ArticleThe American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association2021
Behind the Wheel: Specialized Driving Instructors' Experiences and Strategies for Teaching Autistic Adolescents to Drive.
Article in The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 16 citations in OpenAlex.
- Driving with autism spectrum disorder: Exploring the impact of tactile hazard warnings on gaze behavior and hazard responses.Vision research · 2026Article
- Healthcare Providers' Perspectives on Autistic Adolescents Transitioning to Independent Driving.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2026Article
- Assessing dive fitness in individuals with autism spectrum disorder.Diving and hyperbaric medicine · 2025Review
- Driving Safety among Adolescents with Health Conditions: An Integrative Review.Journal of transport & health · 2025Article
- Preparing to "Live a Life of Possibilities": Experiences of Healthcare Providers Readying Autistic Adolescents and Their Families for Independent Driving.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2025Article
- Development and feasibility of a driving training program for Autistic student drivers.PloS one · 2025Article
- Caregivers' Perspectives on Use of and Need for Driving Resources for Their Autistic Adolescent.Autism in adulthood · 2024Article
- Comparison of Motor Vehicle Crashes, Traffic Violations, and License Suspensions Between Autistic and Non-Autistic Adolescent and Young Adult Drivers.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
importanceIn the transition to adulthood, driving supports independence. For autistic adolescents, training provided by specialized driving instructors, including occupational therapists, may establish fitness to drive and continued independence.
objectiveTo examine specialized driving instructors' experiences providing behind-the-wheel instruction to autistic adolescents.
designWe recruited participants through purposive and snowball sampling of members of ADED, the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists. Interviews investigated experiences providing instruction, autistic students' strengths and challenges, strategies used, and recommendations to improve the learning-to-drive process. We coded transcripts using a directed content analysis approach.
settingTelephone interviews.
participantsSpecialized driving instructors (N = 17) trained as occupational therapists, driver rehabilitation specialists, or licensed driving instructors with recent experience providing behind-the-wheel training for autistic adolescents participated.
resultsBehind-the-wheel challenges included mental inflexibility, distractibility, and difficulties with social cues and motor coordination. Instructors acknowledged students' strengths, including adherence to rules of the road, limited risk taking, and careful observations. Instructors scaffolded learning to help students develop skills. Although licensure and driving outcomes were sometimes unknown to instructors, students who became licensed frequently drove with supervision or restrictions. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Licensure is possible for autistic adolescents, although developing fitness to drive requires individualization and rigorous specialized instruction, which may culminate in delayed or restricted driving. What This Article Adds: This article highlights challenges and strengths encountered by specialized driving instructors teaching autistic adolescents. Despite requiring prolonged training, autistic adolescents can achieve licensure when supported by specialized instruction that is individualized to their needs and strengths.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.