Phoenix VA Driver Rehab Program helps hundreds of Veterans

Driver Rehabilitation is a growing field that is available to all Veterans who qualify through Occupational Therapy.

Veterans and members of the Armed Forces with disabilities are entitled to have the opportunity to learn to drive a motorized vehicle on the Nation’s public highways. The disabled individual should enjoy the independence and freedom of mobility offered to all citizens.

The first VA driver training program began back in 1946 in Framingham, MA. A year later, there were over seven VA hospitals with driver training programs. Today, there are more than 49 VA hospitals with driver training programs.

Rachel Fields and Valecia Hostick make up the Phoenix VA Occupational Therapy – Driver Rehabilitation Team.

“In the Driver’s Rehab Program we are able to provide proper training to ensure safe drivers and improve Vets quality of life throughout the VAMC,” said Hostick.

"Valecia and I are really excited about the driver rehab program the Phoenix VA offers to our Veterans. For fiscal year 2022, we received about 270 consults for the program," said Fields.

In order to evaluate a person’s ability to drive safely, the driver rehabilitation specialist provides a comprehensive in-clinic assessment. This includes a review of medical history and driving history, a physical assessment, and a vision assessment. There is also a Rules of the road and Signs of the road test that is administered.

Additionally, the DRS completes a battery of neuro-cognitive assessments to evaluate memory, problem solving, executive function and more, all of which effect a person’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. Finally, there is the in-clinic driving simulator where gas and brake reaction time, visual scanning, divided attention and other aspects of driving are assessed in a safe and controlled environment.

Depending on a Veteran’s performance, they may or may not proceed from the in-clinic portion directly to the behind the wheel assessment.

Field explained, “We want to assess one's ability to drive on the roadway. We have a planned route that includes parking lot, residential roadways, commercial roadways and the interstate. The driver rehabilitation program has an evaluator van, which is wheelchair accessible.

“We also see Veterans who are passenger only,” said Fields. “We address one's ability to safely access their vehicle and to stow their wheelchair. The goal is that our Veterans are able to safely access their medical appointments with the added bonus that they can safely access their community."

Through the driver rehabilitation program, a Veteran can be evaluated using the OEM equipment or be assessed for automobile adaptive equipment.

"Our evaluator vehicle is equipped with right-sided hand controls, left-sided controls, a variety of steering devices and a left-foot accelerator,” said Fields. “We can evaluate and train Veterans on this equipment. We also have an evaluator brake for safety.”

According to the Association for driver rehabilitation specialists, there are six certified driver rehabilitation specialists in Arizona. Fields, who is currently a certified driver rehabilitation specialist, said her goal is to attain certification through ADED. Hostick recently attended the driver rehab instructor's two-week training course in June where she was trained as a DRS. Both of us have the goal of completing the certification through ADED.