Journal article
Behind theWheel: Specialized Driving Instructors' Experiences and Strategies for Teaching Autistic Adolescents to Drive
The American journal of occupational therapy, v 75(3)
01 May 2021
PMID: 34781345
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Importance: In the transition to adulthood, driving supports independence. For autistic adolescents, training provided by specialized driving instructors, including occupational therapists, may establish fitness to drive and continued independence.
Objective: To examine specialized driving instructors' experiences providing behind-the-wheel instruction to autistic adolescents.
Design: We recruited participants through purposive and snowball sampling of members of ADED, the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists. Interviews investigated experiences providing instruction, autistic students' strengths and challenges, strategies used, and recommendations to improve the learning-to-drive process. We coded transcripts using a directed content analysis approach.
Setting: Telephone interviews.
Participants: Specialized driving instructors (N = 17) trained as occupational therapists, driver rehabilitation specialists, or licensed driving instructors with recent experience providing behind-the-wheel training for autistic adolescents participated.
Results: Behind-the-wheel challenges included mental inflexibility, distractibility, and difficulties with social cues and motor coordination. Instructors acknowledged students' strengths, including adherence to rules of the road, limited risk taking, and careful observations. Instructors scaffolded learning to help students develop skills. Although licensure and driving outcomes were sometimes unknown to instructors, students who became licensed frequently drove with supervision or restrictions.
Conclusions and Relevance: Licensure is possible for autistic adolescents, although developing fitness to drive requires individualization and rigorous specialized instruction, which may culminate in delayed or restricted driving.
What This Article Adds: This article highlights challenges and strengths encountered by specialized driving instructors teaching autistic adolescents. Despite requiring prolonged training, autistic adolescents can achieve licensure when supported by specialized instruction that is individualized to their needs and strengths.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Behind theWheel: Specialized Driving Instructors' Experiences and Strategies for Teaching Autistic Adolescents to Drive
- Creators
- Rachel K. Myers - Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaMeghan E. Carey - Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaJanice M. Bonsu - The Ohio State UniversityBenjamin E. Yerys - Childrens Hosp Philadelphia, Ctr Autism Res, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USACynthia J. Mollen - Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaAllison E. Curry - Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaJason E Cohn
- Publication Details
- The American journal of occupational therapy, v 75(3)
- Publisher
- Amer Occupational Therapy Assoc, Inc
- Number of pages
- 11
- Grant note
- R01HD079398; R01HD096221 / Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- A.J. Drexel Autism Institute
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000661534200016
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85104824439
- Other Identifier
- 991019353620004721
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InCites Highlights
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Rehabilitation