Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital

Adaptive Driving services include a pre-driving evaluation, behind-the-wheel evaluation and training on adaptive equipment. The services are for any patient or community member whose physical or cognitive disability has the potential to impair driving ability. It is also used to access any special adaptive equipment needs for persons with physical limitations.

Services provided:

• Pre-driving assessment to screen for the skills required for driving Behind-the-wheel evaluation of driving potential
• Evaluation of vehicle and equipment needs
• Resource for commercially available equipment
• Preparation for DMV licensing
• Information and counseling about driving needs
• Referrals to other driving programs when appropriate

Requirements:

• Physician referral
• Valid driver's license or instruction permit

The Assistive Technology Center (ATC) offers individuals with physical and/or cognitive impairments access to devices, which support maximum function and quality of life in their homes, at work and in the community.

Highly trained and experienced therapists use a wide variety of state-of-the-art equipment to assess patients. The therapist works closely with the patient and vendors to facilitate informed decisions when choosing devices that work best for each individual.

Services offered:

• Ekso GT - Robotic Legs - advanced robotic technology that provides patients with stroke and spinal cord injury the opportunity to stand up and relearn how to walk using the Ekso GT wearable robotic exoskeleton.
• Speech synthesizers that help individuals communicate.
• Computer access with adaptive pointing devices and keyboards, voice-activated systems, and head-controlled systems that make computer use available, even for those with the most severe impairments.
• Home automation via electronic aids that operate household devices such as the TV, mechanical bed, lights, telephone, and infrared-operated curtains that increase safety and independence.
• Home safety monitoring systems such as wheelchair and bed alarms that decrease the potential for falls and wandering.
• Neuroprosthetic devices that compensate for upper and lower extremity limb paralysis and weakness caused by central nervous system disorders such as stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury, and multiple sclerosis.
• Adaptive leisure skills training with the use of a Wii game console to help improve balance, upper-and lower-extremity function, and cognitive and visual skills.
• Interactive Metronome is a treatment modality, which improves cognitive and physical abilities through neural synchronization

Your occupational therapist evaluates and plans your individual program to help you reach your maximum level of independence in activities of daily living such as eating, dressing, grooming, bathing, toileting, kitchen tasks, home living skills, and driving.

Occupational therapists work with you on motor coordination and strength to help with such tasks as buttoning, tying shoes, and writing. They may assist you with cognitive/perceptual retraining which includes attention, memory, problem solving, organization, and visual perception activities. Your occupational therapist also helps you select adaptive equipment and devices you may need to make activities easier.

A detailed evaluation of your functional abilities is performed by your physical therapist who works with you in the areas of bed and wheelchair mobility and walking, when appropriate. Goals and a treatment program are developed on the basis of the evaluation. Your program may include mobility training, ambulation training, exercise, and use of modalities such as hot packs, ice and ultrasound.

Psychologists help individuals face challenges that catastrophic illness and injury pose for patients and families. In cooperation with your other team members, psychologists may be involved in your care to help you and your family regain the sense of mastery, which is central to a successful rehabilitation outcome.

The psychologist may employ formal or informal testing to help you and other therapy team members better understand some of the changes in thinking and coping skills that may have occurred because of illness or injury. They may also assist you in thinking through various lifestyle changes as a result of disability.

Individualized leisure counseling and activities may be provided by a recreation therapist to incorporate and reinforce skills learned from your other therapies. You are helped to adapt or modify previous leisure activities and find new ones that you enjoy. The focus of therapeutic recreation is to help you return to the community with as independent and healthy a lifestyle as possible.

Programs include:

Adapted Golf. Adapted Golf has the goal of introducing or returning people with disabilities to the game of golf. The program is open to registered patients, as well as community members with physical, visual, and/or cognitive impairments.

The participants practice on the driving range and putting green, and progress to the golf course as appropriate. An adapted golf cart is used to facilitate participant success.

Adapted Kayaking. Participants "get their feet wet" in a pool. Instructors match participants with appropriate equipment, paddling techniques, and safety tips. The pool session is followed by an outdoor adventure in the UCSB lagoon. Gliding through the water with newfound skills and confidence, students enjoy freedom and independence.

For information on adapted golf or kayaking, please call René Van Hoorn, Recreation Therapist, at (805) 569-8999 ext. 82101.

If you experience communication or swallowing problems as a result of your illness or injury, a speech- language pathologist will work with you. His or her aim is to improve speech, comprehension, thinking, memory, and reading and writing skills with special emphasis on social communication. Swallowing problems are carefully assessed and treated.