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The North Dakota State College of Science Occupational Therapy Assistant Program hosted a CarFit event on the NDSCS Campus in Wahpeton, ND, on Wednesday, November 8th, 2023 from 1-3 p.m.

CarFit is a national program developed by AAA, AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association, and is designed to give a quick, yet comprehensive check on how well an older driver and their vehicle work together. At a CarFit event, trained volunteers complete a 12-point checklist with each driver. Among the items checked are: correct position of the driver's seat, driver's ability to easily reach pedals, and proper adjustment of mirrors.

As part of their coursework, NDSCS OTA students are trained in the CarFit program by a Certified CarFit Technician. At this year's event, second-year OTA students worked with participants to ensure they "fit" their vehicle properly for maximum comfort and safety. A CarFit check takes approximately 20 minutes to complete and is completely free.

Second-year OTA students became trained in CarFit as part of their academic coursework and hosted their first CarFit event on November 29, 2017 in Schuett Hall. Students completed a 12-point checklist with several participants to ensure that they “fit” their vehicle properly for maximum comfort and safety.

CarFit is an educational program created by the American Society on Aging and developed in collaboration with AAA (American Automobile Association), AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association. The CarFit program offers older adults the opportunity to check how well their personal vehicles “fit” them. The CarFit program also provides information and materials on community-specific resources that could enhance their safety as drivers, and/or increase their mobility in the community.