Let’s roll the windows down, turn the radio up, let the wind blow through our hair, sings Alabama in “Reckless.”

Every teenager looks forward to earning the right to drive. Licenses are symbols of freedom and personal control

State Motor Vehicle offices are invariably filled with young people waiting to take their written examinations, then to drive an officer around the block.

Now and then, you might see a person like me in line at the Motor Vehicle office ... waiting to show an officer my new skill of handling a car equipped with hand controls.

I went there because a Chiari anomaly had compromised the lines of communication between my brain and my right foot. My foot tended to disappear when it came time to push the brake pedal. I crashed my car.

My doctor referred me to a local Driver Rehabilitation Specialist, who recommended that I install hand controls in my car. He also showed me how to control an adapted vehicle with my hands.

The hardware was simple ... a spinner knob on the steering wheel at two o’clock ... a lever (connected to the accelerator and brake pedals) on the left.

“Pull to go. Push to stop. Steer with your right hand.”

I purchased a new car. To my astonishment, the manufacturer reimbursed me for the modifications (about $1,000).

After a week of practice in a parking lot, I arranged to drive a Motor Vehicle officer around the block.

I was in charge again ... the road was at my fingertips.

Are you considering adaptions to your motor vehicle in order to regain your mobility?

You’ll find the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists at 2425 N. Center ST #369 Hickory, North Carolina 28601. You may call them toll-free number (U.S. only) at (866) 672-9466.

Their website lists 488 members, of whom 305 are Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialists. You may search the site for members and specialists near you.

You can also find equipment vendors and information about rebate programs on the website.

Most motor vehicle manufacturers offer rebates or reimbursement for adaptations on new vehicles (Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen and Audi, according to The New York Times).

When you travel by air, you may also be able to rent an adapted vehicle at larger airports. Call the car rental company at least one week before your planned arrival (and bring your own handicap permit, if you have one).

I’ve now driven my adapted car seven years, two months and 112,251 accident-free miles.

And, every now and then, I roll the windows down, turn the radio up and let the wind blow through what’s left of my hair.