New Driving Simulator to Assess Driving Abilities of Disabled Metro Detroiters

Gesher Human Services Offers New Driving Simulator to Assess Potential Driving Abilities of Disabled Metro Detroiters.

New equipment also suitable for the elderly concerned about driving abilities.

Gesher Human Services, one of the largest human service agencies in metro Detroit which provides programming, services and job opportunities for local people living with disabilities, has a new driving simulator at its Southfield location (29699 Southfield Road). The equipment was made possible through a $35,000 grant from the Byron and Dorothy Gerson Innovation Fund.  The simulator session provides a pre-driving assessment in a safe environment. Afterwards a detailed report is generated which can be shared with family and physicians to enable an informed decision about whether driving would be possible for the participant. For images of the STISM Driving Simulator in session click here.

“One of the greatest barriers facing the people we serve is transportation, such as issues of unreliable public transport and the need for family members to drive them to work and other programs, so determining which individuals might be able to have their own independent transportation can be life-changing,” explained Vice President of Vocational Rehabilitation Rene Dell. “Our new simulator can give clients and their families peace of mind about whether driving is an option.”

Dell explained that if deficiencies for safe driving were identified by the simulator, in some cases individuals could be provided with additional services to strengthen skills that were lacking.

The assessment and report cost $325,

although Michigan Rehabilitation Services may be able to provide funding for some participants; there are also limited scholarships for those in financial need.  Assessments include cognitive, motor and visual skills, reactions to pedestrians and emergencies and notifications from dashboard like low fuel lights. The test includes driving in residential, highway and urban settings and participants can choose the type of car they would be driving in real life such as sedan or SUV.

The simulator is already being used,

and is proving very valuable. One participant, a childhood cancer survivor with a peripheral vision deficit, was determined not to be able to hit turn symbols sufficiently; now she has the report she may be able to get adaptive mirrors put in place for driving. Another participant who suffers from anxiety was found to constantly be driving 20 mph under the speed limit which could be dangerous due to other drivers getting angry on the road; if their anxiety can adequately be treated it would open up the possibility of driving in the future.

Dell said that the simulator will also be valuable for older metro Detroiters and their families who are concerned about their driving abilities, offering an opportunity to get a non-biased opinion on their safety on the roads.

For more information or to arrange for a simulator session contact Rene Dell at rdell@geshermi.org or call 248.233.4448.

About Gesher Human Services

Gesher Human Services is a non-profit organization providing a bridge to hope and opportunity for people at work, at home and in the community. It is dedicated to helping people across metro Detroit lead more stable and fulfilling lives through workforce development, career mobility, behavioral health, inclusion programming and residential services that serve all metro Detroiters while meeting the needs of the Jewish community. The organization works with job seekers, people with disabilities, older adults, and the community at large to provide skills, support, and equitable opportunities for people to succeed. Uniting two of metro Detroit’s most influential Jewish human services agencies, JVS Human Services and Kadima, Gesher brings over 110 years of combined experience facilitating equitable employment opportunities and better mental health outcomes for residents. With a network of more than 400 employees and volunteers across 25 locations in southeast Michigan, Gesher delivers a continuum of services and support that directly impacts the lives of over 26,000 individuals and families annually. More information at www.geshermi.org.