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Hi, I'm Kezia Stroke survivor and a member of BIND.
And hi, I'm Carrie, a stroke survivor, and a member of BIND as well. And today we're happy to welcome Brandon Higgs. He is a US army combat veteran. After active duty he decided to go back to school and he received his Bachelor of Science and Health Services and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. Brandon is the owner of H and T Driver Rehabilitation Specialist, LLC, which is a driver rehabilitation program that focuses on the road for the neurologically impaired here in North Texas.
So welcome very much Brandon. And just so our listeners can get a little bit to know you tell us a little bit about yourself.
Yeah, thanks Carrie for the introduction. Excuse me. Yeah. So I was in the Army. And I went back to school for Occupational Therapy uh, while I was in school, I got a, a post to drive a rehab at Vanderbilt University uh, during one of my internships, so to speak. So I did that for about three months at Vanderbilt, absolutely loved driver rehab, helping folks kind of get back to driving if they have the ability.
Uh, and then I was offered a job right out of school from private practice doing driver rehab. Excuse me. And so did that for a time uh, an opportunity presented itself here in Dallas uh, at Baylor and, uh, so I started a driver rehab program in Frisco. And did that for a couple of years uh, and during that time, um, you know, I thought I wanted to start my own business. So I started my own company about two years ago, me and a guy from grad school.
And we're certified driver rehabilitation specialist that's CDRS uh, that's accredited through a program. I mean, I'm sorry. Association called AIDED, which is Association for Driver Rehab Specialist. So A D E D. And their acronym doesn't quite work out. Because, yeah. Um, but it's the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists aided. And they have a search engine. You can look up. CDR's is in your area. And there's also various levels of you could be a driver rehab professional.
You could specialize in wheelchairs, you could specialize in the elderly, you could specialize you know, in young adults with autism and so on and so forth. So we're becoming more, you know, um They're there. They're coming up with different titles, uh, that you can be rather than just be a CDRs, but that's what we do.
Okay. Cool.
Yeah, I think, and right now that you're telling us a lot of different kinds of, um, I guess kind of levels are kind of needed of help to get back into driving. I think one of the first to sit or footnote. The first questions that we get questions asked a lot. It's like, who decides like when someone is ready to drive in whatever level, and obviously we're with brain injury survivors.
So like for a brain injury survivor who makes that decision like, Ooh, they should take this class and get ready to drive again.
Well, really that's. That is very, that's a collaborative process, depending on the severity of your injury. Um, It, you know, a lot of times those decisions if it's, you know, a significant brain injury. And you in the recovery process has been long. And there still are some lingering, uh, cognitive deficits or some physical deficits.
Uh, a lot of times the occupational therapist is the one that identifies that, you know, uh, I'm not saying that's the way it always goes, but it's, it's usually the rehab therapist, the speech therapist, the physical therapist. Um, You know, but it could be the neurologist. It could be um, you know, it could be a family member. It just, it just depends now. That's going to send me into, what is Texas say about returning to driving? Do you wanna go ahead and get into that?
Um, yeah.
Okay. So this is, there's not a law that says that you have to go through my program or retake the road test at DPS. And the DPS is the Department of Public Safety. They're the ones that, uh, administer the driver's license here in the state of Texas. Every state is a little different. So they have a medical advisory board. Every state has a medical advisory board. They're independent from the Department of Public Safety. So we call them the MAB. Excuse me.
And you can look any of this stuff up online. It's all public. Information. So the medical advisory board has a document called a guide for determining driver limitations. That's the name of the document. It's a PDF. You could Google it right now on your phone. A guide for determining driver limitations and in that document, They have uh, multiple different diagnoses. And when it talks about brain injury, they recommend that ultimately you retake the road test at DPS.
You know, or that you're seen by somebody like me and they call it adaptive driving. Um, So, you know, It really it's, it's a grey area, unfortunately, but it's my belief that and the other CDRs is in the area. We have these ongoing conversations that that's the best way to cover yourself from a liability standpoint. Right. Cause if you get in a wreck Lord forbid and hurt somebody or kill somebody. You know, these, these documents are out here, out there.
Um, there's different forms too, that we want the doctors to fill out. Um, So getting back to your question. Uh, you know, It depends. It really depends. If you're in a comprehensive Day Neuro program. Um, do we all know what those are? You guys of course are familiar. Uh, a lot of times, you know, cause when I worked at Baylor, Uh, not everybody had to have a driving evaluation by me. Some people were the therapists like they're scoring in the normal ranges.
They're progressing, they're managing their finances. They're managing, to me that's a big indicator. Are you back to doing those in occupational therapy? We call those instrumental activities of daily living. IADLs. Uh, are you back to doing those things? Are, you know, you might not be back to a hundred percent of your prior level of function, but are you independent? Do you still need help with those, those, uh, instrumental activities of daily living?
Now, if you need help with basic activities of daily living like dressing, grooming. Now, you know, that's another conversation you're not appropriate probably for our program just yet. Um, But if you're, you're getting back on your feet, you're managing your own finances. You're, you know, in your, about to return to work. Uh, you know, I still think you should schedule an appointment with DPS. And there's a special way to do that. And I can keep talking about all that. If you want me to.
Sure. I mean, I don't know. I mean, cause I, I went back through the DPS, but I didn't fill out any form. I just did it on my own because I wanted to, to make sure I was covered
And that's good. And that's great. And I think that's the way to do it. You know? Uh, it's a hassle dealing with DPS.
It's a nightmare.
Yeah. And if people want to call our company, we'll, we'll guide them through that process for no charge. You know, uh, if you go to the drive, if you go to dps.gov, I think it's DPS.Texas.gov. And then you go to driver's license. And then you go to the assistance for people with disabilities. That's what you need to go to. And it's immeditely going to take you to a screen where you fill out these forms, where you fill out like a fillable sections. Your driver's license number, your address.
Uh, what's your quote unquote disability. You know, you just put, you know, brain injury. I want to take the road test to prove I'm safe. And then you put the driver's license office that's closest to you. So what should excuse me, sorry. So what should happen in that event is they'll call you within 48 hours. And they'll say, Hey uh, I see that you filled out these forms. What's going on and then you just tell them, Hey, look, I had a brain change. That's all you got to say.
I had a brain change. Uh, I want to reveal that to DPS, to cover myself from a liability standpoint. And I want to schedule the road test. Now what might happen? They might make you take the written test to. Just so you know. Yeah. Yeah. Now there's tests online that you can study for that. Um, to do that right now. Because when you walk in at DPS, so let me just slow down. Cause sometimes I get ahead of myself here.
Okay.
Um, so you're going to fill out those forms on DPS.gov they're going to call you from whatever office and they're going to ask you what your availability is. You're going to come in with your documents. You know, uh, now if you haven't been to the driver's license office in awhile, Uh, they've updated all the IDs and you've got to come in with like your birth certificate, you know, and a couple of pieces of mail. It's all there on the website. It's all there on the website.
Yeah. Um, I also recommend you fill out the driver's license application. Fill that out before you even come in. Don't sign that until you come in. You know, once again, call us, this is a lot of information, but just so you know, when you get there. The people that are. Uh, they're I, I guess you wouldn't say evaluating you. They're not medical people. Right, right. They're just their DPS workers.
Uh, sometimes they'll have a manager that's kind of specializes in, they call them comprehensive road test. Essentially it's the same road test that a 16 year old takes when they take your driver's license. Yeah. But when you get there, they're looking at you and if you're walking with a cane or a limp, Or you have a speech impediment like aphasia. They may ask you to take the written test. Okay. And that that's kind of how they're doing that right now. Uh, so be prepared for that.
Uh, now if you have a apraxi, uh, or you have like receptive aphasia, that might be very difficult. And we've had folks like that. We've we've, we've had people like that. That's where you really need to reach out to me or somebody like me. You don't have to do whatever you want. Of course. You know, I mean. I want to make that clear, you know, people, Hey, we're in Texas. People are going to some do they will just do whatever they want. That's fine.
Um, Just realizing you're accepting that liability, but you can call us. And in some of these areas, we can call the managers and to say, Hey, we got, we got this person coming in. You know it, can you make any accommodations? And so there are accommodations that can be made for speech impediments and apraxia. Um, but you know, it's case by case.
Okay. When you keep saying, you know, we're in Texas. We can do whatever we want. That's another question I have, um, When you have a brain injury. Like nobody calls the DPS and says, oh, this person had a brain injury check mark, you know, black mark on you, you can't drive anymore. Yeah. No one does it, right? I mean,
Well, your physician can, you know, or if somebody sees you doing something unsafe, anybody can report to the medical advisory board. Okay. Anybody. If I see somebody driving unsafe, I can get their license plate and, and say, hey, I saw this person doing something unsafe. And then make that report to the medical advisory board.
Yeah, and I think that's one of the questions. And I think from like a, I guess more like personal standpoint like a experience. Um, one of my cousins in a different state? So obviously it's different because we're in Texas had his, um, license withdrawn because he has seizures. Can that be done here in Texas as well? Like, or what happens? Can that be possible to get your license withdrawn because of your medical?
It can be medically suspended or revoked. Uh, but everything has to go through the medical advisory board. And I highly recommend, maybe you reach out to them and maybe get somebody from the medical advisory board on a podcast. That'd be awesome. Yeah. Um, they're updating a lot of stuff. Now you can sit in on their open forums. Okay. So when they meet their meet, their meeting is like zoom. I think it's on zoom.
And, uh, you can be on there and you can, now they go through their business meeting. You. You know, a lot of it's very boring. But you could ask them, Hey, I'd like to talk or ask a question at the end and I've done that. Uh, because I want to know what's going on. Um, but so the way, the way it goes to get back to your question is a. It has to go through the medical advisory board.
So I can make a report or the doctor can make a referral saying Hey, look, this person is having multiple seizures. They're still driving. I've asked him not to drive. I recommend they stop driving. And so that's sent to that sent to Austin is where the medical advisory boards headquarters is at. Um, and then the doctors review it. They meet once a month. Uh, and they could send a packet to that, to the driver.
They'd sent a packet and it essentially would, you know, have, uh, it's a big thick packet. You can download that offline to you can see exactly what they're sending these people. Uh, and I used to see them at Baylor all the time. And it just has like a place for the neurologist, you know? What's their condition. What medications are they taking? Are the seizures controlled. Uh, when, when was their last seizure? You know, they're going to ask you, they're going to do their investigation.
And then you're going to essentially go before a board. Uh, and they're going to make a decision on that evidence. Okay. Um, and that's how your license gets medically suspended.
Yeah, and I really like the, how thorough you have been explaining the process. Um, I hope that everyone has learned going down there. Their notebook and written down all the, uh, all the steps that are needed, but also that they're available online. Right. I really think that's really helpful. Um, is there also like some additional steps that need to be provided for drivers? Like in case they expire.
Like somewhere in between the brain injury and after, and again, I think because I'm currently going through that situation. Yeah. So as much as I learn, I hope all of our listeners learn to.
/Yeah, that's a good question. Um, so if you can renew it within two years, So if two years has not expired, you can do that online. Okay. Uh, of course, unless it's that time for you to come in person so you can renew it now, if it's outside of two years. Um, and, um, I think I'm right about this. I'm not a hundred percent sure about 99% sure. Um, I'm about 99.5% sure that, uh, if it's outside of two years, Then you have to get a permit again.
Yeah. That's where I'm at.
You have to get a permit. That's fine. You can, you know, um, you can either just go in and take the test if you want to. Or you can go through one of the. Driving schools and take the test. Uh, if you feel like, Hey, look, I need to, and I'll be honest with you that's a yeah I mean, that's a gray area as well. I mean, That's what we've done. I had a gentleman that had, um, he had a stroke and he ended up having a, a heart transplant. Uh, and he had.
He had aphasia, he had aphasia and apraxia and uh, I mean, it was, it was pretty significant. It's pretty significant. Uh, but he could drive. He could drive great. You know, and so we're working with him, uh, and, uh, what we ended up doing because his license was expired, you know? He had very, he had a very complicated course. Um, where you had a heart transplant in during this course. Um, So his license was expired.
So what we ended up doing was he went through online course online and he took the permit course there and he took the test. And so, you know, he took the test, he got his certificate, he went to DPS. Uh, and then when it was time for him to get his license, You know, he got his license. And of course with aphasia and I know that was one of your questions. You can get that communication impediment. On your driver's license.
So if you get pulled over by a peace officer, they know, Hey, I'm not drunk or on drugs. Right. Or trying to play some funny business. I have a neurological impairment. It affects my speech.
Okay. I think that's really helpful to understand that part, because I also was right now, you were also saying, um, about accommodations and like, what are some accommodations? Like if it was speech, like, you know, I have aphasia, but thankfully these podcasts make me feel better and working on it. But, um, how do you, what are some accommodations for things like aphasia or if you have some, um, mobility issues, like what are some accommodations for the driving? At DPS at DPS. Yeah.
Uh, well it's case by case basis. So I've talked to several managers and I haven't seen any of this in writing by the way. Um, It's very subjective. You know, but Hey. Um, That it's it's that they say that they can you know, For like apraxia they can you know, put the, it can play through the headphones. I don't know how more helpful that is. The not. Um, but aphasia, I mean, basically. You know, however that individual communicates.
And a lot of times they have a family member and I, you know, most time what I've seen, they're not using their communication device. If they were issued one, I don't know what y'all seen. Um, But it's just kind of, they get their point across and then really I'm there in the office kind of advocating for them or a family member is, uh, and I haven't had any problems. I haven't had any problems and they know why we're coming because we went through the assistance for people with disabilities.
Sure. We didn't just schedule road tests and show up. You know, they know why we're there. And one more thing, if you take these tests, You know, when you get to DPS, you gotta make sure that they're that they are indicating that you've taken the it's a special test. And it's a, there's a pink sheet that pink uh, it's a pink testing sheet. Anyways, if that has to be filled out. And so a lot of times I get to the DPS and they don't even know that. The person, cause they don't do it that much.
You know what I'll say hey, I think it's supposed to be a pink sheet. You know, I don't even know what that means. I know. I just know that it's a pink sheet.
Okay, I'm going to take a quick little break and just remind our listeners to go ahead and click that like button that share button and the follow button. If you're on and notify them, you're on Utube. But, yeah. So now we're going to get back to Brandon and get back to more talking about driving. So I do know that a lot of like for me, I didn't do all those things. I just went in and said, I wanted to drive. I mean, I took, I took precautions on my own. I hired.
I driving instructor and drove for a couple of weeks, you know, did some driving up because I had pretty severe left neglect after my stroke. And I wait like two years to make sure I was comfortable with that. I couldn't see, cause like I can see Kezia right now. After my stroke, I didn't Kezia didn't exist in my world. Right. I was scared. I would hit the curb on the left side. So I drove again and then when I went to the DPS.
I mean the lady that did my test she asked if I wanted, and I don't know the correct term, but I'm pretty sure she called it a suicide knob um, on the steering wheel. And I was like, no, I don't think any that I'm good with. No. It was my left arm. Doesn't work, you know? Fortunately in my right foot is good. So I don't need any pedal adjustment, which I know that is a car modification. You can get. Um, it's interesting that there's all these things that. You're saying that.
But again, that was 15 years ago things could have changed.
And, you know, a conversation argument can be made that you don't have to do any of this stuff that I'd have said. It's all from a liability standpoint. You know, that's what the medical advisory board is. That's what they recommend. The peace officers don't know this. The doctors mostly don't know this. Sure. Um, I mean now will the lawyer know this right? When you run somebody over in Kroger parking lot.
Sure. Yeah, that's my whole
thing. So you're just covering yourself. Um, Well, you're just, you're just covering yourself from a liability standpoint.
Right? Well, and they put a designation on my license. Uh, put a T. For automatic transmission only. Right, because obviously with my left leg, And my left arm, not working. I can't push a clutch in and. So if I get pulled over my license proves that I've gone back through the DPS just by that designation.
Well, yeah, I think so. I mean, hopefully it's documented somewhere. Hopefully. Yeah. Um, yeah, and the adaptive equipment we do. We do have that as well, actually. That's why, I'm glad I brought this in. Oh, perfect. We. We called spinner knobs. Or steering orthotics if we want to get real. You know, technical, but this is a S this is a steering orthotic, and this has your secondary controls embedded in it.
So you can have this mounted to the steering wheel and it's got your turn signals, windshield wipers, horn, brights lights. Uh, and then these other two, you can make them whatever you want. Where would that be? So that's mounted on the steering wheel. Like you said though. On the right-hand side. Yeah. Yep. I'm on the right hand side and you just have it here and then you just hit your turn signals. You know, you don't have to bring your hand off and cross over and do something like that.
Um, but there's, there's various modifications that can be made. Um, and that's we make those recommendations. Okay. You know, that starts with a comprehensive driving evaluation done by us or somebody like us. Yeah, we, we recommend that equipment then train on that equipment. And then, like you said, uh, retake their road test and get your driver's license updated. Yours has a T restriction. If you drove a, something like this.
It would, you would have a P restriction and that's just a applicable devices. Okay.
What is that what a P restriction means? Yes. Okay.
Yup. P restriction is applicable devices. And a lot of times, like you said, they'll have like automatic transmission and power steering and there's other restrictions as well. Awesome.
I had a friend that. I don't know how that worked. His right, right. leg was affected. So he had the pedals. Right pedal covered up and another pedal put in.
So yeah, we called it a left foot accelerator. Okay. And left foot accelerators they seem pretty simple. But that is a very, uh, that could be a very dangerous piece of equipment. Uh, so we absolutely recommend that you go through a reputable you know, driving rehab program. Then you go through a reputable dealer. Cause I just had a lady. A couple of weeks ago, she bought one off Amazon and on eBay, please don't do that.
Okay. Because you're modifying your modifying a primary control your vehicle. You're modifying the brake and the gas. That's a very serious to be doing that. So we recommend you go through a reputable dealership and a reputable installer. Um, and this is what happened she took it to a mechanic shop. And the mechanic got in and was playing around with that left foot accelerator and drove it through the bay and totaled the car oh, wow. That happens all the time. Oh, wow.
So left foot accelerators can be very beneficial if you're right-side hemiparetic obviously. But, uh, you know, there is some training usually associated with that and, uh, people learn these equipment on different. It's a spectrum. Yeah. And we will pick it up very quick. Some people, depending on the severity of the injury or where the injury is and the brain, you know, it can all, it can all depend, but it's not as simple as saying, okay, I'm hemiparetic on the right side.
I'm going to get a left side of accelerator and drive off into the sunset. It can be very dangerous. Yeah, I can see that people have, I mean, I can go on and on and on about that. Wow.
We're going to take a little break. We're going to have you come back and talk to us some more because we need to go ahead and wrap up this episode before our cameras die, on us. Um, but we really appreciate you being here and we're learning so much and we have so many more questions that we have to go. So we're excited that we're going to have you back for another episode. So we want to thank you for joining us. We want to thank all our listeners for listening.
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