Debbie

Hi Debbie 

I have been through the loss of driving and independence, but there is hope and I got back to driving after 22 months. Modifications to my car and my confidence were reinstated.

Happy to chat if you need to know more or have questions 

Clive

hi Debbie, I am lucky after my stroke I have got 90% use back in left leg/arm. While I was in the hospital recovering and having very little use on both. One thing I looked into and might be something you might consider is looking into an electric car.  They have already have from standard, auto braking, no engine to stall, auto parking etc. While the small cars have smaller mileage between charges if you only using it for short journeys, i.e. shopping, visiting friends/family it would be perfect. Plus you can charge at home, government grant towards the cost, plus a lot cheaper to run than diesel/petrol. lots of good channels on youtube to browse if you are interested.  Don't go for hybrids they are more con than useful

Hi Debbie,

Here are some more comments for you from the Facebook community:

Fiona Macleod OT’s can be a fantastic help and they can set you up with steering wheel accessories which will make things possible. Getting my license after my stroke was the most empowering and uplifting achievement so persist and you will succeed.

Ursula Sautner I had to strokes 2014 and 2015.
I had full left side paralysis and also felt overwhelmed a lot of the time. Couldn’t have any visitors for two years because it was too exhausting.
Was slowly feeling better and started to want to drive again. Did my driving test but failed . I then had driving lessons and passed my second test two years after my strokes. We bought an Automat car and I have a knob on my steering wheel .
I don’t enjoy driving but I love the independence it gives me.
I wish you all the best for you successfully going back to driving. If you feel you really want to be able to drive again you will find the energy, the willpower and the patience to do everything in order to reach your goal .
All the best.

Susan Lovas Hey Debbie, I also had full paralysis of my rhs, I was told by 1 OT that she didn’t think I would get my license back, but I proved her wrong with another OT and I got my license back 10 months after my stroke, so the moral of my story is don’t ever give up and don’t let others ever put you down and tell you no, prove them wrong. Good luck hun.

Karen Bourke I had a stroke in 2015 and I had to go through a number of things before I could get my license back but I eventually did. I had to get a spinner knob on the steering wheel but at least I can go out and do what I want. The stroke affected my left side and I can’t use my hand and my arm much but I walk using a stick so I can get around even though I don’t move as fast as I used to. But as time has gone on there are improvements slowly. So don’t give up it can happen. All the best

Joanne Ashby Deb I had a stroke 5 years ago left side paralysis so i kept seeing a physio and got the strength back within a few months to pass my driving assessment
Keep persevering you will get there
Best wishes
❤️💐🌹🙏🌼🌺🌸

Meliame Tauali'i - Fifita After two years from my stroke I got my license back. I was really nervous on the day I went for my license tests because I wasn't given lessons beforehand, I went straight into the driving test. I had to use a spinner knob which luckily I quickly got used to using it, as I had never used nor seen one before. I drove the car around like a normal driving test and got my license back. I am happily driving around now and have been doing so for over a year now.What was too much for me, I felt, was the forms that needed to be filled in,. I have left side paralysis and still do up to now. Good luck , you will know if it's the right time to go for your license

Pip Hicks Wow Deb the independence seems miles away doesn’t it- but in reality it’s not. I had sessions with an OT in regard to driving as I was right sided paralysed and everything had to be adapted to the left hand side to drive. I used to drive a geared car, but I purchased an automatic and I have my license in full after all the tests - cost is expensive but so worth while. Someone said that help from the NDIS is possible - so go for it because it’s quite expensive otherwise Alterations on the car is expensive but so worth while in the end. I love driving my car.you will to - happy independence!!