4 Best Motorcycle Models For Disabled Drivers

Just because a person has a physical disability does not mean that they cannot enjoy the experience of riding a motorcycle. Motorcycle riding is a common activity for many disabled people. Disabilities need not prevent you from reveling in the freedom and joy that motorcycling can provide.

Lots of motorcycles on the market are suitable for people with disabilities. High-tech vehicle adaptations and accessories can also be added to a motorcycle to make it fit your specific needs. There are numerous options you can implement that will make it possible for you to ride a motorcycle while disabled.

Living with a disability means you need to tackle life head-on, meet challenges, and overcome adversities. For this reason, tend to be high in determination, resilience, and positivity. They have cultivated the ability to live life on their own terms and in their own way.

Motorcycle riding provides a person with freedom and independence, two things that are particularly important to people with disabilities. So read on to find out about some of the best motorcycle models, vehicle adaptations, and accessories that are available for disabled drivers.

Dr Handicap - motorcycle rider
Image by duncan adler on Unsplash: A motorcycle gives its owner freedom and independence.

Are There Any Restrictions Around Riding A Motorcycle With A Disability?

Having a disability does not, in and of itself, impose any restrictions around riding a motorcycle. Legally, if you pass your motorcycle test and qualify for your license, then you are entitled to ride your motorcycle.

Some disabilities, such as legal blindness, do impose restrictions on your ability to ride a motorcycle, but not to be a passenger. And as a passenger you are entitled to hold a disabled parking permit and avail of all disabled parking infrastructure.

Can Amputees Ride Motorcycles?

Yes, amputees certainly can ride motorcycles. There are several motorcycle models and adaptations available that enable amputees to ride a motorcycle, either while in their wheelchair or while using a prosthetic limb.

Are There Wheelchair-Accessible Motorcycles?

Yes, there are motorcycles that you can drive while still sitting in your wheelchair. The wheelchair attaches to a flat platform so you can drive the motorcycle without having to leave your wheelchair.

What Are The Best Motorcycle Adaptations For Disabled Drivers?

The most popular motorcycle adaptations for disabled drivers are:

  • Hand controls for driving
  • Adaptive electric controls
  • Conversion of a two-wheeled motorcycle to a three-wheeler for extra stability

Honda and BMW are developing self-balancing motorcycles that will come onto the market soon, and this could be another useful adaptation for disabled drivers.

What Are The Best Handicap Motorcycle Accessories?

There are several accessories for motorcycles that make it easier for disabled people to ride.  Four of the most popular accessories for disabled motorcyclists are:

  • Dual brake systems
  • Electric button gear shifters
  • Wheelchair carriers
  • Floorboards
  • LegUp LandinGear

What Are The Best Motorcycle Models For Disabled Drivers?

Below are some of the most popular motorcycle companies and models for disabled drivers.

1. Liberator Trikes

This brand makes and adapts custom motorcycles and trikes to spec. They are a great option if you want to get any of the following motorcycles adapted.

2. Yamaha V Star 250

This bike has a 250cc engine and good fuel economy. The 250cc version is safe and easy to handle. For people looking for more power there are several higher-cc V Star models available.

Price: $4,500

3. Honda CB 650F

This Honda offering is a very comfortable bike with smooth ergonomics. It has an upright feel and is suitable for nipping about town or hitting the open road.

Price: $8,000

4. Suzuki V-Strom 650 ABS

This adventure motorcycle is a great starter bike for people who want to cover all sorts of terrain. It has the power, reliability, and durability needed of an adventure bike, but it also opens up nicely on the open road.

Price: $8,800

Dr Handicap - motorcycle
Image by cloney on Pixabay: There are several popular motorcycle adaptations for disabled drivers.

Do You Need A Disabled Permit To Park A Motorcycle?

If you have a disability and want to avail of disabled parking, you will need to have a disabled parking permit. Having a disabled parking permit, which can be in the form of a disabled license plate or placard, entitles you to park your motorcycle in a disabled parking space.

How Do You Get A Disabled Parking Permit?

The quickest and easiest way to get a disabled parking permit is to arrange a consultation with a medical professional through Dr. Handicap. Once the medical professional has verified your disability they will fill in the relevant section of a disabled parking permit application form and email it to you straight away. Then you fill in the remaining sections and submit it to your local Department of motor Vehicles.

Featured image by SplitShire on Pixabay

Is Disabled Parking Free At Six Flags?

Six Flags has parks all across the United States that many families enjoy year after year. If you are disabled or have someone in your party who is, then it’s important to understand what to expect from a visit to one of Six Flags’ many parks.

So is disabled parking free at Six Flags? From parking to enjoying attractions, here’s what you need to know about services for the disabled at Six Flags.

Is Disabled Parking Free At Six Flags?

Six Flags does have accessible parking available. The parking is available to those who need it on a first-come, first-served basis. Six Flags asks that when those in need of disabled parking arrive at the park, they talk to a team member about where to find accessible parking spots.

You must have a valid disabled parking placard or plate to park in the accessible parking area and it must be visible at all times while you are parked. If you find that the parking lot is full upon arrival, you can ask for additional parking areas or drop off those who need it in the designated drop-off zones. Those with disabled parking plates must pay the same parking fees as those without disabled parking placards or plates.

Dr Handicap - Six Flags park map
Image by Art of Hoping on Unsplash: The park maps are a great way to locate Six Flags’ ADA guideline-compliant features.

Facilities In The Park: Is Six Flags Handicap Accessible?

For people with disabilities, accessibility is important. Six Flags recognizes this, which is why they have accessible restaurants and restrooms available throughout the park.

Every restroom you find throughout Six Flags parks are accessible to wheelchairs. You can find the location of restrooms on the visitor’s maps available throughout the park.

In restaurants, hosts will provide assistance to any person who cannot navigate through the line. They can assist you in ordering food and can also help those with hearing and visual impairments to consult the menus and order.

Theaters

If you want to take advantage of one of the many shows in a Six Flags park, simply arrive at any show facility about 15 minutes before the show is to begin and speak with a host. There is seating specifically for those who cannot transfer from a wheelchair.

Guest Services: Following Six Flags ADA Guidelines

If you have a question at any point during your visit, you can contact any team member at the Guest Services locations throughout the park. They can help resolve any issues you may have or provide more information for specific park services for those with disabilities.

Six Flags Ride Requirements

The rides at every Six Flags theme park require a guest to transfer from a wheelchair with the assistance of someone in their party or by themselves. No employee of the park can help you transfer, as they are not trained in proper carrying or lifting procedures.

Safety may also dictate that not all rides are available to guests who can’t maintain a proper position in the ride at all times. The safety restraints are designed to be used throughout a ride. If someone is not able to properly utilize a safety restraint, then they will be unable to ride. This means that if a restrictive device such as a cast or brace is in use and cannot safely be accommodated on the ride, then you may not be able to take part.

The Attraction Access Program: Six Flags Disability Pass

Six Flags has a program for those with disabilities called the Attraction Access Program. It is meant to help patrons with disabilities enjoy the park to its fullest.

Each attraction at Six Flags has been evaluated to understand if it can be ridden safely by those with disabilities. The Attraction Access Program has measures in place to help disabled individuals with accommodations that help them enjoy equal access to the fun.

Individuals with disabilities can obtain a pass from Guest Services upon arrival at the park. You will need to present a doctor’s note to get the pass. For the note to be valid it must contain your name, the doctor’s name, address, and telephone number, be on official letterhead, and state that that you have a disability qualified under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Dr Handicap - Six Flags restaurant
Image by Jacob Blanck on Unsplash: Six Flags is handicap accessible for most people – so go have fun! And don’t forget your Six Flags disability pass.

Six Flags wants everyone to have a great experience. If you have questions about your visit, be sure to contact them ahead of time so you’re well prepared for a great day.

Featured image by Gabriel Valdez on Unsplash

Why The Pandemic Is Hard For Disabled Drivers (And 4 Ways To Make It Easier)

The COVID-19 pandemic has made 2020 tough for just about everyone – including disabled drivers. From making it more difficult to go out, to the need for distance from friends and loved one in the interests of your health, the changes to regular life have been a hard pill to swallow.

Let’s take a look at a few of the hardships disabled drivers have faced as COVID has swept across the world, as well as a few vital tips to help make things a little bit easier.

Dr Handicap - COVID-19
Image by Adam Niescioruk on Unsplash: Wondering how people with disabilities can cope during the COVID-19 pandemic? Read on.

How Is The Coronavirus Impacting People With Disabilities?

There are several ways the pandemic has impacted those with disabilities, affecting their ease of navigating the world. Some of these challenges include:

1. Impact on health

While not everyone with a disability has other health problems, many do. So are people with underlying health conditions more at risk of getting COVID-19? Unfortunately, yes. Those with chronic conditions are in the higher risk category for COVID. As a result, they may have to take particularly stringent self-isolation measures in order to avoid exposing themselves to the virus and risking serious illness.

2. Difficulty in protecting themselves

Most people prepared for lockdown by going out and stocking up on the supplies they needed. But that’s something that may not have been as easy for disabled drivers and those with disabilities. It can be difficult for many disabled drivers and people with disabilities to get out in the middle of a pandemic and secure the supplies and medications they may need.

3. Threatening independence

Many disabled drivers are proud of the independence they’ve achieved in dealing with their disability. But still, many utilize support from others to help them maintain that independence, and that’s something that may have been disrupted by this outbreak.

4. Adding issues to long-term disabilities

The flexibility and accommodations those with disabilities need in the workplace can be disrupted by the pandemic – but on the bright side, it can also help workplaces to see just how well accommodations such as telecommuting can work.  

Dr Handicap - sanitizer
Image by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash: How do disabled drivers cope with COVID-19? Many ways, including strict sanitizing measures.

COVID-19 And Disabled Drivers

Navigating COVID-19 with a disability can be a challenge, but it’s still possible to retain your independence and live your life to the fullest in the midst of a pandemic.

Aside from washing your hands regularly and wearing a mask in public, you can protect your wellbeing and health by:

1. Take extra care to clean and sanitize

There are several steps disabled drivers can take to protect their health during this pandemic. You should regularly wash any mobility equipment you have such as crutches, wheelchairs, or walkers.

Also adjust how you go about some of your daily activities. For instance, if you have limited function of your hands, then avoid using your mouth to take off gloves as you may have in the past. If you have low vision, then you may need to touch more surfaces than other people; wear gloves to add an extra layer of protection.

2. Practice physical distancing

As well as practicing physical distancing in public places, it’s important to do so with outsiders in your own home. If you have caregivers that help with day-to-day tasks, try to limit your close interactions as much as possible. When you can’t practice physical distancing, wear a mask.

3. Think about communication

If you struggle with hearing issues, it can be difficult to understand what people are saying with a mask on. Carry a notepad and pen with you so you can have someone write down what they’re saying if you’re struggling to understand them from behind personal protective equipment such as masks and plexiglass. (Just be sure to sanitize the pen when they’re done using it!)

4. Plan ahead

You may need to have a plan for getting to the hospital if you get sick. If you think you’d be unable to drive yourself, then make sure you have someone to take you. If you do drive yourself, be sure you know where the nearest hospital is as well as where the disabled parking is available at the hospital to have one less thing to worry about if the situation occurs.

This pandemic has been difficult for many, but it adds another challenge for those with disabilities and disabled drivers. Try out the above tips so you can get back to living your life while being as safe as possible.

Featured image by Glen Carrie on Unsplash

Is Disabled Parking Free In Disney World?

Disney World in Orlando, Florida is one America’s most famous tourist attractions. The iconic and much-loved resort holds a wide variety of magical attractions, including an enormous theme park, several themed hotels, restaurants, theatres, and events venues. In Disney World, there is something for all the family, with attractions that will appeal to infants, young children, teens, adults, and even grandparents.

Disney World has infrastructure and policies in place that are designed to make the resort as disability-friendly as possible. Lots of Disney World’s customers have some type of mobility issue or disability and the resort holds accessibility as a very high priority. It also has a legal obligation to adhere to the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Dr Handicap - disney
Image by Brian McGowan on Unsplash: Disney World is accessible to disabled guests.

Visiting Disney World With Mobility Issues

While having certain disabilities may mean that some restrictions and limitations are inevitable, being disabled need not curtail your fun at Disney World. The resort has a well-thought-out set of measures in place that are designed to make its attractions and amenities as accessible as possible.

Every effort is made by the resort and its staff to make as many of Disney World’s attractions accessible to disabled visitors and their families.

Disabled Parking At Disney World

Disney World has plenty of disabled parking. Handicap parking spaces are located throughout the resort, placed as close to entrances and amenities as possible. You must have a valid disabled parking permit to park in disabled spaces at Disney World.

If you do not have a valid disabled parking permit, you can request to park at the end of a lot, nearer to entrances, and staff will attempt to accommodate your request.

Is Disabled Parking Free In Disney World?

Disabled parking is not free throughout Disney World. However, in certain areas of the resort, disabled permit-holders may avail of free parking.

In the main resort car parks, disabled drivers must pay the standard fee to park. The standard fees are:

  • Value Resorts – $15 per night
  • Moderate Resorts – $20 per night
  • Deluxe Resorts – $25 per night

Valet parking, which is only available at Disney World’s Deluxe Resorts, is free for disabled parking permit-holders.

Do You Need A Special Disabled Parking Pass At Disney World?

Unlike at many major outdoor attractions such as the main National Parks, there is no Disney World disabled parking pass that you need to apply for. A standard disabled parking placard or license plate is all you need to be able to use disabled parking spaces in Disney World.

What Kinds Of Disabled Parking Are Available At Disney World?

Disney World has three types of disabled parking spaces:

  • Accessible parking spaces for cars
  • Accessible parking spaces for vans (one-sided entry)
  • Accessible parking spaces for vans (two-sided entry)

Parking lots at Disney World supply wheelchairs for guests with mobility issues to use if they need to.

Where Is Disabled Parking Located At Disney World?

In all of Disney World’s parking lots, disabled parking spaces are located closest to the entrance of the amenity that the lot serves.

Do Out-Of-State Disabled Parking Permits Work In Disney World?

Disabled parking permits from any US state, as well as the UK, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and any EU country, are valid at Disney World.

Is There Handicap Parking At Magic Kingdom?

Magic Kingdom is one of the most famous attractions at Disney World. Good news: there is handicap parking at Magic Kingdom! It is situated near the front of the Ticket and Transportation parking lot and is available for holders of all types of disabled parking permits. A standard parking fee of $25 applies.

Does Disney World Have A Disability Pass?

Disney World has a Disability Access Service (DAS) card that is available to guests with disabilities. DAS cards help guests who are not able to wait in a queue environment due to a disability. DAS cards are available from Guest Relations offices at the main entrances to the resort. They enable the holder to be given a return time at attractions so they do not need to queue.

Dr Handicap - Disney theme park
Image by aliwigle on Pixabay: Disney World’s Disability Access Service card is available to disabled guests.

How Do You Get A Disabled Parking Permit?

If you are planning to visit Disney World and you have a disability, but have not yet got a disabled parking permit, now is a good time to apply. The easiest way to apply for a disabled parking permit is to arrange an online consultation with a medical professional through Dr. Handicap.

Once your disability has been verified, the examining doctor will fill in the relevant sections of a disabled parking application form. You can then submit the form to the disabled parking authorities in your state and you will soon receive your permit.

Featured image by Brian McGowan on Unsplash

Is Height A Qualifying Condition For A Disabled Parking Permit?

Access to disabled parking in the United States is top tier. The program provides ample opportunity and availability for those with qualifying conditions to access parking that can make their daily lives easier.

Disabled parking spots can make all the difference for a person who has limited mobility due to any number of conditions, eliminating their need to exacerbate their condition just to go to an appointment or grocery store. But is there such a thing as a height disability parking permit? Can you get a handicap placard for being short?

Can you get a handicap sticker for being under 5 feet?

Being short is not generally considered a disability. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), for a person to qualify as disabled, they need to have an impairment that creates great obstacles in completing and participating in major life activities.

For example, if a person is under five feet tall but has no difficulty with mobility or driving, it’s not likely that they will qualify under the ADA. On the other hand, if a person has diastrophic dwarfism, a health condition that could potentially affect mobility due to joint differences and curvature of the spine, they would qualify for a permit.

Can you get a handicap sticker for being tall?

As with being short, being excessively tall is also not considered a disability in its own right. However, people with extreme tallness caused by a condition such as gigantism could end up suffering from more chronic health conditions than their average-height counterparts.

Gigantism is a condition caused by an excessive amount of growth hormone being released while a child grows. Conditions that are often associated with gigantism include enlargement of the hands and feet, which could pose mobility issues in adulthood; arthritis; an increased risk for heart disease; and vision loss. All of these repercussions qualify under the ADA as disabilities that could allow a person to have access to a handicap placard.

Dr Handicap - disabled parking on street
Image by Jared Murray on Unsplash: Can you get a handicap sticker for being short? Not just for being short, no!

Will extreme height or lack thereof ever be considered a disability?

Although height doesn’t count as a disability now, people on both ends of the spectrum have been vying to have it at least considered. One specific occurrence of this happened in 2013 when a woman felt as though she was disabled for a certain position within her workplace because of her short stature. She filed a claim with a court, and the ADA found that it might be a valid complaint against her employer.

On the flip side, another movement was launched claiming that a man was discriminated against while on an airplane because of his tallness. He claimed that he was made to stand in the aisle the entire flight because he couldn’t fit in the seat. The movement, aptly named “Tall Consumerism”, was launched back in 2009, but didn’t garner any true changes in disability law.

Disabled parking availability and qualifying conditions

By law, parking lots are required to have the minimum amount of designated parking spots depending on the size of the parking facility. In smaller lots with only 1–25 total spots, there needs to be at least 1 handicap spot available. The numbers grow as the parking facility gets bigger, up to 20 per 1000 spots, and then 1 per 100 thereafter.

There are many conditions that fall into the category of handicap parking permit allowance. People with advanced lung or heart conditions, limited mobility or a partial use of their legs, vision problems including partial or low-vision, certain neurological conditions, arthritis or arthritis-related diseases, and the loss of limbs all qualify for a handicap parking placard.

Dr. Handicap - Wheelchair Sign on Blue Brick
Image by arembowski on Pixabay: Parking lots require a certain amount of handicap spots depending on their size.

Being overly short or tall isn’t enough to qualify for a handicap parking permit unless it has a direct influence on a person’s health and mobility. Generally speaking, one of the aforementioned conditions needs to be present for someone to be considered a candidate for a handicap parking permit.

However, if being short or tall has led to a mobility issue or other health problem, it could be said that it is the first step towards being able to qualify for a handicap permit. Some believe that changes to the ADA should be made to accommodate people with limited or excessive stature, but those changes have yet to take place for Americans. 

Featured image by SnapwireSnaps on Pixabay