The Norton Hospital Driving Assessment Program is a service of Norton Neurosciences & Spine Rehabilitation Center. The program is for individuals affected by neurological, orthopedic or developmental conditions, and those who have experienced age-related changes in function. Our goals are to evaluate and help restore driving ability so you can return to safe, independent driving.

Who Can Benefit?

The program provides driving evaluations and training for:

• Aging drivers, including those with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or dementia
• Drivers with disabilities, including physical or visual impairments from brain or spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis and other medical conditions

Why Choose Our Program?

Driving assessments are given by a licensed occupational therapist certified as a driving rehabilitation specialist, stroke rehabilitation specialist and low vision specialist. If necessary after the completion of the assessment, the therapist can develop an individualized treatment plan to increase skills for safe driving with or without adaptive equipment.

Results of the assessment are shared with the patient and ordering physician. The physician has the right to report any unsafe driving practices to the state in which the driver’s license was issued.

Behind-the-wheel Evaluation

Our three-hour assessment consists of a clinical evaluation and on-road evaluation in a hospital-owned vehicle. The clinical portion of the assessment measures vision, visual-perceptual skills (accuracy and timeliness in which the brain understands what the eyes are seeing), physical ability (reaction time, strength and mobility) and cognitive skills (attention, decision-making, memory).

On-road Skills Training

Our certified driver rehabilitation specialist provides personal training on how to safely operate a vehicle using adaptations and modifications, compensatory techniques and safety procedures. Our specialists provide training with the following vehicle modifications:

• Spinner knobs
• Hand controls
• Left foot accelerator
• Turn signal crossover

Vehicle Modification Recommendations

All vehicle modifications are installed by National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association-certified specialists. Patients who need modifications receive a prescription detailing their personal needs to ensure driving safety. A final evaluation will be completed after the modifications are installed to ensure the vehicle meets each patient’s needs.

Rehab Services

Norton Neurosciences & Spine Rehabilitation Center provides individualized rehabilitation in an outpatient setting on the Norton Hospital medical campus in downtown Louisville. The center provides the following services with a physician’s order:

• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Speech therapy

How to Sign Up for a Driving Assessment

• Obtain a physician’s referral that includes all pertinent diagnoses and contact information. This can be faxed or sent by the physician through our electronic medical records system.
• We will contact you to schedule an appointment upon receiving the referral.
• A valid driver’s license or permit is required for the on-road assessment and training.
• We will send you pre-admission paperwork detailing your driving history.

The driving assessment program is not covered by health insurance at this time. There is a charge for services. Contact our office to discuss pricing. We can assist with connecting to transportation resources in the community if driving is deemed unsafe.

Contact Us

Norton Neurosciences & Spine Rehabilitation Center
Norton Healthcare Pavilion, Suite 90
315 E. Broadway
Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: (502) 629-2501
Fax: (502) 629-2526
NortonHealthcare.com/NSRehab