Jessica Ping*Disclosure: There are affiliate links in the following article, meaning that, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links, I will receive a small commission.
If you’re new here, hi, my name is Jessica Ping-Wild and I have CHILD Syndrome.
You’ve never heard of CHILD Syndrome before?
I’m not surprised. Only about 60 people worldwide have this condition and I just happen to be one of them! Each case is different, but for the most part, CHILD Syndrome causes skin and limb deficiencies on one side of the body.
I was born with a shortened arm and leg on my left side. A few months after birth, I had a bit of the leg amputated to make wearing a prosthesis possible. So, for this reason, I identify as an amputee.
My childhood obviously looked different from many of my peers growing up. Whether I was wearing my prosthesis or using a wheelchair, getting around has always been somewhat of a hassle.
Still, even as a child, I have always worked towards living an independent life. When I entered my 8th-grade year of schooling, my family and I were forced to confront a brand new question for the first time.
Would I be learning how to drive?
I grew up in a small, farming community, so driver’s education is a part of the high school curriculum. The big question on the table was whether or not I would be participating in the behind-the-wheel portion of the class and learning how to drive with the rest of my peers.
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Having zero neurological or mental deficits and being proficient at Mario Kart, I didn’t fully understand why the school even bothered asking. OF COURSE, I WOULD BE DRIVING! HOW SILLY!
But, I quickly understood it was much more involved than I originally thought.
The Process of Learning How To Drive
Step 1: Getting The A-Okay
Before I could give my school a hard and fast yes or no answer, I had to go through a proper evaluation to declare that I could, in fact, drive safely.
At the ripe age of 14 years old, my family and I drove about 90 minutes north to the Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital.
One of the programs Marianjoy offers includes a comprehensive evaluation for people with disabilities to determine whether or not they will be able to drive and what sort of adaptive technology they will require for assistance.
Now, unfortunately, I didn’t know that I would be blogging about this day a decade later. But, I still remember quite a bit about the general experience and will tell you as much detail as I can. If you want more information, you can visit their website HERE.
Step 1.1: The Clinical Occupational Therapy Evaluation
This portion of the experience was quite relaxing. Essentially, they put me through a series of mental and visual tests to see how I reacted to various stimuli. These exercises tested my vision, perception, cognition, and motor function.
I don’t remember too much about the details here, but I would relate it to going to the eye doctor/studying flashcards. Most of it was a piece of cake. That said, apparently, I have pretty poor depth perception. 😂 It wasn’t/isn’t so bad that it impedes my ability to drive successfully/safely, but of all the tests they ran, that was my worst result.
Step 1.2: The Behind-The-Wheel Evaluation
I felt like the toughest, coolest, and most-respected 14-year-old in the entire world when they told me to sit in the driver’s seat. Of most of my friends, I was probably one of the first to ever ~ officially ~ drive a car.
While the course was completely blocked off and dealt with 0 outside traffic, I was still in control. My hands were on the wheel and my foot was on the pedal. It was my time to shine, and shine I did.
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This portion of the test shows the driver rehabilitation specialist exactly what adaptations will be needed for the person undergoing the evaluation. Additionally, it helps put into perspective the results they received from the first series of exercises. It essentially helps them make sure there are no oversights in their recommendations.
Step 1.3: Getting the Result
According to the Marianjoy website, completing the evaluation takes about 2.5 hours on average. I don’t remember exactly how long my entire experience was, but 2.5 hours is a good estimate.
Once the exercises are completed, you (and if needed, your family), consult with the specialist and discuss options. My consultation went ~approximately~ as follows:
She has very good motor function and is capable of learning how to drive. That said, turning the vehicle proved to be somewhat challenging. We would recommend getting an assistive device placed on the steering wheel to help her make turns more comfortably and confidently.
As her right leg is completely intact, she does not require any assistance with the brake or accelerator.
An automatic gear shift will be necessary.
Additionally, you may want to consider investing in an adaptive vehicle at some point in the future. For complete independence with a wheelchair, these are essential.
TLDR: I was approved! The only thing that my particular case called for (at the time) was a device that would help me turn the steering wheel with one hand.
Step 2. Get The Adaptive Device Installed
After my appointment with Marianjoy, my parents called United Access to set up a time to have the new device implanted onto our steering wheel. United Access was recommended to us by Marianjoy as being a reliable company, so we were optimistic about working with them.
When we arrived at the shop, we found that Marianjoy had already faxed over my paperwork, speeding up the process immensely. After about an hour’s worth of work, the device was installed and ready to use!
Close-up photos of the device are provided below.
Step 3. Driver’s Education
Once I was old enough, I took both the classroom and behind-the-wheel portions of driver’s ed alongside my peers at my local high school. After completing my evaluation and getting the assistive device implanted into our own car, we passed on the information to my school and they took care of the rest.
Where I Am Today
Not to toot my own horn, but I am a fantastic driver. I’m cautious, but not wimpy. Alert, but also ready to jam out to the radio and sing at the top of my lungs. I relish every moment I get to drive alone in the car. It’s the perfect time to think, plan, pray, and zen out with yourself.
That said, driving alone isn’t often a reality for me. My family has never been able to get an adaptive vehicle. They’re outrageously expensive and often aren’t the types of things insurance covers.
This has made the prospect of working anywhere but from home very challenging for me. Though I did take an office job immediately after graduating from the University of Notre Dame last May, I required the assistance of my friends to help me inside the building every single day. It was embarrassing and made me feel like such a burden to the people I loved. (REMINDER to myself and others – disability is not inherently burdensome, inaccessibility is!!!)
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Luckily, as I am moving to London, England to be with my husband soon, this won’t be an issue for long. I won’t be able to or need to drive once abroad. That said, when he and I move back to the States in the future, I know that this expense will be weighing heavily on my mind. The physical act of driving is wonderful and does grant one independence all on its own, but the ability to do so only takes one so far.
Curious about the expenses accompanying an accessible vehicle? Check out these one’s I found in a quick Google Search: shorturl.at/pqESW or shorturl.at/byAM8
Answering Instagram’s Questions About Learning How To Drive As An Amputee
How do you use your brakes and accelerator?
Luckily, as my amputation is on the left side of my body and I have full control over my right leg, I am able to use the pedals just like non-disabled individuals do.
Is it hard to use your blinkers?
A little bit actually. If you watched the video, “How I Prepare to Drive My Car” above, you see that I move the seat quite a bit forward before taking off. While doing this definitely helps me reach the steering wheel, it is also essential for using my blinkers, which are on the left!
Does the car have any modifications? If so, what are they?
Yes! I have a knob that connects to my steering wheel that allows me to turn the wheel around completely with just one hand.
Do you enjoy the tactile sensations of driving or just regard it as personal mobility?
Yes! I genuinely love driving so much. It’s definitely going to be something I miss when I move to London (hopefully soon!)
What type of car do you like?
The accessible type 😉 – Um, but seriously, I am not really into cars and don’t particularly have a preference.
What are your go-to songs to jam out to in the car?
Okay, I loved this question so much, I decided to turn it into a blog post! If you want to know what songs I can’t get enough of this year, head to the following link: https://therollingexplorer.com/driving-playlist-10-songs-i-am-jamming-to-behind-the-wheel-this-year/
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