PARTNERSHIP FORMED TO HELP SOLVE THE AT-RISK OLDER DRIVER PROBLEM
As the second generation owner and operator of one of America’s oldest driving schools, CODE Director Al Barber has literally spent a lifetime in the driving industry. His father, founded Georgia-based Barber’s Driving School in 1964 whose offerings have grown from basic driver education to include driver rehabilitation, defensive driving, risk reduction, corporate training and much more.
In 2017, Barber began a personal quest to find a solution for the at-risk older driver problem. As America’s population continues aging upwards so too does the fatal crash risk. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA): “Fatality rates for drivers ages 65 and over are 17 times higher than drivers aged 25-64.”
After much research and development, Barber launched the CODE (Certified Older Driver Evaluations) and CCDE (Certified Comprehensive Driver Evaluations) programs. Among his partner base, St. Francis Human Performance and Rehabilitation Center (HPRC) based in Columbus, GA was the first to join forces with the CODE/CCDE team followed shortly after by other hospitals and clinics throughout the Southeast.
Other stakeholders who have participated in the development of the CODE program include: the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety’s (GOHS) ‘Older Driver Task Force’, physicians, neurologists, judges, lawyers, caregivers, family and friends of older drivers and older drivers themselves.
CRASH RISK INCREASES WITH AGE
Driving provides older people freedom, independence and key social interactions with their community that many people take for granted in their youth. While driving is a privilege not a right, it is based on one’s ability to effectively and safely operate a motor vehicle. According to Merck, “Drivers aged 70 and over have an increased motor vehicle crash risk per miles driven in comparison to middle-aged drivers. Those that drive infrequently are at the greatest risk. Thus, impaired function due to age-related disorders should be viewed as a flashing yellow traffic signal- a warning that driving privileges should be reassessed.”
Our Team
As the second-generation owner and operator of one of America’s oldest driving schools, CODE-CCDE Director Al Barber has literally spent a lifetime in the driving industry. His father, founded Georgia-based Barber’s Driving School in 1964 whose offerings have grown from basic driver education to include driver rehabilitation, defensive driving, risk reduction, corporate training and much more. (BarbersDrivingSchool.com) Al graduated Summa Cum Laude from Columbus State University with a BA degree in Business Management.
Al was appointed by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal to the Georgia Driver Education Commission where he served to the end of his three-year term. Al was instrumental in the Georgia Driver Education Scholarship program being developed so teens in Georgia who needed assistance with tuition could receive help. The voucher is issued to the teen and they can select where they would like to take their training form a private or public provider. Al also has been a member of the Governor’s Officer of Highway Safety’s Older Driver Task Force since 2016. Al currently serves as the President of the Georgia Driving School Association as Chairman and CEO. (GeorgiaDrivingSchoolAssociation.org)
In 2017, Barber began a personal quest to find a solution for the at-risk older driver problem. Other stakeholders who have participated in the development of the CODE-CCDE program include: the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety’s (GOHS) ‘Older Driver Task Force’, physicians, neurologists, occupational therapist, hospitals, judges, lawyers, caregivers, family and friends of older drivers and older drivers themselves.
Alfred R. Barber, Jr. (Buster)
CODE-CCDE Director of Marketing
Buster is the son of Al Barber, the managing director of CODE-CCDE programs. He currently serves as Vice President and COO of Barber’s Driving School where he has worked for the last 20 plus years. Buster is a graduate of Columbus State University with a BA degree in Business Marketing. Buster is a master in electronic marketing with a good understanding of the analytics getting us directly to our target markets. In addition, his administrative abilities and knowledge in the field of Driver Education, Driver Improvement, Driver Testing and Risk Reduction is second to none.
Kirk Bressette, PhD
CODE-CCDE Director of Driving Schools - Behind-the-Wheel Training
Kirk left Drive Smart Georgia a driving school he co-founded and served as CEO, located in Alpharetta, Cumming, and Johns Creek, Georgia in late 2023 and joined the team at Barber’s Driving School. Kirk has served as both a Managing Partner and Training Partner to the CODE-CCDE programs. He has a background in ministry with young people and Senior Adults. Kirk established HomeWatch Care Givers in Lawrenceville, Georgia in 2008. HomeWatch Care Givers is a world-wide In-Home Care franchise, where his business took care of seniors that needed extra help enabling them to stay at home and be independent as long as possible. Kirk also sat on the board of medical doctors in Gwinnet County. His graduate degrees in Business and Human Resources were earned in 2011 from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
My whole life was established by watching my parents serve others. I immediately knew, from a young age, I wanted to help others. This began from working with young people in churches and around the world, and then transitioning to helping save lives for people of all ages become, and stay, great drivers behind the wheel of a vehicle.
There is no better way for me to serve people in having the knowledge I make a difference in young people from 14 years old, to helping seniors in their eighties stay safe and confident in their driving abilities.
Stephen W. Aycock II
CODE-CCDE Director of Legal Affairs
Intellectual Properties, Partnership Contracts, Patents
Steve began his professional career as an engineer in 1993 and worked as a software engineer for over ten years with companies such as Harris, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. As an engineer, Steve was fortunate enough to work on projects such as the Space Shuttle launch processor, the Javelin missile and many other fascinating defense, telecommunications and aerospace projects.
Steve transitioned to patent law in 2003 and attended The George Washington University Law School and worked in the DC area for large law firms. In 2011, Steve, his wife, and kids moved back to his hometown of Lakeland, Florida. Steve established his own IP law practice that serves clients nationwide and focuses on patents (especially software patents), trademarks, and copyrights. www.cygnetiplaw.com
Cara Harman, OTD, OTR/L
CODE-CCDE Director of Clinical
Research and Development
Cara graduated Summa Cum Laude from Virginia Tech in 2018 with an Honors degree and Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Following this accomplishment, she received her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy with honors from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 2021.
Her journey began at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, Georgia, where she currently serves as the outpatient OT neurological rehab leader, continuing her dedicated practice. Each day, Cara provides care to patients with a wide range of neurological and orthopedic conditions, and she is the sole therapist conducting clinical driver evaluations at Emory Decatur.
Cara's clinical practice experience spans various neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, ALS, MS, MD, CVA, SCI, TBI, neuropathy, amputations, congenital deformities, cerebral palsy, ADHD, ASD, and learning disabilities. Additionally, she evaluates and treats orthopedic injuries and conditions of the upper extremity, including arthritis, fractures, nerve injuries, and various forms of tendonitis.
In 2020, Cara received training to perform clinical driving evaluations at the VCU Neuroscience, Orthopaedic & Wellness (NOW) Center in Richmond, Virginia. Since 2021, she has been offering clinical driver evaluations to patients of all ages at Emory Healthcare. Her passion for education has led her to deliver numerous in-services and presentations in Atlanta, and was also asked to present on clinical driving evaluations at both the Georgia and Alabama Occupational Therapy Association conferences in 2023.
Beyond her role at Emory Healthcare, Cara has been making significant contributions to Barber's Driving School since 2022. As a part-time team member, she plays a vital role in leading training sessions for both behind-the-wheel instructors and therapists. Additionally, in her capacity as the Director of Clinical Research and Development, she is dedicated to implementing best practices and evidence-based assessment tools for driving evaluations, ensuring the highest quality of care for all individuals with diverse diagnoses and across all age groups. In acknowledgment of Cara's steadfast dedication to her Atlanta community and the state of Georgia, the Georgia Occupational Therapy Association (GOTA) proudly named her the OT Practitioner of the Year for 2023.
Moreover, Cara's collaborative efforts extend beyond the boundaries of Georgia. Working with various driving schools in multiple US states, she continues to advance her mission of delivering a holistic approach to comprehensive driving evaluations. Through her unwavering dedication, she ensures that individuals seeking driving evaluations receive the utmost care, tailored to their specific needs and conditions.
Beth Barstow, PhD, OTR/L, SCLV, FAOTA
Professor; Program Director: Graduate Certificate in Low Vision Rehabilitation
CODE-CCDE Research and Development Low Vision and Trainer
Beth Barstow PhD, OTR/L, SCLV, FAOTA is a professor and program director of the Low Vision Graduate Certificate in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has over twenty years of clinical experience in the practice areas of low vision, adult and older adult rehabilitation and driving. In her current role, she teaches, completes service activities, and conducts research to advance the practice of vision rehabilitation with an emphasize on global environmental and societal barriers. She is the co-editor of the textbook Occupational Therapy Interventions for Adults with Low Vision. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed papers and has presented on vision and disability locally, nationally, and internationally.
Jason E. Vice, PhD, OTR/L, SCLV
UAB | The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Department of Occupational Therapy; Assistant Professor
CODE-CCDE Research and Development Low Vision and Trainer
Jason Vice is an occupational therapist who specializes in working with individuals with low vision from eye disease, trauma, and brain injury. His practice is based at the multidisciplinary UAB Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation, an outpatient clinic which focuses on helping people with vision impairment to participate in meaningful everyday activities, such as safe driving, through the use of specialized techniques, adaptive equipment, and assistive technology.
Dustin Abram, OTR/L, CDRS
CODE-CCDE Research & Development
Trainer
Dustin graduated Cum Laude from American Public University with a BA in psychology and earned his MS in Occupational Therapy from Brenau University in 2018. Dustin is a nationally certified occupational therapist and is licensed in the state of Georgia. He discovered a passion for driving as a student in graduate school during his internship, and he began his career in a community-based driver rehabilitation setting. Dustin has extensive education and training in the field of driver rehabilitation and earned national recognition through the Association of Driver Rehabilitation Specialists (ADED) to become a Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS) in 2020. Dustin combines his experience as a certified driving instructor with his unique occupational therapy skills to deliver exceptional, personalized care, helping individuals achieve their driving goals with confidence. He has been instrumental in assisting countless individuals with driving challenges due to age-related changes or medical conditions since 2018.
Dustin is a natural entrepreneur and visionary strategist with proven business development skills through the companies he has founded, including Prosper Therapy Services and Elite Driver Rehab. Dustin serves as Prosper Therapy's Chief Business Officer, and he is President of Elite Driver Rehab, where he continues to provide driver rehabilitation services for people throughout Georgia. He is passionate about learning and passing on his knowledge by teaching others. Dustin has been involved in numerous lectures and educational presentations related to driver rehabilitation, and has been involved in several driving safety initiatives, such as the Georgia Older Driver Task Force and CarFit. He is also an active member of professional associations including the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists (ADED) and Georgia Occupational Therapy Association (GOTA). Dustin began working for Barber’s Driving School in 2022, where he assisted in the research and development of training courses for the CODE- CCDE program.