THE Territory was the only region in Australia that was missing out on the latest driving innovations for people with disabilities, paralysed former athlete Paul Crake said.
Mr Crake was in the Territory this week to show occupational therapists and driving instructors the Total Ability range – a company he founded.
A paraplegic, Mr Crake used the driving aids in his own vehicle.
“We want to make the process of driving easy for all parties involved,” he said.
Connie’s Driving School owner Connie Cohalan has been teaching disabled Territorians to drive for 34 years.
She said people with disabilities “come alive” behind the wheel and she was impressed by the Total Ability equipment.
Ms Cohalan explained cars were now electronic, not cable, so a lot of the older equipment was outdated.
She said she was the only driving instructor in the Territory equipped with the technology to teach seriously disabled people to drive an automatic car.
“If I didn’t do it, they would have to send them down south.”
Territory Therapy Solutions director Julie Swenson said bringing advanced equipment to the NT was about providing opportunities for people.
“There is scope for it,” Ms Swenson said.
For more information on Total Ability please visit the website totalability.com.au
