Occupational Therapy in Driving and Community Mobility: Position Statement

POSITION STATEMENT
Occupational Therapy in Driving and

Community Mobility
Introduction to the purpose of this Statement

This paper states the World Federation of Occupational Therapists’ (WFOT) position on driving and
community mobility. Driving is defined as the ability to control and operate a vehicle, whether
motorised1 (e.g., automobile, motorcycle) or non-motorised (e.g., bicycle). Community mobility
includes transport in “other-propelled,” often shared vehicles (e.g., tuk-tuk, bus, taxi, rail) 1.
Statement of the Position Being Taken

While the ability to drive symbolises independence, pursuing opportunities, enacting freedom, being
autonomous, and sharing in affluence, it is typically a licensed privilege1. Community mobility,
however, is a right of every person2. Community mobility, regardless of mode, is essential for an
individual’s engagement in civil, social and community life as it provides access to services and goods;
enhances societal participation; facilitates health; promotes wellbeing; and enables participation.
Thus, the WFOT supports occupational therapists to address both practice areas of driving and
community mobility by ensuring the individual is fit to drive3; or if not possible, that the individual is
presented with options to engage in the community regardless of mobility mode.
Statement of the Significance of the Position to Occupational Therapy

Driving and community mobility are significant to occupational therapy because:
• Occupational therapists who understand the person- occupation-environment relationship,
may provide valued and evidence‐informed services to optimise a client’s driving and
community mobility participation across the lifespan, and in varying contexts.
• Occupational therapists are experts in evaluation, planning and implementation of
instrumental activities of daily living, and are competent to support their clients’ engagement
in driving and community mobility.
• The scope of occupational therapy practice enables occupational therapists, with or without
specialised training in driver rehabilitation, to develop functional, safe and realistic client-
centred outcomes in driving and community mobility.
• As driving and community mobility occur in public environments, the occupational therapist
must consider the safety risks of the individual and have an ethical duty to warn on the
potential danger of impaired performance; thus balancing risk with the loss of independence,
freedom and identity, which comes with loss of license.
Occupational Therapy in Driving and Community Mobility [2019] 1|2

Statement of the Significance of the Position to Society
WFOT’s position on driving and community mobility is significant to the broader society because it
widely affects personal and public health:
• Driving is a privilege and must be considered within the context of medical and jurisdictional
legislation, public health, social, economic and safety contexts.
• Drivers at risk (e.g., medically-at-risk), must be offered access to fair, evidence-informed and
equitable evaluation and intervention, to improve their fitness to drive or to recommend a
mobility plan other than driving3.
• Because community mobility is a right of every individual, occupational therapists must
address how their clients can fulfil their occupational needs within a community.
• Occupational therapists must engage with other stakeholders involved with promoting
mobility (e.g., licensing agencies) to support clients’ rights.
• Occupational therapists may affect policy and licensing legislation to ensure decisions are
inclusive (e.g., not discriminatory based on medical conditions) and socially just, while also
protecting the public’s safety.
Summary and Conclusion

Driving and community mobility, a major concern for occupational therapists worldwide, demand
implementation of culturally relevant and evidence-informed practices across international borders.
To address driving and community mobility, occupational therapists must be active, collaborative
agents who develop clinical practice guidelines, participate in research, and affect policy and
legislation.
References
1. Driving and community mobility. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2016; 70. Available
from: doi:10.5014/ajot.2016.706S04
2. AOTA. Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process. (2014). American
Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2014; 68, S1-S48. Available from: doi:10.5014/ajot.2014.682006
3. Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and
Medicine. Taxonomy and Terms for Stakeholders in Senior Mobility. Transportation Research
Circular No.E-C211. Washington, DC; 2016.
Contributors (listed by lead, then in alphabetical order*)

Sherrilene Classen (United States of America / South Africa)
Liliana Alvarez (Colombia)
Anita Bundy (United States of America)
Anne Dickerson (United States of America)
Isabelle Gélinas (Canada)
Asako Matsubara (Japan)
Ann-Helen Patomella (Sweden)
Beth Pfeiffer (United States of America)
Pamela Ross (Australia)
Elin Schold-Davis (United States of America)
Lizette Swanepoel (South Africa)
*Document precedes the changes to the WFOT Authorship Policy
Occupational Therapy in Driving and Community Mobility [2019] 2|2

Occupational Therapy in Driving and Community Mobility: Position Statement

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Occupational Therapy in Driving and Community Mobility: Position Statement

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Occupational Therapy in Driving and Community Mobility: Position Statement

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

POSITION STATEMENT

Occupational Therapy in Driving and

Introduction to the purpose of this Statement

Statement of the Position Being Taken

Statement of the Significance of the Position to Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy in Driving and Community Mobility [2019] 1|2

Summary and Conclusion

Contributors (listed by lead, then in alphabetical order*)

*Document precedes the changes to the WFOT Authorship Policy

Occupational Therapy in Driving and Community Mobility [2019] 2|2

You might also like