Program Eligibility
We welcome calls and referrals for DEER services when driving behaviors are suspect to be a safety problem, as referenced in the warning signs list. We see older drivers as well as drivers of all ages with suspect attention disorders.
We also offer services to persons who have had strokes or brain injuries, to evaluate their driving ability and determine whether they are safe to continue or resume driving.
- Clients should be free of medical conditions that would make them unsafe to drive (i.e., seizure-free for six months or longer).
- Clients need to be able to independently transfer into the Car Driving Simulator.
- Clients must have referrals from their physicians. Your doctor may use the Carls Center referral form or simply write a prescription detailing pertinent diagnoses and functional needs.
A report summarizing our findings will be forwarded to your physician, so your physician can discuss with you options to consider for continuing or resuming driving.
- Clients must also have a current and valid Michigan driver's license or temorary permit.
Please note...
This program is not designed to address the needs of persons with physical needs, restrictions or disability due to (for example) spinal cord injury, arthritis, limb amputation, paralysis due to stroke, etc.
The Carls Center's Physical Therapy Clinic staff work with DEER clinicians in providing neurorehabilitation and orthopedic rehabilitation for improving range of motion of the neck and spine, as well as improving strength and reach in order to allow for improved maneuvering within the automobile and greater ease with car transfers. However, persons in need of rehabilitation for driving training with adaptive vehicle equipment need to connect with driving rehabilitation programs specializing in addressing these conditions. DEER staff will be happy to provide a list of available driving rehabilitation program, which is also available online under More Information.
Nor, is the DEER a drug rehabilitation program for impaired drivers; see the "Other Information" link to direct you to well established programs and resources.
