In honor of Occupational Therapy Month and National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, we’re highlighting our Occupational Therapist (OT), Whitney-Reigh Asao, who oversees the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific (REHAB) Drivers Program.
Whitney-Reigh Asao has been a part of the REHAB ohana for nearly 6 years. Her first contact with REHAB came when she accepted a REHAB scholarship during her Masters degree program. During her fieldwork rotation, she was asked to apply for an opening as a staff Occupational Therapist (OT). “I was offered a job before I even had a chance to think - which was a good thing!” said the Hawaii Baptist Academy grad. Since her start as an OT, Whitney has worked in a variety of settings at REHAB. She’s started off as an Inpatient OT and worked her way up to the position of Lead OT with our post-amputation service line. She then transitioned to our outpatient Specialty Clinic at Nuuanu where she currently heads up our Drivers Program and works as a staff outpatient OT.
As part of the Drivers Program, Whitney conducts comprehensive assessments and behind-the-wheel driving evaluations to test driver readiness for individuals who have been impacted by a life-changing event such as a stroke or spinal cord injury. Whitney took on her role in the Drivers Program because it was something new and different. She knew it would push the boundaries of her comfort zone and require her to conduct more research and expand her knowledge and skill set. She’s thankful that she took on the role and wants to let others know to not be afraid of trying new things. With proper training from the ADED and collaboration with the Department of Transportation, Whitney was able to build up the Drivers Program and help individuals evaluate their confidence in getting back to driver readiness.
Whitney loves working at REHAB because she’s been able to see first-hand what REHAB can do as a team for our patients and the community. As a Driver Rehabilitation Specialist, Whitney is able to give patients and their families relief in knowing that their loved ones are safe (or not safe) on the road. She loves being able to make a difference in people’s lives and provide their families and friends with the right resources to ensure that their loved ones don’t become isolated or withdrawn from activities as a result from losing their ability to drive.
Building relationships with her clients is Whitney’s favorite thing about working at REHAB. Getting to know her patients’ history, understanding their goals, and seeing their excitement when they achieve their goals is very rewarding for Whitney. With every person she evaluates for driver readiness, she sees and understands the value and importance more and more of having a driving rehabilitation program available for the community. Many families and physicians don’t know what to do when it comes to evaluating a person’s ability to drive. Their clients’ families are always so thankful when they receive peace of mind from Whitney, even when the outcome is not favorable. They’re happy to know that they can keep their loved ones safe whether it’s on- or off-the-road.