Driver's Education is a process that almost every teen must go through to get the long-sought and much-coveted status symbol - the driver's license. Most of us have been through it - either because we were once teenagers ourselves, or because we or other's we know have children in their teens who are going through the process now. In any event, it's exiting stuff and a regular part of the high school educational process.
But, what happens to the teenager with the physical disability? What are their options for participation? Can a teen with a disability take Driver's Ed?
Yes, they can and should be included in Driver's Education classes. Accessible school programs are mandated under a variety of federal laws. The American's with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act are both civil rights legislation that require accommodations be provided to prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities. IDEA is a federal law that requires state education agencies implement policies which will insure a "free appropriate public education"(FAPE) for all children with disabilities in the state. So, whether your teen is covered under an IEP (Individual Education Plan) or they are in a regular education program, they should have the same access to Driver's Ed as the rest of the students in the school.
What is required is that the school provide access to their programs or a reasonable duplication of the program. The school has to provide Driver's Education to an eligible student with a disability, if it is offered as a regular course, but they may not have to provide the driver's program directly. The school can contract for the training through an outside agency or organization. This can be an issue if the student needs to drive from their wheelchair or have more sophisticated driving adaptations. The school doesn't have to purchase a modified van with a lift, they just have to provide means to the same education for the student with the disability as they provide for other high school students.
If a school has not dealt with accessible driving programs, they may be unsure of what adaptations to make. It may also be unclear whether a particular student with a disability is eligible to take Driver's Ed, they may have a physical or mental disability which makes it impossible to drive. In either scenario, the best bet is to see that the student is evaluated first. One place an evaluation can take place is at the Driver's Evaluation/Training Program through the Occupational Therapy Department at Younker Rehabilitation Center in Des Moines. This program works with quite a number of AEA's and school systems, as well as Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor's to evaluate potential student driver's and to either make recommendations back to school on adaptations to vehicles, or provide the actual training. They can also tell you whether the student should be a included in a program. The program has to be accessible to eligible students, which doesn't mean that all students with disabilities will be eligible to participate in the program.
Sue Toal Knapp, OT with the Younker Program said that the majority of adaptations being provided are hand controls, some steering wheel modifications such as spinner knobs, and adaptations to mirrors which can be easily provided through the school. Generally, if more elaborate modifications are required, such as a lift-equipped van, the Younker Driver's Program can provide the training for that student with their vehicle or the family's vehicle if it has been adapted.
Sue and their certified driving instructor, Wayne Cope, are members of the Association for Driver's Education for the Disabled. The Younker Program can train students in schools around the Des Moines area, and through two other driver's evaluation programs in the state, St. Luke's Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, and the Burlington Medical Center. If Younker's does provide the training, they like to see the student participate in the regular school program as well by attending class and joining peers as they drive. Sue feels that participation in the regular school program is an important part of the training because you learn quite a bit from watching your peers.
However, a school that offers a driver's training program can very easily provide it to students who may need adaptations like hand controls. Rod Lanaghan, the Driver's Ed teacher at West High School in Iowa City, said that in the past 10 years, they've had five or six students who used hand controls, and the school went ahead, made the adaptations and provided the training at school. The hand controls have either been purchased by the school, by the family or by Voc Rehab.
If you have a teen who is interested in Driver's Education, but you're unsure of where to begin, start with the school. They should be able to provide you with information on their driving program. If an accessible program has never been an issue for them, consider an evaluation. There are several evaluation programs in the state, including Younkers in Des Moines, St. Luke's in Cedar Rapids, Burlington Medical Center in Burlington, St. Luke's in Sioux City, and Emanuel Medical Center in Omaha to name a few. For a more comprehensive list of either evaluation or alternative driver's education programs contact Iowa COMPASS at (800) 779-2001. An evaluation will most likely be provided through the occupational therapy department at the hospital, and will require a doctor's prescription. The cost of the evaluation should be covered by the AEA, school, or Voc Rehab with no expense to the family.
In any event, driver's education for a teen with a disability can be accomplished with some preparation and by using the resources that are available. For any information on hand controls or other driving adaptations, be sure to call us here at InfoTech.
RESNA (The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America) is committed to credentialing all professionals involved in assistive technology and rehabilitation engineering service delivery. Credentialing will provide a base of requirements against which members of the profession can be assessed. The purpose of credentialing is to ensure consumer safeguards and to increase consumer satisfaction. Certification will require an examination. For further information on the credentialing exam, and to get an application and a Candidate's Information Bulletin, contact them at RESNA, Examination Application, 1700 N Moore Street, Suite 1540, Arlington, Virginia 22209-1903; 703-524-6686, 703-524-6639 TTY, 703-524-6630 FAX. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday.
Did you know it was against the law to discriminate against a person with a disability when it comes to the sale or rental of housing. For more information on your rights and for free booklets or pamphlets contact the Fair Housing Information Clearinghouse at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, PO Box 9146, McLean, Virginia 22102; or telephone them at (800) 343-FHIC (3442), (800) 290-1617 TTY, or (703) 821-2098 FAX.
The Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) also has information on Fair Housing. Contact them at 801 - 18th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20006; telephone them at (202) 872-1300 or (202) 416-7622 TTY.
In recent years the number of students with disabilities in college has increased significantly. Nearly 10 percent of all college freshman have a disability, according to the American Council on Education. While federal laws have greatly improved college opportunities for students with disabilities, they do not guarantee that students with disabilities will be successful. Assistive technology (AT) makes it possible for college students with disabilities to live and study more independently. In many cases, assistive technology can play a significant role in a student's success by allowing that student to fully demonstrate his or her academic ability.
Going to College? A Guide to Help Students Select Assistive Technology for the College Experience is a project being developed by IPAT to increase awareness of assistive technology and its benefits among students transitioning to post-secondary settings. The student training will emphasize the importance of early identification of assistive technology needs, funding strategies, and the need for self-advocacy skills. The training handout brochure includes a checklist to help transitioning students determine their assistive technology needs across all aspects of college life: daily living skills, transportation, classroom activities, course examinations, studying, use of computers, and leisure and extracurricular activities. This information will help transitioning or existing college students work with the college, vocational rehabilitation specialists and/or transition teams select appropriate assistive technology for the college setting.
In late 1996, or early 1997, IPAT will be providing a complete training module, a "Train the Trainer" workshop, and training materials free of charge in Iowa. The training modules include all the materials necessary to deliver the training. Trainers are provided presentation scripts and outlines, overheads, and handout brochures. In addition, the module provides an extensive list of assistive technology resources for Iowa colleges' offices of student support services. The training module is designed to be presented by staff and college students with disabilities. IPAT will work with the Bureau of Special Education to provide the workshop via the ICN fiber optic system to facilitate attendance by students with disabilities. The presentation has the potential of reaching many transitioning students through local presentations coordinated with student orientations, transition teams, the Parent-Educator Connection, the Iowa Pilot Parents, and the Iowa Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. In addition, students with disabilities already attending the college can be reached through Offices of Student Support Services or in-dorm programs.
Upon completion of free training session provided by IPAT, the staff and students of the Offices of Student Support Services will be able to:
1) Describe assistive technology and its benefits.
2) List a variety of assistive devices and how these devices can be used within the college setting.
3) Accurately describe funding options.
4) Utilize the module materials.
5) Describe consumer support services available through InfoTech.
6) Identify potential activities to reach transitioning and existing students that could benefit from increased awareness of assistive technology.
The 901 Hand Control System from Automobility Mfg. Corp. is a versatile hand control product with interchangeable components that provide a wide range of vehicle choices to the driver. This product is stainless steel, and guaranteed to the original owner for life. It also requires no vehicle modifications to install. This hand control system is $495 list when installed by an approved dealer. Automobility will discount the product by $100 if installed by another resource. These hand controls are not portable, but vehicle specific. For more information contact Automobility Mfg. Corp. at 128 - 6th Avenue East, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada S4N 5A5 or telephone them at (306) 791-9840.
The Peddle Master by Judson Enterprises, Inc., was developed to offer an alternative choice in the current hand control market. Peddle Master is portable and can be installed or removed in a matter of seconds by the driver without any additional tools. The Peddle Master can be used in over 90% of the vehicles manufactured world wide. The Peddle Master is made up of clamps that attach to existing brake and accelerator pedals. They are adjustable to fit a variety of pedal sizes. This product is also made to work on automatic cars only. The Peddle Master costs $365 plus $10 shipping and handling, with money back guarantee to try the product for 30 days and return them if not completely satisfied. There is also an unconditional guarantee on any and all parts for up to three years if used under normal conditions as recommended by the manufacturer. For more information, contact Judson Enterprises, Inc., PO Box K, Johnstown, Colorado 90534 or telephone them at (800) 587-5212 or (970) 587-5158.
Electronic Mobility Controls, Inc. manufactures a variety of computerized, digital driving systems for individuals who have physical disabilities that require a sophisticated level of driving control. Digidrive II™ gives driving access through a joystick. All driver inputs for controlling gas, brake, and steering functions are accomplished with the 2-axis joystick. The steering axis is side to side with left being left steer and right being right steer. The front to back axis controls the gas and brake functions with the direction being selectable as to push or pull for brake. The functions are provided through a computer module that links to servo motors for gas/brake and steering.
The Digipad II™ is a computer console system that provides access to the auxiliary functions in your car like electric windows, cruise, dimmer switch, lights, climate controls, turn signals, horn, emergency brake, ignition, and automatic shifting. You can also access wheelchair lifts and tiedowns through the console. The controls come as either touch pads (which can be used by finger or elbow), the Digitonetm audible switch, or a power headrest. For more information on products by Electronic Mobility Controls, Inc. (EMC), contact them at 2001 Wooddale Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806; phone (504) 927-5558.
The InfoTech newsletter is a publication of the Iowa Program for Assistive Technology, a project of Iowa's University Affiliated Program. The program is based in The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. InfoTech aids individuals with disabilities, parents, families, and professionals by providing information on the availability of both new and used adaptive devices. No endorsement of products or services is intended. For more information on devices or for help in locating other types of specialized equipment, call: 1 (800) 331-3027 (voice/TTY).
IPAT is supported by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, United States Department of Education (NIDRR/ED). This material does not necessarily reflect the views of NIDRR/ED or indicate official endorsement of their contents.
InfoTech, Iowa Program for Assistive Technology, University Hospital School, 100 Hawkins Drive, Room S384, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1011
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