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Buster Barber
President-GDSA
It is such a privilege to have you visit our website, Georgia Driving School Association! One of the first things you will notice is we have great unity within our members. This is paramount to all our members, and one of the characteristics that makes this association so strong and desirable to be a part of. We are an association where every voice matters and we will not leave anyone behind.
One thing we members know, is that for an association to make change and solidify its organization, for good, it must be built on excellence. Excellence is defined as being outstanding and produces prosperity. We as an association build each other up to do just that! We strive for excellence! We believe in excellence! We as an association are striving to be excellent!
As we bind together, strive for excellence, we will increase in the knowledge of our industry, increase in our ability to work together, and increase in the possibility of changing and saving lives on the highway in the state of Georgia!
We encourage you to join us as we continue to add new members across the great state of Georgia! Help us become united with each other, as well as work side by side with our partners and stakeholders as we strive for excellence together.
Dr. Orion Mowbray
Professor, School of Social Work (Courtesy Appointment)
Executive Director, Ralston Institute for Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
Professor, College of Family and Consumer Sciences
Dr. Orion Mowbray is a Professor at the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Science and Executive Director of the David Ralston Institute for Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. His work focuses on translating research into practical policy, practice, and regulatory guidance. He has published extensively and has led multiple statewide research, training, and system improvement initiatives focused on improving outcomes for Georgians. Dr. Mowbray brings more than 15 years of experience in behavioral health research and policy analysis, with specific expertise in substance use, mental health, assessment practices, and systems-level barriers to effective programming.
Prof. Sarah L. Gerwig
Director of Experiential Education and Professor of Law
Sarah Gerwig is a Director of Experiential Education and Professor at Mercer University School of Law, where she previously served as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Shortly after joining the law faculty in 2006, she founded the nationally-recognized Habeas Project, which provides pro bono representation in post-conviction cases across Georgia. She directs Mercer’s unique Introduction to Client Counseling program, and her textbook, What Brings You Here Today? An Introduction to Client Counseling, was published in Summer 2021. Professor Gerwig writes on topics related to criminal law, human rights, law and literature, and legal education, and was a McDonald Distinguished Fellow with Emory University’s Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Law and Religion from 2019-2023. Beyond her teaching and scholarship, she has been engaged with a number of public service organizations, including the Georgia Resource Center, the Georgia Innocence Project, and the Altamaha Riverkeeper. She was the founding co-chair of the College Hill Corridor Commission and served on the Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Commission from 2007-2015, including several years as its chair.
Before joining the Mercer faculty, Professor Gerwig was the Senior Appellate Supervising Attorney in the central office of Georgia’s statewide public defender system. She received her BA, summa cum laude, from Mercer University; her JD from Emory Law School; and her Master of Theological Studies from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, where she studied with Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Her other honors include Judge Clyde Reese Board of Visitors Award for Excellence in Teaching (2023); the Candler School of Theology Distinguished Alumni Award (2017); the Shanara Gilbert Emerging Clinician Award from the AALS Clinical Legal Education Section (2013); the Robert J. Benham Award Community Service Award (2011); and in 2016 was named as one of Georgia Trend’s 40 Under 40.
Cara Harman, OTD, OTR/L
CODE-CCDE Director of Clinical Research and Development
Cara graduated Summa Cum Laude from Virginia Tech in 2018 with an Honors degree and Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Following this accomplishment, she received her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy with honors from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 2021.
Her journey began at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, Georgia, where she currently serves as the outpatient OT neurological rehab leader, continuing her dedicated practice. Each day, Cara provides care to patients with a wide range of neurological and orthopedic conditions, and she is the sole therapist conducting clinical driver evaluations at Emory Decatur.
Cara’s clinical practice experience spans various neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, MS, MD, CVA, SCI, TBI, neuropathy, amputations, congenital deformities, cerebral palsy, ADHD, ASD, and learning disabilities. Additionally, she evaluates and treats orthopedic injuries and conditions of the upper extremity, including arthritis, fractures, nerve injuries, and various forms of tendonitis.
In 2020, Cara completed specialized training in clinical driver evaluations at the VCU Neuroscience, Orthopaedic & Wellness (NOW) Center in Richmond, Virginia. Since 2021, she has been providing clinical driver evaluations to patients of all ages at Emory Healthcare. Driven by her passion for education, Cara has delivered numerous in-services and presentations to both clinicians and students. Her expertise has also led to invitations to present on clinical driving evaluations at several OT state association conferences, including those in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.
Beyond her role at Emory Healthcare, Cara has been making significant contributions to Barber’s Driving School since 2022. As a part-time team member, she plays a vital role in leading training sessions for both behind-the-wheel instructors and therapists. Additionally, in her capacity as the Director of Clinical Research and Development, she is dedicated to implementing best practices and evidence-based assessment tools for driving evaluations, ensuring the highest quality of care for all individuals with diverse diagnoses and across all age groups. In acknowledgment of Cara’s steadfast dedication to her Atlanta community and the state of Georgia, the Georgia Occupational Therapy Association (GOTA) proudly named her the OT Practitioner of the Year for 2023.
Moreover, Cara’s collaborative efforts extend beyond the boundaries of Georgia. Working with various driving schools in multiple US states, she continues to advance her mission of delivering a holistic approach to comprehensive driving evaluations. Through her unwavering dedication, she ensures that individuals seeking driving evaluations receive the utmost care, tailored to their specific needs and conditions.
Beth Barstow, PhD, OTR/L, SCLV, FAOTA
Professor; Program Director: Graduate Certificate in Low Vision Rehabilitation
CODE-CCDE Research and Development Low Vision and Trainer
Beth Barstow PhD, OTR/L, SCLV, FAOTA is a professor and program director of the Low Vision Graduate Certificate in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has over twenty years of clinical experience in the practice areas of low vision, adult and older adult rehabilitation and driving. She was a CDRS. In her current role, she teaches, completes service activities, and conducts research to advance the practice of vision rehabilitation with an emphasis on global environmental and societal barriers. She is the co-editor of the textbook Occupational Therapy Interventions for Adults with Low Vision. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed papers and has presented on vision and disability locally, nationally, and internationally. Beth has extensive experience developing and reviewing for various certification boards. She assisted the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) with development and redevelopment of the Specialty Certification in Low Vision (SCLV). She served on the AOTA Board for Specialty Certification where she reviewed applications for the SCLV and mentored practitioners. Currently, she is the co-chair of the Subject Matter Expert Committee for the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) dedicated to developing an occupational therapy certification in visual impairment and blindness.