ABOUT THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
DRIVING PROGRAM AND VEHICLE GRANT
The mission of the Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities is supporting people with disabilities and their families to achieve what is important to them.
Driving Program
The Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities (WCBDD) contracts with Capabilities Inc. to assist individuals with obtaining their driver’s license. Capabilities specializes in providing services to people with developmental disabilities.
Eligible participants must be 18 years of age or nearing their 18th birthday. If a person is interested in getting their driver’s license, the first step would be meeting with their planning team. If the team agrees that you are ready for the responsibility of driving, your Transition Coordinator or Service Coordinator can assist with completion and submission of the required referral packet.
What you need to know:
Completion of this program should result in reduced or eliminated use of specialized transportation to access work and the community.
This program is designed for students and adults who are working in the community or who plan to work eventually.
The student should also be ready to assume the financial responsibilities of a licensed driver, including paying for gas, car insurance, vehicle repairs, maintenance, etc.
Driving services offered:
First Time Driver Safety Course
This is a one-day training course for first time drivers or individuals who have their license and would benefit from this course. Students will participate in an interactive class focusing on safety, driver responsibility, laws, and signs. The course also provides an opportunity to assess each students practical driving ability.
Upon course completion, a report is generated with recommendations indicating if the student is ready to study independently for the permit test or if they would benefit from additional Permit Tutoring.
Permit Tutoring
This is a one-on-one virtual or in-person tutoring session to guide a student through the steps to obtain a valid Ohio driving permit, including studying for the permit test.
Driving Instruction
Driving students will receive one-on-one behind the wheel instruction to obtain a valid Ohio driver’s license. Capabilities driving instructors are licensed through the State of Ohio to provide driving instruction to all students, including people with disabilities. Lessons are typically scheduled for two hours at a time.
Abbreviated Adult Driving Course
Any person who is 18 or older and does not pass their first attempt at the maneuverability or road portion of the driving test is required to take an abbreviated adult driver training course before taking the driving test for a second time. This course is offered online or in a traditional classroom setting. WCBDD does not pay for the class itself, but if the student enrolls in an online course and requires assistance, WCBDD can cover the cost of a tutor to help the student throughout the course.
To search for a class, visit https://apps.dps.ohio.gov/dets/public/ schools.
Success Stories from the Driving Program
David received his license and purchased a car with the help of the Vehicle Grant in 2021. He said the instructor’s teaching style offered a “firm but gentle guiding hand.” Now, David said he has the freedom to drive himself to school, go to the grocery store, and attend doctor appointments independently.
Ishika said the driving program instructors were patient and helped her to understand driving. She uses her license to drive to work, attend WCBDD events, pick up her sister from school, and drive her mom to appointments.
She was eligible for the Vehicle Grant,* which helped her to purchase her first car. Recently, she re-applied for grant funding to assist with major repairs/ maintenance costs.
Hailey earned her driver’s license with the help of the driving program. She felt as though she made a lot of mistakes when she first started driving, but gained confidence and independence with the help of her driving instructor. She purchased her first vehicle with the help of the Vehicle Grant.* Since then, she has purchased another vehicle on her own.
Luke earned his driver’s license in 2016. He said the driving program helped him to face his fears about driving. Today, he drives himself to work and Special Olympics.
Growing up, Jay D said he never thought he would be able to drive. That changed when he saw someone on TV who had severe physical challenges, but was able to drive with a modified vehicle. This gave him hope that he might someday be able to drive.
He received driver’s training through Capabilities in a modified vehicle and obtained his driver’s license in 2019. Five years later, Jay D purchased a new car with the help of the Vehicle Grant.*
Before earning his license, Mason had to pay for private transportation to go to work. After failing the written permit test twice, Mason and his parents looked into the WCBDD driving program.
After earning his license, Mason drives both to work and as a part of his job.
*Learn more about the Vehicle Grant on page 6.
For more information about the driving program, contact Community Employment Coordinator Cheri Cummings at cheri.cummings@warrencountydd.org or (513) 806-8591.
Vehicle Grant Program
The Vehicle Grant Program is funded by WCBDD and grants qualified applicants up to $3,800 toward the purchase price of a vehicle OR up to $1,200 toward vehicle repairs that exceed general maintenance. The grant cannot exceed $5,000 in a three-year period.
This program has been implemented to assist qualifying individuals enrolled in WCBDD services with increasing access to the the community, increasing independence, gaining reliable transportation to work, and reducing reliance on non-medical transportation (NMT).
Individuals interested in pursuing this grant opportunity need to meet the minimum requirements outlined in this booklet before submitting an application for consideration.
For more information about the vehicle grant program, contact Community Employment Coordinator Cheri Cummings at cheri.cummings@warrencountydd.org or (513) 806-8591.
Minimum eligibility requirements:
• Individual must be 18 years or older and be their own guardian.
• Individual must have a valid Ohio Driver’s License with less than 6 points on record.
• Individual should be working in the community or working toward community employment and be able to maintain the financial requirements of owning a vehicle .
Vehicle eligibility requirements:
• Vehicle cannot be more than 10 years old.
• Vehicle must have less than 150,000 miles.
• Asking price cannot be more than 5% higher than Kelley Blue Book (KBB.)
• Vehicle must pass a 42-point inspection from the WCBDD mechanic.
• After final approval is given, vehicle must be purchased by the grant applicant and titled in applicant’s name.
What you will need:
• Copy of a valid Ohio Driver’s License.
• List of income and expenses.
• Driver abstract — this can be obtained online or at the local BMV.
• Proof of insurance.
• Kelley Blue Book (KBB) printout of the vehicle you are interested in purchasing.
Once you are ready to move forward with applying for the vehicle grant, you can reach out to our Community Employment Coordinator, and she will walk you through the steps of the application process.
It is important to remember that a vehicle cannot be purchased until the grant application has been submitted, all steps completed, and final approval has officially been given.
