Readiness for Driving: A Guide for Non-Driver Trained OTs
Working with teens who want to get their licence but unsure what your OT role is?
Feeling unclear on how Autism, ADHD or psychosocial disability may impact driving capacity and what to do about it?
This practical 2-hour workshop gives non-driver-trained OTs the clarity, confidence and tools to support young people with disability as they approach the journey to independent driving.
Access workshop now What will you learn?
Understand how diagnoses like Autism, ADHD and psychosocial disability can affect driver readiness and the research findings on how these diagnoses can impact driving
The cognitive, sensory, behavioural and emotional demands of driving, and understand the AustRoads Assessing Fitness to Drive guidelines
Understand models of driving performance and the “Potential to Drive” approach
What’s in vs out of scope for non-driver-trained OTs
Understand the possible outcomes of the OT potential to drive assessment and how to guide clients and families around licensing / community mobility pathways
When and how to refer to an OT Driver Assessor for a Potential to Drive assessment
How NDIS may (or may not) fund driving-related supports
Case studies and documentation tips you can apply straight away
Who is this workshop for?
This workshop is for ANY OT. You do not need to be a driver-trained OT to attend this workshop. In fact, this working has been designed for the non-driver OTs!
Sign up to this workshop if you are an:
- OT working with teens or young adults wishing to explore learning to drive
- Clinician supporting clients with Autism, ADHD or psychosocial disabilities
Suitable for both early career and experienced OTs who are interested in learning how to navigate readiness to driving.
Why attend?
- Get clear on your role in supporting driver readiness
- Build a structured, confident approach to screening and referrals
- Learn to navigate conversations with families and support teams
- Avoid stepping outside your scope while still adding real value
- Access ready-to-use tools and practical strategies
Important Note:
This workshop does not train you to assess driving performance.
Instead, it empowers you to support the process within your scope and know when to refer onto a driver trained OT.
About the Presenter
Jenny Gribbin has been an OT since 2005 and was interested in the area of driving assessment from a pretty early stage; she completed the driving training in 2012 and started her business Driving Well Occupational Therapy in Brisbane in 2016 to be able to provide services to clients needing this service.
She loves being able to help people to be safe and independent, or to give them an opportunity to have their driving assessed. The rollout of the NDIS enabled many young people the opportunity to explore their potential to learn to drive, however driving OTs were struggling to work with this group – Jenny thought “there has to be a better way”.
The onset of COVID (with no on-road assessments due to social distancing requirements) gave Jenny time to investigate how driving OTs can better support this population (to either rule out driving or optimise chances of being successful), and together with Dr Miriam Monahan (Driver Rehab Institute in USA), she has pioneered a massive change in best practice across Australia with the “potential to drive” approach.
Jenny is the convenor of the OTA QLD driving interest group, runs workshops and training for driver-trained OTs, is sought after presenter for inservices and advice, and provides supervision for driving OTs. She had a crucial role in bringing the Drive Focus app to Australia and was a finalist for Best Assistive Technology product at the Australian Disability Services Awards and was the winner of the Technology award at the Australian Road Safety Awards for this work.
Jenny is excited about the future directions of the potential to drive space and seeing the results this approach is creating for young adults in Australia.
