by Tiffiny Carlson

Driving with hand controls is the sometimes bothersome-yet necessary-result of a disability that affects your legs. If you want to drive safely and get your driver's license, hand controls are the only option for many people, according to Disaboom, the largest online community for people with disabilities. Fortunately, dozens of different models exist to suit every need and level of ability.

There are a wide variety of disabilities and conditions that use hand controls, ranging from people with spinal cord injury to stroke survivors. These drivers are more prevalent than one would think.

For those curious about the important "how-to's" regarding hand control and those interested in trying a pair, the following "Hand Controls 101" lesson will prove useful.

Must-Knows
• Research all the different types of hand controls on the market; there are many. Some are very basic, even portable, and can be moved from vehicle to vehicle with ease. A good method for researching the best hand control suitable for a particular disability is to simply Google "hand controls" and "<insert your disability here>."

• Hand controls can be expensive, especially if the driver is a quadriplegic or has some other type of upper-extremity disability. Air-powered and electronic hand controls (especially the latter) are the popular choice for people with upper-body impairments. Electric hand controls are considerably more expensive. Many states have a rehabilitation services office that will sometimes pay for hand controls, or even the vehicle; although this is rare.

• For people with very little arm movement (even those who drive their wheelchairs with their mouths), driving may still be an option. There have been several ingenious inventions over the past decade that allows people to drive their vehicles using their wheelchair joysticks. The technology is very complicated and very expensive, but the facts that it exists and that it is widely available provide two notable "upsides" to the issue. "Adapted driving experts" who work at major rehab hospitals across the country can help one better understand all of this "high-tech" information.

• Expect to take lessons; they're usually required. Almost every state requires people with disabilities who want to use special hand controls to first get the "go ahead" from an adapted driving expert at one of the local rehab centers. Don't fight this inevitable truth. The person may have been an excellent driver before their disability, but for the safety of everyone else on the road, these lessons (and tests) will enable the specialist to: a) figure out IF the person will be able to drive safely and b) once that safety level is established, determine the exact driving modifications the person will need.

The above information just scratches the surface of the world of hand controls. Remember, Google is your friend, but be sure to back up what you find with advice from an expert.

Buying your first adaptive vehicle can be an intimidating process, but resources such as Disaboom, can help sort through all the steps. For more information log onto Disaboom at http://www.disaboom.com/info/education/.