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What kinds of adaptations are available to help someone resume driving a spinal cord injury? - Katie Powell, OT

What kinds of adaptations are available to help someone resume driving a spinal cord injury?

Katie Powell, OT

Occupational Therapist, Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee

Read Bio More Videos by Katie Powell
Transcript
There’s generally a driver specialists in most cities who are experts in this. They take a look at different equipment that someone needs to drive. Generally after a spinal cord injury, what we’re looking at is hand controls. Instead of someone o... Show More

There’s generally a driver specialists in most cities who are experts in this. They take a look at different equipment that someone needs to drive. Generally after a spinal cord injury, what we’re looking at is hand controls. Instead of someone operating a car via their foot, they’re using specialized controls with their arms to be able to accelerate and use the brake. We look at different pieces of adaptive equipment that can attach to a steering wheel. If someone can’t grasp the steering wheel, they may have a special pin or a special holder that their hand can fit in to be able to steer. We also look at if somebody isn’t going to be driving but their family member is driving them, we look at different sorts of ramps and different pieces of equipment that a power chair can fit in a van. We also look if someone is a manual-wheelchair user, are they able to fit their wheelchair into the car after they may transfer into the driver’s seat?

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What kinds of adaptations are available to help someone resume driving a spinal cord injury?

Katie Powell, OT

Occupational Therapist, Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee

More Videos by Katie Powell
Transcriptadd

There’s generally a driver specialists in most cities who are experts in this. They take a look at different equipment that someone needs to drive. Generally after a spinal cord injury, what we’re looking at is hand controls. Instead of someone operating a car via their foot, they’re using specialized controls with their arms to be able to accelerate and use the brake. We look at different pieces of adaptive equipment that can attach to a steering wheel. If someone can’t grasp the steering wheel, they may have a special pin or a special holder that their hand can fit in to be able to steer. We also look at if somebody isn’t going to be driving but their family member is driving them, we look at different sorts of ramps and different pieces of equipment that a power chair can fit in a van. We also look if someone is a manual-wheelchair user, are they able to fit their wheelchair into the car after they may transfer into the driver’s seat?

What kinds of adaptations are available to help someone resume driving a spinal cord injury?
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