Development of a driving readiness program for adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy and spina bifida

Introduction Occupational therapists are amongst the certified driving rehabilitation specialists providing driving rehabilitation and training. This study aimed at gathering information on driving readiness in adolescents and young adults with physical and/or cognitive impairments related to cerebral palsy and spina bifida to guide the development of a driving readiness program for this clientele. Method A review of the scientific literature was performed. Seventy-four driving rehabilitation specialists across North America were surveyed, of whom eight were subsequently interviewed. Results Learner drivers with cerebral palsy and spina bifida lack the basic skills (such as information processing, visual memory, attention span) for and familiarity with community mobility and self-efficacy, often resulting in a lengthy and difficult learning process for automobile driving. The literature findings were corroborated by a survey and interview of specialized driving rehabilitation therapists. There is a therapist-driven desire to improve pre-requisite skills for driving through a driving readiness program tailored to this population’s specific needs. An outline of such a program was developed based on the person–environment–occupation model. Conclusion A driving readiness program may act as an important clinical tool intended to optimize pre-driving skills in adolescents with cerebral palsy or spina bifida in order to facilitate the driving training process and ensure greater community independence in this population.