BUTLER TWP — Charles Rock buckled his seat belt, turned the key and steered his car through a quiet suburban neighborhood, easing past parked cars and braking to avoid debris on the road.

Seated in a driving simulator that resembled an elaborate arcade game, the Butler man's experience was almost entirely authentic — except for the nearby computer recording and analyzing his actions behind the wheel.

Rock took part last month in VA Butler Healthcare's driving rehabilitation program, which has been available since October.

About 40 patients have participated in the program, which serves as a refresher course for veterans who drive with modifications like hand controls or left-foot accelerators.

A physician must refer the patient.

"It's difficult for someone to give up their driver's license," said physical therapist assistant Sharon Bopp. "Our job is to see whether a person is still safe and capable of driving with modifications."

Rock, who served in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971, has a prosthesis on his right leg and went through the program because he uses a left-foot accelerator.

After an evaluation for depth perception, color blindness and cognitive ability, the patient's driving skills are assessed in the simulator.

"It was true-to-life," Rock said. "We went though busy intersections, neighborhoods and different road conditions."

A virtual environment is projected on a television and the driver must follow directions and react to on-screen stimuli.

Patients must go through two computer programs with the driving simulator, said occupational therapist Deborah O'Connor.

"(The computer) does all the programming and keeps track of all the information so we can document the outcomes," O'Connor said.

The first program focuses on basic skills such as steering, speed and using turn signals, and the second program tests those skills in action.

"It shows them how to be a proactive driver and react to other situations they encounter," O'Connor said.

If the patient passes the evaluation, he or she then practices driving in a specially-adapted training vehicle.

"We have one van to accommodate all the patients," said kinesiotherapist Jill Umstead. "We start on the grounds and as they progress, we move on to residential, commercial and freeway driving."

The white Dodge Caravan is outfitted with modifications that drivers can practice using, Umstead said.

"It puts them in as close to a normal setting as possible," Umstead said. "It gives us a really good idea of how they'll handle the experience on the road."

Each portion of the program can be completed in an hour or two, depending on the patient's skills, O'Connor said.

The team involved with the driving program were given a Bronze Award in May from the Federal Executive Board, an organization that brings together representatives of federal agencies within a city or region.

Each year, the FEB honors individuals and teams that have made outstanding contributions to their workplace. O'Connor, Umstead, Bopp and recently retired co-worker Donna Evans were recognized in the Outstanding Team category.

The team has been working with the equipment since it came to Butler.

About two years ago, the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C., surveyed sites to host a driving program and Butler was selected, said Doug Hilliard, chief of rehabilitation and prosthetics.

Including the cost of the modified minivan, the program cost about $90,000, he said.

The funds came through the central office in Washington for the initiative.

"We have been very pleased with the results," Hilliard said.