Interested in hearing from international leaders in the field of driving? The
International Conference on Aging, Mobility, and Quality of Life (AMQoL) is
fast approaching. June 24-27 in Ann Arbor, MI. Read through the program and topics - now available on
the conference website. http://www.agingmobilityconference.com/index.html. The conference will feature presenters from more than 30 countries from a wide variety of backgrounds. The conference will highlight the importance of transportation for our aging communities. Occupational Therapy research will be presented!
Hope you can attend!
Elin Schold Davis
driverhelp@aota.org
http://www.bidmc.org/DrivingWithAutism
Check out the video on Aspergers and Driving. (click on the video box in the upper right corner of the webpage). Miriam Monahan is interviewed about the importance of occupational therapy's role when approaching the complex IADL of driving with students with Aspergers.
Find this topic interesting? Come hear Miriam present at conference in Indianapolis on the ethical obligation of addressing driving with at-risk students such as those with Aspergers. In addition to Miriam, Essie Wagner from NHTSA will offer the most recent risk/crash/death statistics supporting the importance of including driving in your programs, and Deborah Slater will tie it all together as we look at the occupational therapy Ethics and Scope of Practice official documents. This session, Short Course SC201, on Friday April 27th at 9:30 to 11 AM is not to be missed!
Congratulations Miriam- excellent work!
Elin
As many of you following this blog are aware- the pursuit of the "test" for driving competence is ongoing, is not simple and clearly points to no single tool that is universally accepted. The struggle to minimize staff time and the expense associated with specialized testing unavoidably encourages interest in tools promising to be "quick and efficient" . We must understand the limitations of "quick and efficient" and be cautious to not over interpret the results. Decisions about driving competence affect the lives of our clients. The following article, from Canada, may be of interest to programs considering the use of tools such as the computerized DriveAble assessment. Occupational therapy programs need to stay alert to the growing body of research and understand the evidence guiding the interpretation and recommendations based on the results obtained. This article illustrates the complexity.
http://www.canada.com/Elderly+drivers+second+chance+after+failing+computer+test/6328746/story.html
I am hopeful that this article and articles yet to come will prompt excellent and important discussion!
Elin
DC
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR UNDERGRAD OR GRADUATE STUDENTS INTERESTED IN
TRANSPORTATION AND AGING
AARP Driver
Safety in 2014 Course Curriculum project
Duration:
April 2012 through May 2013
The overall goal of this project is to develop and implement an
up-to-date state-of-the-art research based driver safety course and support
materials. Research is underway now and we plan to begin development work in Q2
of 2012, with the release of a new course in January 2014. Research and
development intern(s) are needed to help with all with all aspects of this
exciting Course Curriculum research and development project. AARP will pay $17+
an hour for interns (depending on undergraduate or graduate). Housing in DC or
travel is not provided. This is a great opportunity to work with the leading
organization in the country in older driver safety education. Applicants must have strong written and oral communication skills.
Demonstrated knowledge of transportation and aging research, policy, and
practice preferred.
_____________________
Deadline: March 30, 2012
Send statement of interest including your experience in senior
transportation research, and resume to: fcarroll@aarp.org
Frank Carroll, Curriculum
Development
www.aarp.org/drive
601 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20049
Education
and Outreach…motivating change through knowledge.
"Google" the words NBC Nightly News
Look for Brian Williams...and story on older drivers
Ask a question- making a point to get the conversation to include driver rehabilitation, equipment and comprehensive driving evaluation.
The topics of interest will be gathered...make our services a part of the conversation!
Elin
Have you worked with community transportation providers and struggled together to address unmet transportation needs in your local community? The Star Awards offer a tremendous opportunity to secure additional funding to solve a problem or address a need. Please pass this announcement on to your local transportation providers. And consider taking the opportunity to mention occupational therapy and how you might participate in finding transportation solutions for the medically at risk passenger or passenger with dementia. (note that the Star Awards have a specific category for Dementia Friendly Transportation).
The 2012 STAR Award Application is now open. Click here to access it: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2012STARAward.
Please visit the Beverly Foundation’s website (www.beverlyfoundation.org) to
access the Resource Library, read recent STAR Search/STAR Awards reports and
prepare your application. We also recommend that you review the application
guidelines (which were revised on January 14th) as they include important
information and suggestions for the submission of a successful application: http://beverlyfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/STAR-Award-Application-Guidelines.pdf.
Attention: the 2012 STAR Award Application will close on February 1st, 2012.
Let me know if you have questions,
Elin
http://www.nhtsa.gov/Driving+Safety/Driver+Education/Senior+Drivers/Drive+Well+Toolkit:+Promoting+Older+Driver+Safety+and+Mobility+in+Your+Community
The DriveWell Toolkit is being updated (by NHTSA). If you have experience with the toolkit I would appreciate learning about your experiences and suggestions. I will forward your feedback on to the contractor updating this resource. If you have not taken a look at this speaker's toolkit I encourage you to do so. The kit is intended to make the preparation for conversations or presentations on the topic of senior drivers and driver safety easier and accurate. If you are invited to make a presentation - to one person or a roomful, this is definitely a resource to checkout.
if you have ideas or suggestions please reply to this BLOG.
Thanks-
Elin
(if you have trouble with the link, just type DriveWell Toolkit into the Google browser)
Looking for an opportunity to "ask the experts"? Consider logging on to this dialogue and become a part of the conversation. These expert dialogues are an excellent opportunity to learn as well as to teach by asking questions that alert the experts to the obstacles occupational therapy clients face when seeking transportation options that safely and effectively meet their needs. Let us know what you think- Elin
The
National Center on Senior Transportation Announces Online Dialogue
NCST Talks - Planning for the Transportation Needs of Older Adults November 28 -
December 16, 2011
From November 28 to
December 16, the National Center on Senior Transportation will
host an online dialogue for individuals and organizations from the aging
network and transportation industry. The dialogue is an opportunity to share
experiences, methods, strategies, and recommendations related to planning for
the transportation needs of older adults. The dialogue will give the aging
network, older adults, advocates, volunteers, policy makers, public and private
transportation providers, federal, state, and local transportation agencies, human
services agencies, and municipal planning organizations the chance to submit,
comment on, and rate ideas related to planning for senior-friendly
transportation services.
To join the
dialogue go to http://ncsttalks1.ideascale.com/
Sincerely,
Ellen A. Bruce,
J.D.
Gerontology Institute Director
University of Massachusetts, Boston
I just finished a phone interview with another reporter. It is exciting to see all the national activity! Check out the Driver Safety website page at www.aota.org describing the many possible activities for Older Driver Safety Awareness Week. Please take a minute to use OT Connections to post stories and photos of your activities.
Looking forward to learning how YOU have increased awareness of Older Driver Safety, Resources and/or Driving Rehabilitation in your area!
Thanks for all that you do-
Elin
The MIT Age Lab offers content that I find quite interesting- so I thought I'd share. You can subscribe to receive news updates if you'd like. check it out. http://agelab.mit.edu/
Elin
Final Survey Request: For those that have already completed
the survey we thank you for your contribution. This is a FINAL
REQUEST for your input. We have extended the deadline to 1 PM
Friday 10/28/11. Surveys are our way to gather your “driving specialist” voice- and
the information obtained from this survey is critical to good planning and
meaningful decisions! Please include your feedback! I know you are too
busy and I apologize for asking “one more thing”, but I do believe the time
spent answering these questions – hearing your voice- will make a
difference!
You are invited to participate in a brief
survey about driving evaluations and are receiving this invitation because you
are included in AOTA's nationwide database
of driving programs and specialists. The goal of the
survey is to understand more about the different types of
programs offered to drivers around
the country. The survey is completely voluntary and anonymous. The survey is very brief and should only
take about 5-10 minutes to complete. You can access the
survey through the link below.
Your feedback is very much appreciated and
will help us to further understand the variety of programsand
the impact and value of these programs on the clients you serve.
Thank you,
Elin Schold Davis
Coordinator AOTA Older Driver
Initiative
Fred Somers, AOTA's Executive Director, accepted AOTA’s Power
of A Summit Award from ASAE for Older Driver Safety Awareness Week at the
Summit Awards dinner on October 5. Go to http://www.thepowerofa.org/share/ to learn more about the award and to watch the video ASAE prepared to recognize the winners. The AOTA Older Driver Safety Awareness Week video contains some nice footage of Carol Wheatley conducting a driving evaluation- congratulations Carol and thank you!!
The video will be posted on OT Connections once AOTA receives a copy.
Now ...please go plan YOUR activity, big or small, to raise awareness during Older Driver Safety Awareness Week December 5-9, 2011. (see www.aota.org/older-driver for lists of ideas!)
Sharing the announcement of a fantastic new resource!
Online Abstracts: Focus on Senior
Transportation
This collection of more than sixty
abstracts produced through a collaboration between the Beverly Foundation and
the Gerontology Institute represents a publication of importance for
understanding and appreciating the needs, challenges, solutions, and every day
issues associated with senior transportation options. The publication's focus is
on the singular issue of senior transportation that can contribute not only to
sustaining, but also to maintaining and enriching, the lives of older
adults. The collection is organized and presented as an online publication and
can be accessed as follows.
http://www.umb.edu/gerontologyinstitute/publications/transportation/
Eighty percent of the abstracts
address Senior Mobility and Travel Options.
Two additional topics (Senior Driver Safety Research and
Alternatives to Driving) introduce the challenges facing older
drivers and reasons they need transportation options. A final group of
abstracts address Planning/Coordinating and Mobility
Management. This compilation of abstracts presents senior
transportation as its own issue with its own champions. The approach offers an
alternative to the traditional method of addressing it as a cross-cutting issue
that often is buried within a senior service topic such as housing, social
service, or health care; or a transportation service topic such as public
transportation, ADA paratransit, community transit, or taxi services.
Such a collection is timely because,
although the practice of providing transportation to older adults is not new;
research and the preparation of practical technical and informational materials
related to older adult transportation needs and service delivery are quite
recent. In this first foray into identifying, documenting, and abstracting
essential resources on the topic, the editors collected suggestions from
researchers, professionals, and practitioners in the fields of aging and
transportation. Many of their recommendations are included in the
publication.
Sincerely,
Ellen A. Bruce,
J.D.
Gerontology Institute
Director
University of Massachusetts, Boston
|
http://www.alz.org/safetycenter/we_can_help_safety_driving.asp#resources
The Alzheimer's Association recently launched a page on their website called The Dementia and Driving Resource Center. This site addresses questions and concerns on the topic of driving. This represents a significant move forward. The Alzheimer's Association wants to increase access to information about driving, to understand how changes associated with dementia may impact the skills and abilities necessary for driving and where to locate resources. Look under Resources: Readers are directed to the AOTA specialist's directory- so please make certain your program is listed and that your contact information is up to date!
Check out the new website and let us know what you think!
Elin
Using the transportation alternatives to your car is "healthy" in many ways, for you and the environment. Personal experience is a great foundation to enhance our credibility when discussing and recommending the use of transportation options. Encourage support of Car Free Day with your staff or friends and learn more about the options in your community at the same time!
Car Free Day is an international event celebrated every
September 22nd in which people are encouraged to get around without cars and
instead ride a train, bus, bicycle, carpool, subway, vanpool, walk or telework. http://editthis.info/wcd/Main_Page
See what Washington DC is doing: Car Free Day is open to all commuters, students, homemakers and seniors in the Washington metropolitan area.To participate in this fun and worthwhile
event, all you need to do is fill out the pledge
form at http://www.carfreemetrodc.com/pledge-to-car-free.php,
then go car free or rely less on your car by going car-lite on September 22.
It’s that simple! Once you pledge, you’re automatically entered for a chance to
win great prizes! Already car free? That’s great, and since you’re doing the
right thing, you also get the same chance to win prizes when you fill out the
pledge form.
Car Free Day is organized in various cities throughout the
world in different ways, but with the common goal of taking cars off the
streets. The benefit to greater society is a day with less traffic congestion, a
greener environment and reduced gasoline demand. Today, Car Free Day includes
celebrations in 1,500 cities in 40 countries.
Help make Car Free Day on
Thursday September 22, 2011 a great success!
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