Case Study: Driving and Parkinson’s Disease

The University of Florida is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course approval ID# 5208. This distance learning is offered at .1 CEUs, intermediate educational level, category 1 – Domain of OT – Occupations/ IADL, category 2 – Occupational Therapy Process – Approaches to intervention. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

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Instructor

Miriam Monahan

Miriam Monahan OTD, OTR/L CDRS, LDI

Adjunct Scholar

Dr. Miriam Monahan is an occupational therapist who has worked in the field of driver rehabilitation since 1998 as an educator and clinician, and is recognized for her clinical knowledge, intervention, and teaching skills in this area. She is a certified driver rehabilitation specialist (CDRS) and licensed driving school instructor (LDI). She has extensive experience with teen and novice drivers with special needs, drivers with neurological conditions, as well as senior drivers. She is well versed in adaptive equipment from low tech to high tech as well as van modifications. She has been an adjunct professor at the University of Florida Certificate in Driver Rehabilitation Therapy Program, a consultant at SmartDriver, a business owner, and a practicing clinician. Her research and scholarly work focuses on assessment and interventions to assist drivers with neurological conditions.

Through a case study, this course will provide an example of a comprehensive driving evaluation for an individual with Parkinson’s disease. Participants will learn how to utilize clinical findings to interpret on road driving performance while taking into account the individual’s context and environment when making fitness to drive recommendations. In addition, participants will be introduced to intervention strategies that may support individuals with Parkinson’s disease to continue to drive.

Target Audience

This course is well-suited for occupational therapists and certified driving rehabilitation specialists with a special interest in meeting the driving needs of individuals with Parkinson’s disease.

Educational Level

Intermediate: Information is geared to practitioners with a general working knowledge of rehabilitation and service delivery. Focus is on a basic understanding and application of the subject matter.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to:

  • Identify the components of a comprehensive driving evaluation for individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
  • Define seven driving errors and understand how they inform the global rating scale.
  • Synopsize clinical findings and how those inform fitness to drive decisions.
  • Synthesize how targeted interventions may potentially help compensate for deficits in driving abilities.

AOTA Classification Codes

  • Category 1: Domain of OT – Occupation/ IADLs
  • Category 2: Occupational Therapy Process – Approaches to intervention

Completion Requirements

0.1 AOTA CEUs (1 Contact Hour for State of Florida Occupational Therapy practitioners) will be awarded upon a successful completion of a multiple choice post-test. Participants will be able to print a certificate of completion after completing a short course evaluation in addition to the post-test.

Disclosure Statement

Instructors have stated that they have not received funding to support this training. The instructor has informed the Department of Occupational Therapy the she has no financial or non-financial interest in any product, instrument, device, service, or material discussed during her presentation.

Instructional Methods

One (1) hour course during which the learner will view a streaming video presentation, reference PowerPoint® slides. To complete course and earn credits, learner must pass a 10-question multiple choice post-test with a score of 70% or higher.

Contributor

Sherrilene Classen

Sherrilene Classen PhD

Professor And Chair