$68,000 awarded to Angela Genge, at McGill University.
Associated with independence, driving is a complex activity that requires physical, emotional and mental focus. Unfortunately, many of these abilities decline as ALS progresses. Unlike other diseases like stroke or Parkinson’s, there are few published resources to measure when a person’s ALS has progressed to the point that driving becomes unsafe. As a result, ALS clinical care teams regularly face decisions about when to discuss driving with patients and families, whether someone living with ALS can drive safely, or if a referral for an on-road test is needed.
A retrospective review conducted by members of the ALS Clinic at the Montreal Neurological Institute & Hospital (MNI/H) found that many people with ALS were not making changes to their vehicles that had the potential to enable them to prolong driving: for example, adapted foot controls can help with pedal access, a ball installed on the steering wheel can help with steering; and a BiPAP machine secured in the vehicle can help with breathing.
To help empower people living with ALS, the clinic at the MNI/H, led by Dr. Angela Genge, is implementing a multidisciplinary, systematic approach to assess driving safety. “This initiative focuses on how the whole care team can help people with ALS drive safely for a longer length of time,” said Kendra Berry, the clinic’s occupational therapist, in an interview with ALS Canada.