OT students help car owners find the right fit

OT students volunteering at the CarFit event in May 2024.

University of Minnesota occupational therapy (OT) students are empowering drivers through a partnership with CarFit, an educational program developed by AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association that helps car owners make adjustments to suit their individual needs. 

“We don't help people drive, but we help fit the car to the driver,” said Professor Andrea Harrison, an OT faculty member who leads the students involved. “As occupational therapists, we can provide modifications and suggestions to help people become more adapted to their vehicle.”

As a segment of courses on older adults or through an annual community CarFit event in Rochester, students can undergo training to become certified CarFit technicians. 

Certified technicians evaluate aspects such as mirror placement, seat belt usage, exterior car damage from accidents, and steering wheel positioning. They also analyze the individual, surveying for mobility issues that make checking blind spots and moving in and around the car difficult, in which case they may recommend meeting with a physical or occupational therapist. Harrison recalled a recent case in which students worked with a driver who recently had knee replacement surgery to acquire adaptive equipment and navigate moving in and out of his car safely. 

“There are things that we take for granted. It's easy now to just jump in and jump out of your car, but as you age, some of those reflexes and flexibility situations make it a little bit difficult,” Harrison said. 

Though the OT program has partnered with CarFit for over the last decade in some form or another, a more recent development is an annual CarFit event in Rochester, when community members can have a drive-through evaluation experience free of charge. For two years now, the OT program has partnered with various companies in Rochester to put on the event, where students can volunteer and become certified. The OT program aims to start holding the events in the Twin Cities, too. 

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for them to interact with actual community members. I've seen that it builds students’ confidence to be part of these events because they're the ones that are providing the recommendations and the suggestions,” Harrison said. 

Triet Lu, an OT doctoral student, obtained his certification at a CarFit event over the summer. After he finishes his PhD, he hopes to work as a researcher and a clinician. He thought CarFit certification could serve as a useful tool when working with older adult populations and enjoyed the event enough that he signed up to volunteer for a second time. 

“I was a little nervous at first just because I was a student, and it felt like I was supposed to be the expert… but I think my learning in the classroom really helped me be confident,” Lu said. “It was really nice working with community members and feeling like the things that I'm learning in class are applicable to the community and can make an impact.”

Lu also said he thinks the CarFit event helps prevent unsafe driving in communities by offering drivers a low-stakes environment. Harrison said many of the community members, once they’re assured they aren’t being tested for potential license revocation, are excited by the new information they receive about their car, such as how to properly use their car’s technology. She also said it also shines a spotlight on the value of occupational therapy. 

“A lot of people say, ‘I didn't even know what occupational therapists were or what they do, and I have a new appreciation for occupational therapy. It's very good visibility,” Harrison said. “We tell them we have different places you can go for a more thorough driving evaluation… that actually opens the door for them to get even more education and exposure to occupational therapy and how we can help them.”