(Marietta, Ga. – Sept. 16, 2014) Chattahoochee Technical College students will be helping area drivers to become CarFit at an event later this month in the parking lot at Roswell Street Baptist Church. Scheduled for Sept. 30, the students and WellStar employees will be on hand to work with members of the public from 9 a.m. to noon.
CarFit is a national program developed by the American Society on Aging in collaboration with AAA, AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association. Through CarFit, the Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Group is helping Georgia seniors find out how the effects of aging change the way they fit in their vehicle and how that can affect their driving. CarFit is designed to give seniors a quick, comprehensive check on how well their vehicle suits their abilities. While the program is geared toward senior drivers, the program is offered to any driver at no charge.
“The OTA students will not only have the opportunity to work alongside other medical professionals to build interpersonal and interdisciplinary skills, said Field Work Coordinator and Instructor Amy Shaffer. “They will be providing a service to the Cobb county community while simultaneously experiencing the common mobility problems and experiences senior drivers experience.”
Prior to the event, the students in the college’s Occupational Therapy Assistant program will become certified technicians for CarFit. Trained technicians take drivers through a 12-point checklist, including: Is the driver buckled up and using the seat belt correctly? Is the driver positioned correctly in the seat? Can the driver reach the pedals easily? Does the driver know how to adjust mirrors properly or have the flexibility to use mirrors?
During an event, drivers are also provided with information and materials on community-specific resources that could enhance their safety and/or increase their mobility in the community. Occupational Therapy practitioners assist in events at the “check-out” station by providing information about possible adaptive equipment or how to obtain further driving evaluation if needed.
“As part of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program, we teach students about the role of occupational therapists with driving and community mobility,” said Program Director Traci Swartz. “So we thought this would be a great way to illustrate the concepts. Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants can become Certified Driving Rehabilitation Specialists if interested in that practice area, after acquiring further training and passing an exam.”
The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is 94 credit hours in length, including prerequisites. Occupational Therapy Assistants work under the direction of occupational therapists to help rehabilitate patients with injuries, illnesses, or disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). This includes helping patients develop, recover and improve the skills needed for daily living and working.
A full-time student who has successfully completed all prerequisite courses can complete the Occupational Therapy Assistant program in five semesters. Program prerequisite courses are offered at multiple campuses and online. Occupational Therapy Assistant occupational courses are offered at the Austell Campus.
For more information on CarFit and the upcoming event in Marietta, visit www.car-fit.org. For more information on Chattahoochee Technical College and its programs of study, visit www.ChattahoocheeTech.edu or call 770-528-4545.