Driver rehab and vehicle modifications can help some people with MS retain their independence

                                                                  

The day Ann Murray accidentally hit the gas pedal instead of the brake, she knew she’d had a wake-up call she’d never forget. On that day in January 2015, the Cheyenne, Wyoming, resident came face to face with some of the changes that can accompany multiple sclerosis—a diagnosis she’d had since July 1999—and their possible consequences.

For people like Murray, 54, the prospect of turning over their car keys because of MS-related symptoms can create uneasy feelings about the loss of independence. Unfortunately, worsening MS symptoms can render driving too difficult or unsafe for some people—leaving them to make tough decisions.

Options for driversNot everyone with worsening MS symptoms will have to put the brakes on driving altogether, though. If you’re concerned about your safety, you can put your road skills to the test with a certified driver rehabilitation specialist (CDRS), a professional—usually an occupational therapist—who evaluates both your driving skills and physical abilities.

The MS symptoms that most commonly interfere with driving include tingling and numbness in the limbs, muscle weakness, spasticity, cognitive changes, blurred or double vision, poor coordination and fatigue. These can affect a person’s ability to use the gas pedal, brake, steering wheel, gear shifter and so on; they can also affect an individual’s ability to judge distances, pay attention to multiple factors simultaneously, make rapid decisions and respond quickly.

After the evaluation, the CDRS can make recommendations for further training or adaptive equipment, such as hand controls for the gas and brakes, or a spinner knob for the steering wheel, says Elizabeth Green, executive director of the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists (also known as ADED, the acronym for its former name), a nonprofit organization that certifies the driving specialists.

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