TRAINING OFFERED: COURSE DESCRIPTION
POTH-673 Screening for the at Risk Driver
POTH-674 Assessing Driving Ability
POTH-675 Driving Assessment Practicum
POTH-676 Adaptive Equipment and Driving
POTH-677 Retraining Driving Skills
POTH-673 Screening for the at Risk Driver
3 Credits
Online
Screening for the at Risk Driver is targeted to any health
care professional (occupational therapist, physiotherapist, psychologist,
nurse, physician or any other professional working in the public
or private health sector) interested in pursuing specialized training
with respect to driving issues. This course will foster the development
of strategies enabling the clinician to screen for potential
impediments to motor vehicle driving ability. Specifically, students
will analyze the basic requirements needed in order to drive a
vehicle safely. Fundamental theoretical models of driving behavior
will also be introduced, as well as regulatory and legal aspects
of licensure.

POTH-674 Assessing Driving Ability
3 Credits
Online
Prerequisite: POTH-673 - Screening for the at Risk Driver
Assessing Driving Ability is designed
for occupational therapists working with clients presenting one
or more disabilities. The clinician will develop the skills necessary
to conduct a thorough driving assessment and to identify drivers
requiring the implementation of adaptive equipment. Evaluation
tools recognized in the field will be analyzed and current research
pertaining to driving evaluation will be emphasized. Evaluation
techniques and methods targeted to specific cohorts or populations
(eg: the elderly, the traumatic brain injured, the new driver
)
will also be examined.
Upon completion of this course, the student will be familiar
with a complete driving assessment protocol, including the importance
of on-road testing and the implementation of simple adaptive equipment
such as hand controls, left-foot accelerators, prehension aids,
and turn signal extensions.

POTH-675 Driving Assessment Practicum
3 Credits
Online plus a 5-day clinical practicum
Prerequisite: POTH-673 and POTH-674
Targeted to occupational therapists, Driving Assessment Practicum
is a sequel to POTH-674 Assessing Driving Ability. It seeks to integrate acquired knowledge
into clinical practice. Through formal clinical training at the Constance-Lethbridge
Rehabilitation Centre or another rehabilitation centre (if accredited) students will
master skills in the assessment of driving abilities and the prescription
of basic adaptive driving equipment. Hands-on experience will
familiarize students with simple technical aids and current evaluation
tools. Students will be encouraged to incorporate evidence-based
knowledge into their clinical practice. Although some theoretical
material will be given online, the core content of this course
is an intense clinical practicum. This allows students
to obtain clinical experience in a supervised environment, thus
fostering the consolidation of theoretical knowledge.
Please note: Students
must achieve a passing grade in both theoretical and practical
evaluation components as well as in the overall course in order
to receive a passing grade for the course. If the total mark is
a pass but one component is a failure, the course mark is
withheld from the record. The student must undertake remedial
work in that failed component and pass the additional
evaluation. The original final course mark is then recorded.

POTH-676 Adaptive Equipment and Driving
3 Credits
Online plus a 4-day clinical practicum
Prerequisite: POTH-675 or permission of instructor
Targeted to occupational therapists, this course will further
the clinician's ability to choose appropriate technical aids for
the more challenging client. Students will be introduced to the
latest developments in advanced adaptive equipment and will learn
which vehicule and which adaptations are best suited to a
particular client's needs. The student will learn the reasoning
required to identify the appropriate adaptive equipment and/or
modification. The theoretical component of this course will be
given online. The clinical practicum will be held at the
Constance-Lethbridge Rehabilitation Centre or another
rehabilitation centre (if accredited).

POTH-677 Retraining Driving Skills
3 Credits
Online plus a 2-day clinical practicum
Prerequisite: POTH-675 or permission of instructor
Retraining Driving Skills targets occupational
therapists already proficient in the assessment of driving ability
and skilled in the use of adapted vehicles. The driver retraining
process is of prime importance and is considered an integral part
of a driving rehabilitation program. Several retraining methods
will be analyzed, including driving simulators, visual training,
on-road training, and compensatory techniques. Training with adaptive
equipment will also be introduced and students will benefit from
hands-on experience behind the wheel. As in POTH-675 (Driving
Assessment Practicum) and POTH-677 (Adaptive Equipment and
Driving) the online theoretical component of the course will be followed by
a clinical practicum at the Constance-Lethbridge Rehabilitation Centre
or another rehabilitation centre (if accredited). Students will be supervised by both
an experienced clinician and a driving monitor specialized in
training drivers with special needs.
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