Back in the Driver’s Seat: Rehabilitation Beyond the Assessment
Tracks
Driving (General)
Evidence-based practice (Knowledge Translation)
Functional independence (Disability)
Healthy ageing and positive ageing (Older Persons)
Meaningful activities (General)
Mobility (Disability)
NDIS (Disability)
Practice challenges and future directions (Knowledge Translation)
Restorative care (Older Persons)
Vehicle access and transport modifications (Assistive Technology)
| Tuesday, June 23, 2026 |
| 12:05 PM - 12:30 PM |
| Great Hall 3 |
Speaker
Mr Christopher Pearce
Managing Director & Occupational Therapist
OT Services Group
Back in the Driver’s Seat: Rehabilitation Beyond the Assessment
Presentation summary
Introduction:
Driver assessment and rehabilitation is often viewed as a pass-or-fail process. Yet for many clients recovering from brain injury, trauma, or chronic illness, the pathway back to driving is one of graded recovery, skill building, and adaptation. This presentation challenges the traditional model by reframing driving rehabilitation as a collaborative, whole-team intervention that supports recovery across physical, cognitive, and psychosocial domains-ultimately restoring independence and community participation.
Implementation:
Drawing on case studies from three experienced driver rehabilitation occupational therapists, the presentation will demonstrate how interdisciplinary collaboration transforms outcomes. Generalist OTs support cognitive and functional readiness, endurance, and daily task integration; physiotherapists build strength, balance, pain management strategies, and postural control for safe vehicle operation; psychologists address trauma, anxiety, and adjustment; and medical practitioners ensure medical stability and regulatory clearance. Families play a vital role-particularly for learner drivers-through guided observation, passenger-based practice, and coaching beyond the vehicle. Using a collaborative approach - adaptive technology, simulation, in-vehicle training, and behavioural coaching were integrated to support functional outcomes.
Outcomes:
Across cases, clients demonstrated improvements in driving-related function, confidence, and participation-even before on-road reassessment. Multidisciplinary teamwork and early, targeted interventions promoted faster progress and stronger engagement. Collaboration between therapists, instructors, and families bridged clinic-based gains with real-world performance.
Conclusion:
Driving rehabilitation extends far beyond the vehicle. By reframing it as a shared rehabilitation goal-supported by the wider healthcare team and family network-occupational therapists can lead truly holistic, participation-focused pathways back to community mobility and independence.
Driver assessment and rehabilitation is often viewed as a pass-or-fail process. Yet for many clients recovering from brain injury, trauma, or chronic illness, the pathway back to driving is one of graded recovery, skill building, and adaptation. This presentation challenges the traditional model by reframing driving rehabilitation as a collaborative, whole-team intervention that supports recovery across physical, cognitive, and psychosocial domains-ultimately restoring independence and community participation.
Implementation:
Drawing on case studies from three experienced driver rehabilitation occupational therapists, the presentation will demonstrate how interdisciplinary collaboration transforms outcomes. Generalist OTs support cognitive and functional readiness, endurance, and daily task integration; physiotherapists build strength, balance, pain management strategies, and postural control for safe vehicle operation; psychologists address trauma, anxiety, and adjustment; and medical practitioners ensure medical stability and regulatory clearance. Families play a vital role-particularly for learner drivers-through guided observation, passenger-based practice, and coaching beyond the vehicle. Using a collaborative approach - adaptive technology, simulation, in-vehicle training, and behavioural coaching were integrated to support functional outcomes.
Outcomes:
Across cases, clients demonstrated improvements in driving-related function, confidence, and participation-even before on-road reassessment. Multidisciplinary teamwork and early, targeted interventions promoted faster progress and stronger engagement. Collaboration between therapists, instructors, and families bridged clinic-based gains with real-world performance.
Conclusion:
Driving rehabilitation extends far beyond the vehicle. By reframing it as a shared rehabilitation goal-supported by the wider healthcare team and family network-occupational therapists can lead truly holistic, participation-focused pathways back to community mobility and independence.
Biography
Chris Pearce, Brad Williams and Jenny Gribbin are experienced occupational therapists specialising in driver assessment and rehabilitation across Australia. Together, they bring extensive clinical experience, leadership, and a shared commitment to innovating and advancing evidence based driving occupational therapy practice nationally.
