OVER THE PAST THIRTY-FOUR PLUS YEARS, I HAVE TAUGHT DRIVING TO MORE THAN 8000 PEOPLE INCLUDING MANY WITH MENTAL, PHYSICAL, or EMOTIONAL SITUATIONS.
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Let us Think About DRIVING
Presented By: Matthew Meltzer, BS, CDRS Driving with Different Abilities So this guy is walking toward me. Well, I call it walking. The general public might call it otherwise. You see, he has Cerebral Palsy and has difficulty walking “straight”. Also, his arms seem to be going where they want to go. Yet, he does get to me. When he stops in front of me, he can’t really speak, though he tries (with his legs bent awkwardly and arms flailing). Oh, did I mention he is also deaf? In order to help him, I give him a pen and paper. He writes his questions. He reads my lips for his answers. We “talk” for a while. When he leaves, he drives away. Yes, I said he DRIVES away. Why not? Physical differences may make it difficult (or impossible) to drive the OEM (or factory issued) car. It is often possible (quite often easy) to adapt a vehicle for physical differences. In his case, he drives with a Left Foot Accelerator and a Steering Wheel Spinner. Oh, and he also has a TDD / TTY device hooked up to his cellular phone in his car. He is NOT dis-abled. He is differently-abled. How about you? Driver Evaluations, Driver Training, Road Test Service, Road Test prep, Adaptive Driving Aids, AND MORE!! |
Have you ever heard of the N. Y. S. Education Department's
Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID)? Here's what they are about... "Individuals requiring driver rehabilitation services to be able to return to or maintain employment after the onset of a permanent disability may be eligible for some assistance from VESID." You may benefit, if you qualify, from their funding and/or services.
The MELTZER MOBILE----as it
is affectionately known---- is always equipped with hand and foot controls
for the physically challenged. |
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