Specialised driver training

NDIS Capacity Building support

Driver assessment and training for people with a disability, including learning to use vehicle modifications and adaptive controls.

The short answer

Specialised driver training is assessment and lessons for people with a disability, including learning to drive with adaptive controls or in a modified vehicle. It usually starts with an assessment by a qualified professional.

About Specialised driver training

Driving can bring independence, but disability can affect the skills driving needs, such as vision, reaction time, movement and attention. A specialised driver assessment looks at whether and how you can drive safely, and recommends any equipment or training you need. It is usually carried out by an occupational therapist with additional driver assessment training, sometimes together with a driving instructor.

Training follows the assessment. Specialist driving instructors teach in vehicles fitted with dual controls and adaptive equipment such as hand controls, steering aids or modified pedals. They help you learn to use the equipment and to drive safely in real traffic.

Licensing and vehicle rules vary between states, and modifications need to meet standards and be approved. Ask the assessor and instructor what applies where you live, and plan for the time it can take to complete assessment, training and any vehicle changes.

Who is this service for?

People with a disability who want to learn to drive, or to drive an adapted vehicle safely.

What a typical session looks like

Specialised driver training helps people with disability learn to drive, or return to driving, in a way that suits their body and needs. It usually begins with an assessment, often by an occupational therapist who is also a driver rehabilitation specialist. They look at vision, reaction, movement, thinking and health, and advise whether driving is safe and what adaptations might help.

Lessons then take place in a suitable vehicle with a qualified instructor, often with modifications such as hand controls or a steering aid. The instructor builds skills step by step, first in quiet areas and then in traffic. Progress is reviewed with the therapist, and licensing requirements are explained along the way.

Who delivers this support

Driver rehabilitation specialists are usually occupational therapists with additional training, working with driving instructors experienced in adapted vehicles. Ask about their qualifications, the vehicles they use and how they work with your doctor and the licensing authority. You may also need medical clearance, and the process varies between states.

How to choose a provider

• Ask about the qualifications and experience of the assessor and instructor.
• Check that lessons are in a suitable vehicle with the right controls.
• Ask what the assessment involves and how results are shared.
• Find out how the process links to licensing requirements in your state.
• Ask how they help with vehicle modifications.

Questions to ask a provider

• Are you an occupational therapist with driver rehabilitation training?
• What will the assessment involve, and what will it tell me?
• What vehicles and adaptations do you use in lessons?
• How will you work with my doctor and the licensing authority?
• What happens if the assessment finds that driving is not safe for me?
• How will you help me plan for a vehicle and any modifications?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Buying or modifying a vehicle before an assessment.
• Not checking the licensing and medical requirements in your state.
• Assuming any driving instructor can teach with adaptations.
• Rushing into traffic before skills are solid.
• Not exploring other transport options if driving turns out not to be right.

Getting started

1. Talk to your doctor about driving and your health.
2. Book a driver assessment with a qualified professional.
3. Follow the recommendations for training and equipment.
4. Check licensing and vehicle requirements with the relevant authority.

How it fits with the rest of your plan

Driver training is linked to vehicle modifications, transport supports and independence. If you are considering driving, it is worth thinking about how you will manage the vehicle, any modifications needed and the cost of running a car. Some people decide after an assessment that other transport options suit them better, and that is a legitimate outcome.

Eligibility

You can use NDIS funding for Specialised driver training if it is included in your NDIS plan. The NDIS funds supports that are reasonable and necessary: they relate to your disability, help you pursue your goals and represent value for money. Not sure whether it is in your plan? Check your plan, or ask your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.

Funding

Capacity Building supports help you build skills and independence. If Specialised driver training is in your plan, it is normally paid from a Capacity Building budget. These budgets are usually set for particular types of support, so check which one your plan uses. Many NDIS supports have price limits, so ask providers for a quote and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Whether your plan is managed by the NDIA, by a plan manager or by you, ask for a written quote and a service agreement before you start. If your plan is plan-managed or self-managed you can use providers who are not registered with the NDIS. If it is NDIA-managed you generally need a registered provider.

What it costs

Supports such as Specialised driver training that are funded by the NDIS are paid at rates that follow the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, which the NDIA reviews regularly. Many items have a maximum price, and some prices are higher in remote areas. Before you start, ask for a written quote that lists each support, the hours and the price, and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits on the NDIS website. A provider may charge less than a limit. If you pay privately, the provider sets its own fees. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use providers who are not registered, and those providers set their own prices.

Checking credentials

• Check registration Search the NDIS Commission's register of registered providers to see whether a provider is registered and for which types of support. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use unregistered providers.
• Ask about worker screening Ask whether workers hold a current NDIS Worker Screening Check where their role requires one, and how the provider checks its workers' identity and qualifications.
• Get it in writing Ask for a written quote and a service agreement that describes the support, the prices, how to change or end it and how to make a complaint.

Regulation and safeguards

NDIS providers and their workers must follow the NDIS Code of Conduct, and registered providers are regulated by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Regulates NDIS providers and handles complaints about the quality and safety of NDIS supports. Phone: 1800 035 544.
• National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Runs the NDIS. Contact them about your plan, your funding and eligibility. Phone: 1800 800 110.

Related services

• Specialist Positive Behaviour Support
• Specialist Support Coordination (Level 3)
• Speech pathology
• Study and learning skills

Frequently asked questions

What is specialised driver training?

Assessment and lessons for people with a disability, including learning to use adaptive controls or a modified vehicle. It usually starts with an assessment by a qualified professional.

Do I need a driving assessment first?

Usually. A driving assessment, often by an occupational therapist with driver assessment training, looks at whether and how you can drive safely and what equipment you need.

Will I need to modify my vehicle?

Possibly. The assessment can recommend adaptations, and modifications are done by specialist providers.

Do I need an assessment before I learn?

Usually yes, to check what equipment and training suit you.

Can I learn to drive if I use a wheelchair?

Many people do, with suitable vehicle modifications. An assessment can advise.

Who decides whether I can hold a licence?

Licensing is decided by the relevant state or territory authority. The assessment provides information.

Do I need an assessment before driver training?

In most cases yes. It checks whether driving is safe for you and what adaptations you might need, and it is often a requirement for licensing.

Can I use hand controls in any car?

Hand controls need to be fitted and approved for the vehicle, so speak to a specialist before buying a car or having modifications done.

What if I am told I cannot drive?

You can discuss other transport options, and in some cases a review later on may lead to a different result. The therapist can explain what can be done.

Can I use my NDIS plan to pay for Specialised driver training?

If Specialised driver training is in your NDIS plan and is reasonable and necessary for you, then yes. Check with your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.

How do I find a Specialised driver training provider near me?

Browse providers on SolDirectory, or send a free enquiry with your location and what you need and suitable providers will review it. Then ask each one about availability, a quote and a service agreement before you decide. Details come from providers and registers, so confirm them directly.

Sources and further reading

• NDIS: how the NDIS works, plans and price limits
• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission: find a registered provider, make a complaint

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