Driving ability
The assessment of driving ability complies with the EU driving license directive and the national regulation. Usually, an epilepsy diagnosis results in a driving ban of one year. When you have not had a seizure for a year, you may drive again.
If you are a professional driver, the driving health regulations are stricter. In this situation, epilepsy practically means a change of profession, in which case the possibility of vocational rehabilitation can be explored.
How to cope during a driving ban?
A driving ban can make life more difficult in many ways. You might have to reconsider how you are able to get to work or how the family’s daily travels can be organised. Unfortunately, there is no single solution for this. If there is no public transport or it does not fit with your needs, you should find out:
- Can you rearrange your work – for example, flexible working hours, working from home, changing working hours according to public transport?
- Is it possible to organise carpooling?
- Does your municipality offer any transport services or taxi services?
A person with a disability may be entitled to mobility support services
Under the Finnish Disability Services Act, the wellbeing services county is responsible for arranging disability services for persons whose long-term disability or illness causes a need for support in everyday life and whose needs cannot be adequately met through other services. Entitlement to services is always assessed individually.
Mobility support services may be available to a person who has particular difficulties with mobility and who cannot use public transport independently without undue difficulty because of a disability or illness. Eligibility is not determined by a specific diagnosis but by the person’s individual circumstances, functional ability and service needs. For some individuals, epilepsy or another disability or illness may significantly restrict independent mobility and create a need for mobility support services.
Applications for disability services are submitted to the wellbeing services county’s disability services. When applying, it is usually necessary to provide a recent medical statement or other documentation describing your health condition, functional ability and need for support.