That was the case for me, when at age 21 I finally decided it was time to get over my fear of driving. Needing to be driven everywhere or take an accessible taxi service was getting real old. But I was afraid of being in control of a vehicle. I could drive my power wheelchair just fine, but drive a several ton piece of steel at 70 miles an hour down the freeway? Heck no, not with my wacky quad arms.
But therapists told me otherwise; that driving was indeed possible for someone of my level of injury, and I knew couldn't live in fear forever (a hint to any of you out there in the same situation). Once my family was able to help me get a used minivan, I finally began the process. Here are the steps I took to get my driver's license as an adult with a disability (I'm a C5-6 quadriplegic), as well as several cool tips you can use yourself.
Make driver's assessment appointment: Before you do anything, you need to meet with an adapted driving specialist. If you live in a small town, it may be a several hour drive to meet with one (they are usually found at physical rehabilitation centers), but if you have a disability, it's legally required you meet with one to determine several things. The first, is if you can drive. You'll be put through a series of tests to determine if you can still drive safely.
But don't think if you have a moderate to severe disability that they'll say no. There have been a lot of advancements in driving adaptations, making it possible for a lot of people with all kinds of disabilities to still drive. Also at this appointment, you'll find out what adaptations you will need in your vehicle in order to drive it (and the cost of them), so you can plan out your strategy for getting a vehicle (if you haven't gotten one yet).
Get your learner's permit: Once you get the go-ahead, next is time to get your learner's permit, and this is where being an adult really has its advantage. No longer do you need your parental consent or take driver�s ed. All you need to do is get your learner's permit, which is an easy multiple choice test you take out your local DMV or DDS. That test is easy. All you need to do is study the basic (yet most important) road rules. Once you have your permit, make sure you keep it in your wallet whenever you practice.
Find a vehicle to practice on: This is where the tricky part comes in for a lot of people with disabilities. It's not like you can just borrow your uncle's car. Maybe you need hand controls, or maybe you need hand controls and a lot more. Lack of funds can be one of the biggest reasons many people with disabilities don't get their driver's license right away. Who has thousands of dollars to spend on hand controls? But if you don't have the money, it's not a lost cause. When I got my license, I received funds from the state to pay for my hand controls. Look to see what your state offers. You can also try asking a friend or connect to your local disability network (through a resource center or rehab facility) to find someone that may let you borrow an adapted vehicle.
Once you secure a vehicle for yourself, make sure you practice driving often, even if just for short periods, and remember you always need to have someone in the vehicle with you every time you practice (until you pass your road test).
Get additional instruction if needed: If you're afraid of driving and feel like you need some special attention, look into hiring a one-on-one instructor. The state required that I had one and had 20 hours of special instruction. John was a blessing in helping me be able to get over my fear.
Pass the road test: And finally, once you feel confident enough, call the DMV and make an appointment for your road test (or you can just show up at the testing location once they open and take the first available appointment). The road test is probably the most nerve-wracking part of the entire getting-your-driver's-license-experience, but it cannot be avoided. You must either pass the parallel park or the 90� back. And make sure you practice explaining your hand controls to the person who will be testing you, since they may ask.
Although getting your driver's license as an adult may be stressful to some, the benefits of having your license cannot be beat. And now that you have a roadmap, go for it!
For information on how to test drive an MV-1 near you, visit our website and "find a dealer" - www.vpgautos.com.