Association of Driver Educators for the Disabled

NEWSLETTER Volume 5, No. 3 Fall, 1983

Our New Leaders!

L. to R. Donald Smith, Treasurer; Leroy Rothschafer, President; Margaret Young, Secretary; Fred Merrill, President Elect; Bill Ramsey, Past President.

from the pen of the president I'm sure that all who attended the '83 conference in Toronto came away with a feeling that this was one of the best in a series of very good conferences. Each session provided growth for those who attended evidenced by the partici­pation within the group. Toronto is a great place and my only regret is that I did not get to do much sight seeing ­an avocation I enjoy. On behalf of all who attended the conference, we wish to extend a big THANKS to you, Margaret Young for a job well done!

I want to re-emphasize a point I made during my remarks at the banquet. YOU

can and YOU do make a difference in OUR organization. Please take time to write any suggestions or ideas you have to the executive board or the chairperson of the various committees or the editors of the NEHSLETTER. They will be most appreciated.

If you did not get to attend this year's conference you were missed! Next year's date and location is Philadelphia, September 19, 20, &21. Make plans now to attend.

MY very best wishes for a good year!

$;. --~.---

conference highlights

held in , to say the least, a conference.

was was,

successful

was run­ning

year.

nator, for a job well done.

to

drinkssession

should go who our

Pat Doty of and Rentals Bill Crecco

of Freedom Mobility

Carmella Don 8mith (our new

an overview

avail­(see

) .

that measures performance. This able to interested Available Resources, position avail ble

,

persons should send a resume to:

Association to become involved in Ms. Ruth Mills new the Avenue

46601

Jack sunny

Long Beach, of our members

desire for the

a available Occupational

in Driver

a,I.J1w..1JCI'S

last we were

with material

resource materals

IIEquipment &Adapted for in a Fully Van", by

C. ,M.A. Human Resources Center Albertson, New York 11507.

$7.50

-Handicapped to Drive Marvin D.

Measurement Course. to have a

the past. test are

(517) (35

It is provided on on a consulta­tion basis. The program is tailored to needs requesting the service.

psychiatric driver evavuation The

liThe simulation unit provides us with

a clients psychomotor skills. We use it to establish a baseline on which to gauge

Mr. Corrective

, VA Medical Center Waco, Texas 76703

we have moved! Due to we have

our control our home at the University

and our secretariat,

Don Henson and his to on this responsibility.

As soon as a post box is obtained members will be of our new mailing address.

3

disabled computer trainees learn to drive TODCOMP (Training of the Disabled in Computer Programming) is a University of Missouri-Columbia program adminis­tered by the University Extension Division in cooperation with the Department of Computer Science. The program began in 1975 and is one of the twenty-two projects across the United States that are primarily involved in training physically dis­abled adults to become qualified computer programmers. In 1977 TODCOMP received an establishment grant from the Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to expand and upgrade its facilities.

One component added during the expansion was Independent Living Skills (ILS) training. The major­ity of the projects are housed in Rehabilitation centers that follow the medical service delivery models. In contrast, TODCOMP firmly believes in the community based model with a progressive mainstreaming continuum. This continuum, held in respect by many Independent Living Centers across the country, allows the individual to learn how to manage their own life activities and to function within the societal frame­work as independently as possible.

Housing, employment, and transpor­tation have been identified as the three major barriers to gaining independence for disabled indivi­duals. Although 85% of TODCOMP's graduates have found jobs in the computer industry and some form of acceptable housing, their options have been severely limited because many do not drive.

To address this problem TODCOMP has initiated a program of driver eval­uation and education.

The evaluation, which is required for all individuals entering the program, uses a multi-disciplinary team approach. Evaluations are done through a cooperative arrangement, between TODCOMP and Rusk Rehabilitation Center, of the University Hospital and Clinics. Each referee receives both a clinical and in-vehicle evaluation.

The clinical evaluation team may include a physician, physical thera­pist, occupational therapist and a speech therapist, or learning disabili­ties specialist, depending on the referee's disability. This component of the evaluation is designed to determine a person's medical perceptual psychological and physical fitness to perform the driving task.

The in-vehicle evaluation, performed by the driver education instructor, is done in either a car or a modified van. The van is used to evaluate individu­als who are not able to transfer, are confined to electric wheelchairs, or need special equipment such as reduced effort steering and braking. This component of the evaluation not only provides an assessment of a person's ability to safely operate a vehicle, but also is used to determine the in­dividual's equipment/modification and instructional needs.

Once a person has been evaluated and determined to be a viable candidate for driving, they may enter the instruction­al phase of the program. All instruction is individualized according to the needs of the stUdent in becoming a safe, efficient vehicle operator.

TODCOMP students are given first prior­ity for program services, because of their need to be job ready upon gradu­ation, but it is also open to applicants

1-4

-­

directory of officers

from all geographic areas of the State of Missouri. Applicants from other states are considered with preference to Missouri residents. Referrals are accepted from individuals, hospitals, physicians, agencies and insurance companies. Referrals from the Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation are given priority with others accepted on a space available basis. For further information about TODCOMP or the Driver Evaluation and Education Program call:

(314) (449-3481) or write:

Mr. D. William Giesler TODCOMP Route #4, Box 199 Columbia, Missouri 65201

(314) (449-3481)

PHILADELPHIA

IN

1984

Leroy H. Rotschafer, President 2676 East Hull Des MOines, IA 50317

(515) (262-8328)

Fred Merrill, President Elect Rotary Rehab. Mobile Infirmary P. O. Box 7008 Mobile, Alabama 36607

(205) (431-2299)

Margaret Young, Secretary Ontario Crippled Children's Center 350 Rumsey Road Toronto, Ontario M4G1R8

(416) (425-6220)

Donald L. Smith, Treasurer Michigan State University Room 70, Kellogg Center East Lansing, Michigan 48824

(517) (353-1790)

William Ramsey, Past President West Virginia Rehabilitation Center Institute, West Virginia 25112

(304) (768-8861)

Carmella M. Strano, Editor Moss Rehabilitation Hospital Transportation Center 12th Street &Tabor Road Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19141

(215) (329-5715) Ext. 2223

5

standing committee

)(614) (1.

P.O. Box 7008 Mobile,

noteworthy! 2. formerly of Woodrow

has

task of organiz­for this

3.

! S easy. of one of the

and VOLUNTEER!

8.

Columbus, 4

) (

(304) (

4. Dave Kraemer

(715) (232-2604)

Dave UM • 208 Lay Automotive Lab

Arbor, 48109

) (

6.

The Newsletter is

publication

of

It is published

times a year

to all ADED members.

7. Henson UM Rehab. Center 208 Lay Auto Lab

Arbor, 48109

( ) ( or

6

What are YOU doing?

I would like to know so it can be publicized in the newsletter. This

is a good way of letting other ADED members know what is going on in the

organization. It also provides information on where and what kind of

expertise is available within ADED.

Just check the appropriate block/s, detach this page, fold and mail.

1 . Been promoted?

2. Started a new program or expanded an old one?

3. Been asked to speak or present workshop or convention?

a paper at a convention,

4. Received funds for a research project?

Look for your entry under "NOTEWORTHY" column

NAME:

ORGANIZATION:

TELEPHONE #:

SELF MAILER

1­