Driver's test - check!

At long last, Erica has passed her driver's test. No, of course she is not 16. I mean the one where she goes to Children's Hospital and proves to doctors that she can maneuver a power wheelchair through doorways and down halls without mowing down people along the way. In gleefully posting this on Facebook, one of my fellow special needs moms commented that she hates that Erica had to "prove herself" to get what she needs, but loves that she is moving forward (literally - LOL!).

I understand why they have seating clinic and the driver's test, as we have come to refer to the process. But I continue to contend that they should have some sort of driver's training class for kids who need powered mobility, just like the schools offer driver's ed. for teenagers and automobiles. They say "well you can make an appointment and borrow a chair from the vendor to practice on for a month or two." But no one ever explains to parents how to teach their kid to drive one - and certainly no one offers to teach her for you! Erica has been practicing on and off for about six years!! The latest training period has been since November, when I started sending her to school in a chair that we simply lucked into that another kid had outgrown and was collecting dust in a garage. It's old, it has lots of quirks, it was rigged piecemeal in many ways by the previous owner, but it served its purpose.

And now, the paperwork has been filled out and the long process started to get Erica her very own, custom-built, made-to-order power wheelchair. The model that we agreed upon with the vendor can actually go up and down curbs and should have adjustable height. I can't wait to see her go to town in it - or, to the playground as the case may be. ;)