Connecticut Autism Driving Resources

As described in the main blog on driving resources, this post will cover Connecticut resources on driving. The main problem with Connecticut is that there are few resources available, including a low number of driver rehab specialists present trained in autism and other neurodiverse disorders. With Connecticut, you would have to come up with ideas on your own to make driving work.  Either way, here are the driving resources that you can look for in Connecticut.  I also included non-driving school resources as Connecticut's DMV have one program and another resource is by a university. 

06/01/2023 Update: Added a new business that reached out to me and provided me with their summary. 
11/13/2023 Update: Added a therapy service I ran into over at Newtown. 
4/9/2024 Update: Added the Hospital for Special Care service. 

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Driving Schools

Knepler Driving Schools 

Knepler has five locations within the state, along with a Florida school. Those Connecticut locations are Fairfield, Monroe, Trumbull, and Stratford. They take clients from Department of Social Services due to their vendor status and funding from Department of Developmental Services, DOHRS and Bureau of Rehabilitation Services. Their overall special needs services include evaluation called their “Diagnostic Driving Evaluation Center” and they cover both physical and mental conditions like autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities. Training wise, their driver rehab specialist covers driver assessments, which tackles knowledge of driver rules and general driving and mental rules. Finally, they have behind the wheel lessons to help new drivers find their strengths and areas of improvement.  


Non-Driving Schools:

Easterseals 

Over at Meriden, Easterseals have a driver assessment program, which tackles clinical and behind the wheel assessment for driving skills. Those assessments are done by a certified driver rehab specialist to check on a driver’s ability or to assess if a need for adaptive tech is necessary or not. Their main page has several videos to help give you an idea of what their services look like.  


Therapeutic Driving with Occupational Therapy

​"Therapeutic Driving with Occupational Therapy, LLC is owned and operated by an occupational therapist who is a Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist.   Services are most often provided at the client's home.  Commitment to individualized care is part of the planning for every client.  The process begins with a comprehensive clinical assessment and if appropriate continues with a behind the wheel evaluation.   All services are individualized to meet the needs of the client."

Hospital for Special Care 

Located in New Britain, their OTs work with individuals on evaluating and testing their driving abilities and readiness. They work with you on assessments to get cleared for driving. One of the main features present is their DriverSafety Driving Simulator that sets up a virtual environment that is suited for individuals' needs to gain driver skills. 


 Initiatives:

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Blue envelope   

Passed by policymakers in 2020, the blue envelope program was created to help communications between autistic individual and their family with police officers during a traffic stop. The envelope contains autism information, and a driver can put in their driver registration, insurance card, and license inside it. People can find this autism envelope at DMV locations, police stations, and autism organizations. 

Autism awareness (ct.gov)

 

Southern Connecticut State University 

Their Center of Excellence on Autism Spectrum Disorders runs the Routine Traffic Stop Practice in select campuses throughout the state. People from the center collaborate with local police stations to go over what is expected at a traffic stop and have live demonstrations where drivers can experience a staged traffic stop. For more information and to see a video, you can go on this link below: 

Routine Traffic Stop Practice for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder | Southern Connecticut State University (southernct.edu)


Therapy Services:

4D Vision Gym:
Located in Cheshire, there provide vision therapy services and a 4D Built to Drive where they will send you everything to you in order to train your brain on using your eyes. I get to try out a demo of this on November 12th, 2023, and it was fascinating to get insights on my own perception intake. While this can be an expensive program, they do offer free consultations to people. 



Specific Instructors:

Ron Parrs

Ron Parrs, Driver Rehabilitation Specialist, Certified Driving Instructor (CT, MA & RI), Certified Cognitive Coach (IBCCES.org,  # CCC2188887, exp 02/2025) - 1, 15-hour courses on autism, with initial certification & 1, 15-hour courses on autism with recertification.

CDI with The Next Street, LLC since Dec 2018
DRS & CCC since Feb 2021

Continuing Education certificate 15 hours training through ADED, "The Impact of Disability, Vision & Aging on Driving", May 2022

Accumulated over 2,000 hours of working with neuro-diverse community.

I have worked with the following diagnoses & comorbidities:
ASD, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, Audio Processing Disorder, Visual & Visuo-Motor Processing Disorders, students requiring prism lenses, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Apraxia, Anxiety Disorders, Cerebral Palsy & its symptoms (have taught students requiring & using adaptive equipment - not currently available), Spastic Diplegia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, Gender Dysphoria, Encephalopathy, Hydro Encephalopathy, Strabismus, Nystagmus, Aphantasia, students having undergone vision therapy, Kabuki syndrome, Down syndrome, short stature.

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