We stand ready to help you. Give us a call if you have more questions about our services. We will be happy to give more detail or explain the process per your disability.