Ken’s Journey: Getting Back on the Road After a Stroke

After suffering a stroke in 2023, affecting his vision, Ken is fit to return to driving!

Ken came to East Anglian DriveAbility in December, after having his license revoked by the DVLA due to vision loss. This had a huge impact on his daily life, with Ken and his wife becoming reliant on others to get around, “My wife does not drive, which meant that we had to rely on buses, walking everywhere, relying on friends and very good neighbours to give us lifts to hospital appointments. This became very stressful, not only for me but more importantly for the health of my wife…I had a part time job at our local Aldi Store which I had to give up a year later due to not being able to fulfill my work life balance and not being able to drive.”

After numerous eye tests Ken was still unable to regain his license with the DVLA. He then decided to do his own research, “On the internet I found East Anglian DriveAbility and contacted you for advice.” After speaking with Angela in our admin team, Ken decided to book a driving assessment.

“It was very informative through all stages of the assessment. I gained a lot of information during all three assessments carried out by an exceptional team at Thetford. They guided me at all levels, giving me advice and discussing any areas where it was needed.”

With support from our assessors, Ken passed the first stage of his assessment, enabling him to have a PDAL license to take his in-car assessment. After some training with a driving instructor to rebuild his confidence, Ken was able to have a driving assessment. “I am very pleased to report that on the 15/01/25 I have received my full driving licence for a further three years with no restrictions other than wearing my varifocal glasses at all times. This has been a very long and stressful 19 months not only for me but also for my wife who has been my rock through all of this supporting me at every stage… The help you and your team have given me throughout since last August has been exceptional and without assistance I would have never had the chance to get my life back on track and for that I cannot thank you all enough. The whole experience with you has been amazing. I have learned so much from your guidance and advice and if ever I have to go through this again I would not hesitate to contact you again.”

Thank you so much for sharing your experience Ken and a big congratulations on your return to driving!

Driving after a stroke is possible, and our team is here to support you in regaining your independence. Our assessments not only evaluate your fitness to drive but also explore potential car adaptations to help you drive safely and confidently. If you or a loved one are facing similar challenges, don’t hesitate to reach out.