Does An Employer Need To Provide Wheelchair-Accessible Parking?

For those with a physical disability, having wheelchair-accessible parking is a game-changer. Ensuring you can get in and out of your car safely and easily is so important. Having wheelchair-accessible parking at the workplace can have a huge impact on your commute. This is particularly the case for drivers who are already nervous behind the wheel.

Getting a disabled parking permit helps you to access wheelchair-accessible parking. Applying for a permit is a simple process for those with a qualifying condition. While these conditions vary from state to state, they typically include those such as:

Loss of mobility
Loss of limb
Limited vision
Lung illness
Cardiac conditions

Unfortunately, it can often be difficult to navigate the world of disabled parking, as rules surrounding parking permits vary from state, and regional laws may differ. Many people are unsure as to what they are entitled to as part of their employment, and knowing employer parking laws can be confusing. That’s where the ADA comes in.

wheelchair user — *Image by stevepb on Pixabay: What accommodations does an employer have to provide to employees with disabilities?*

What Are The ADA Disabled Parking Rules?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was designed to protect the rights of Americans living with disabilities and offer standardized guidelines for employers to follow. The ADA sets the standards for what disabled parking spaces should look like. They should have a minimum size (eight feet wide, plus five feet of aisle space on either side) to allow for easy access to and from the vehicle, and they should also be clearly marked or signposted with the International Symbol of Access. They must be situated near the most accessible entrance of the building they serve, and must provide an accessible route to and from this entrance.

Does An Employer Need To Provide Wheelchair-Accessible Parking?

Any company with more than 15 employees has to abide by the ADA guidelines. Your employer must make every reasonable accommodation for you as a disabled employee. If an employer provides their own parking lot for employees, this must have a certain number of disabled parking spaces. If you have a physical disability and use a wheelchair, your employer must make a wheelchair-accessible parking space available to you if parking in a private lot is a perk that they provide.

However, some employers do not provide parking for their employees. This is not a legal requirement, so your employer does not need to provide it. If employee parking is not offered at your place of work (if your employer does not own their own parking lot, for example), it is not the employer’s responsibility to provide wheelchair-accessible parking. In this case, it is the responsibility of whichever parking lot the employee generally uses.

How Many Disabled Parking Spaces Should There Be In A Parking Lot?

The ADA sets standards when it comes to how many disabled parking spaces should be allocated to each parking lot. The amount of wheelchair-accessible and disabled parking places per lot depends on its total capacity. Under current standards, this means that for every 25 parking spaces there must be one accessible van space. For a lot that has 300 spaces, at least seven must be accessible. There must also be an access aisle provided to enable wheelchair users to easily enter and exit the parking lot without obstruction.

employee parking lot — *Image by JayMantri on Pixabay: Do employers have to accommodate people with disabilities?*

The Bottom Line: Do Employers Have To Provide Parking For Disabled Employees

While you have rights as a disabled parking permit holder, simply owning a permit does not mean your employer is required to provide wheelchair-accessible parking. The ADA states that employers must make all reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. However, if the employer cannot reasonably provide disabled parking, and if it places undue hardship on them, they are not obliged to do so.

Some employers may provide wheelchair-accessible parking, but there may be not be enough disabled parking spaces for each employee who needs one. Situations like this can be stressful and difficult to manage, but the best way to sort them out is to have a conversation with your employer to see what can be done to accommodate both your needs and theirs.

It is important that you can access wheelchair-accessible parking, and it is your right to do so. However, it can be complicated to negotiate what must be provided by your employer, and what constitutes reasonable grounds for the provision of disabled parking places. Fortunately, the ADA is there to help those with disabilities live life as easily as possible, and most employers are willing to make the necessary accommodations for their employees.

Featured image by overjupiter on Pixabay

How Can I Get A Handicap Parking Placard In San Diego?

Disabled people in San Diego are well served by the city’s handicap parking infrastructure. The San Diego disabled parking program is well-run and user-friendly.

If you are a resident of San Diego who has a disability but has not yet applied for a handicap parking permit, you may have several questions, such as…

How can I get a handicap parking placard in San Diego? How do I get handicapped parking in front of my house in San Diego? What are the disabled parking rules in San Diego?

Below, we will answer these important questions.

Who Issues Disabled Parking Permits In San Diego?

Disabled parking permits in San Diego are issued by the State of California Department of Motor Vehicles.

What Types Of Disabled Parking Permits Are Available In San Diego?

The following types of disabled parking permits are available in San Diego:

Permanent disabled parking placard or license plate
Temporary disabled parking placard
Organization disabled parking placard
Disabled Veterans license plate

san diego bay — *Image by Daniel Guerra* *on Unsplash: How can I get a handicap parking placard in San Diego?*

How Can I Get A Handicap Parking Placard In San Diego?

You can get a handicap parking permit in San Diego by having a video consultation with a California medical professional on the Dr. Handicap online clinic.

Once the medical professional verifies your disability, they will sign the Doctor’s Certification section of an application form. You then complete the application form and submit it to the California DMV. Permanent permits are free and temporary permits cost $6.

Completed applications can be submitted in-person at any DMV field office or by mail to:

DMV Placard
PO Box 932345
Sacramento, CA 94232-3450

Who Can Verify An Application For A Disabled Permit In San Diego?

The following types of medical professionals can verify an application for a disabled parking permit in San Diego:

Licensed physician
Physician assistant
Nurse practitioner
Certified nurse midwife
Surgeon
Licensed chiropractor
Licensed optometrist

What Are The Qualifying Conditions For A Disabled Parking Permit In San Diego?

A person will qualify for a disabled parking permit in San Diego if they have one of the following disabilities:

They have lost the use of both hands or one or both lower extremities
They have a disease that impairs or interferes with mobility
They are unable to walk without the aid of an assistive device
They have visual problems, including lower vision or partial sightedness

When Do Disabled Parking Permits Expire In San Diego?

In San Diego, permanent disabled parking placards expire after two years and temporary placards expire after six months.

How Do I Renew A Disabled Parking Placard In San Diego?

You renew your disabled permit in San Diego by submitting a completed application form in-person at any DMV field office or by mail to:

DMV Placard
PO Box 932345
Sacramento, CA 94232-3450

How Do I Get Handicapped Parking In Front Of My House In San Diego?

You can apply for handicapped parking in front of your house by submitting a request to the San Diego Traffic Engineering Division:

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 619-533-3126

san diego houses near ocean — *Image by Ruben Gutierrez* *on Unsplash: How do I get handicapped parking in front of my house in San Diego?*

Disabled Parking Rules In San Diego

Disabled permit holders in San Diego are entitled to park:

In designated ‘disabled’ parking spaces (marked with the International Symbol of Access)
Next to a blue curb (blue curbs indicate the space is authorized for people with disabilities)
Next to a green curb for up to 72 hours (green curbs indicate time-limited parking)
In an on-street, metered parking space for free

San Diego disabled permit holders may not park:

In spaces marked with a crosshatched pattern next to a disabled parking space
Next to a red curb (which indicates no stopping, standing, or parking at any time)
Next to a yellow curb (which indicates that a space is reserved for use by commercial vehicles)
Next to a white curb (which indicates that a space is for loading and unloading passengers or depositing mail)

Where Are San Diego Disabled Parking Permits Valid?

San Diego handicap parking placards are valid in every US state, all US overseas territories, and the following foreign countries:

Canada
Mexico
UK
EU
Japan
Australia
New Zealand

Disabled permits from all of these states and countries are also recognized in San Diego.

Featured image by Derek Story on Unsplash

How Do I Renew My Handicap Permit If I Have COVID-19?

For people with disabilities, having an up-to-date handicap parking permit is of the utmost importance. That permit allows them to access places they need or want to go without putting further strain on their medical condition. Handicap parking is given to people with disabilities so they can perform daily chores or enjoy leisure activities the same as those without disabilities.

When a person first gets their handicap placard, they have to go through a process of getting approved, applying for, and obtaining the permit. Handicap placards have an expiry date and need to be renewed before this date if they are still to be used.

Since a handicap permit is not permanent, some people with disabilities may be wondering how to renew theirs, especially in the wake of COVID-19. So, how do you renew your permit during COVID-19? And can you renew at all if you have an active COVID-19 infection?

Can I park with an expired handicap permit during COVID-19?

COVID-19 has posed some challenges for everyone, but for people with disabilities, those challenges may have been felt tenfold. This is especially true if someone’s chronic condition affects the way their immune system functions. Since a healthy immune system is vital to fighting off COVID-19, many with compromised immunity may have been isolated even further than those without a chronic disease.

person renewing handicap permit online — *Image by cottonbro on Pexels: You can renew your handicap permit online if you have COVID-19.*

One thing that may make the COVID-19 pandemic more difficult for people with disabilities is parking permit expiry. Depending on when you first got your permit (or last renewed it), it could have expired sometime throughout the pandemic. It’s hard to determine whether or not people with expired placards can still park in disabled places during the COVID-19 pandemic, because there are different rules and regulations surrounding handicap parking in each state. Some states have become more lenient with the rules because of the unforeseen circumstances, while others have not.

If you have an expired placard that has yet to be renewed, it’s important to check with your local parking authority whether you can still use it if it’s expired, or you may risk getting a ticket.

How to renew handicap placard during COVID-19

The best way to renew your handicap placard during COVID-19 may differ depending on where you live and how quickly the virus is spreading throughout your community. Many government services have been shut down at points during the pandemic or service has slowed significantly, making renewal of a handicap placard more difficult. To renew your placard, you can submit a request for renewal to your local parking authorities, either mail or by phone, up to 45 days prior to the expiration date.

The option for submitting a request is great for people with disabilities who want to avoid going into any center that could increase their risk of contracting COVID. If you have an active COVID-19 infection, you’re required to self-isolate so you don’t spread the virus to others. For a person with an active infection, renewing online is the best bet.

person using laptop to renew permit — *Image by Liza Summer on Unsplash: Disability permit renewal can be an easy process, even with COVID-19.*

How to renew handicap placard online

There are ways to apply for a permit renewal online that can be done from the comfort and safety of your own home while you are fighting off a COVID-19 infection. While state governments typically offer renewal requests via mail or over the phone, Dr. Handicap can help you apply online.

The easy online process gives you the opportunity to renew your handicap placard while keeping yourself and others safe from further spread of COVID-19. On the Dr. Handicap website, all you have to do is create an account and follow the simple online application process.

COVID-19 numbers continue to ease in many places, with more and more restrictions being lifted, and many people are seeing this as a light at the end of the two-year pandemic tunnel. That being said, the virus is still out there and if you are infected, you need to do everything you can to avoid becoming part of the spread.

Featured image by Isaac Iverson on Unsplash

8 Safety Tips If You Need To Drive With A Mask

The coronavirus pandemic has made it necessary for some disabled people to wear a mask while driving. Wearing a mask is optional, and generally safe if you follow correct safety guidelines. Today, we will outline our top safety tips for people who need to drive with a mask.

Is It Safe To Drive With A Mask On?

Driving with a mask on is necessary for some people – sometimes for health reasons and sometimes for professional reasons. Driving with a mask is safe if you’re sensible and follow reasonable safety guidelines.

Is It Necessary To Wear A Mask While Driving?

It is not always necessary to wear a mask while driving. However, some people need to or choose to. People who drive for work are often required to wear a mask. Some people choose to wear a mask if they are driving very elderly or vulnerable passengers in their vehicle.

person about to put mask on in car — *Image by Erik Mclean on Pexels: Is it safe to drive with a mask on?*

Is It Legal To Wear A Mask While Driving?

Yes, it is legal to wear a mask while driving, provided it does not hamper the person’s view and ability to drive safely.

What Circumstances Might Mean A Disabled Driver Would Need To Wear A Mask?

The most common circumstances that make it necessary for a disabled driver to wear a mask are:

They are required to wear a mask for their occupation, e.g. taxi drivers and delivery drivers
They want to stay COVID-safe
They have elderly or vulnerable passengers who they want to protect

What Are The Potential Dangers Of Wearing A Mask While Driving?

Some of the potential dangers of wearing a mask while driving include:

Getting distracted
Impaired vision
Passing out
Overheating
Not being able to communicate clearly with law enforcement

Should You Wear A Mask In A Car With Others?

There are no hard and fast rules about whether you should wear a mask in a car with others. Cars are small and confined spaces, so some people choose to wear a mask in a car to prevent the passing of germs between people.

Driving Safely While Wearing A Mask

Here are eight safety tips if you need to drive with a mask.

1. Make Sure The Mask Is Not A Distraction

Distracted driving is dangerous. Make sure the mask you are wearing is comfortable and is not a distraction while you are driving.

2. Choose A Well-Fitting Mask

Masks come in different shapes and sizes. Stay safe while driving by choosing a good-quality mask that fits you well and won’t slip off or become uncomfortable.

3. Be Sure The Mask Does Not Impair Your Vision

No matter how well-fitting, masks can move about on the face. Make sure your mask does not impair your vision in any way, i.e. by riding up above your line of sight.

4. Don’t Allow Glasses To Fog Up

People who wear glasses may get fogged up while wearing a mask, but this can be dangerous when you’re driving. Make sure your glasses are fitted securely over your mask to avoid fogging up.

5. Pull Over If You Are Feeling Faint

Some people report feeling faint when they wear a mask for too long. If you feel faint or groggy while driving, always pull over to rest or get some fresh air.

woman wearing mask while in car — *Image by Uriel Mont on Pexels: Should you wear a mask in a car with others?*

6. Don’t Allow Yourself To Overheat

Masks can be warm and stifling. If you are too warm, you could get tired or even pass out. If you feel yourself overheating, pull over somewhere safe to get some air and cool down.

7. Remove Mask If Talking To Police

Masks can make communication difficult. If you are pulled over by law enforcement, remove your mask if needed to make communication easier.

8. Practice Safe Defensive Driving

Whenever you’re driving, with a mask on or without, you must practice safe, defensive driving. Defensive driving can be the difference between life and death. It involves:

Always having safety as your top priority
Being aware of your surroundings and vigilant
Not relying on other road users to drive safely
Maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front
Driving at a safe and sensible speed
Avoiding any type of distractions.

How Can You Apply For A Disabled Parking Permit?

You can apply for a disabled parking permit by visiting the Dr. Handicap online clinic and arranging a video consultation with a licensed physician. Once the physician has verified your disability, they will complete the relevant sections of a disabled permit application form, which you can then submit to your local disabled parking authorities.

Featured image by Norma Mortenson on Pexels

Can An Ambulance Park In A Handicap Spot?

Who can park in disabled parking spaces? We know that disabled parking permit holders are entitled to park in handicap spaces, but are there any exceptions to the rules for disabled parking?

Disabled parking space rules and regulations are enshrined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Disabled parking spots exist in every US state and are located as close as possible to the buildings and amenities they serve. These spaces usually offer the quickest access to public areas.

Handicap spaces exist to improve the lives of people with various disabilities and mobility issues. In every US state, handicap spaces are available to be used by a disabled permit holder from any US state, as well as holders of several overseas disabled parking permits.

But what are the exceptions for parking in a handicap spot? Can an ambulance park in a handicap spot under certain circumstances? Is it a criminal offense to park in a disabled bay if you do not have a disabled permit in your vehicle, and how can you report illegal handicap parking? Below, we’ll answer all of these important questions and more.

Can An Ambulance Park In A Handicap Spot?

The laws about ambulance parking vary state by state. In most states, an ambulance can park in a handicap spot under certain specific circumstances. If an ambulance is transporting a disabled person, it can park in a handicap spot for up to 15 minutes. If it is on an emergency call, it can park in a handicap spot for a limited time. In most other circumstances, an ambulance cannot park in a disabled parking space.

ambulances parked outside hospital — *Image by* *ArtisticOperations* on *Pixabay: Can an ambulance park in a handicap spot?*

Exceptions For Parking In A Handicap Spot

So, what are the rules for what drivers and vehicles can legally park in disabled parking spots? The only vehicles that can legally park in handicap parking spaces are:

A vehicle that is currently being used by a disabled parking permit holder, while the permit is in the vehicle
A vehicle that has a permit because it transports disabled people, while it is on official business and transporting disabled people
Ambulances when they are transporting disabled people, for up to 15 minutes
Emergency vehicles when they are on “hot calls”.

Is It A Criminal Offence To Park In A Disabled Bay?

Yes, it is a criminal offense to park in a disabled bay if you do not hold a disabled parking permit.

How To Report Illegal Handicap Parking

If you see illegal parking in a handicap parking bay, you can report it by taking the vehicle’s registration and:

Flagging down a parking attendant or police in the area
Calling your local police non-emergency line
Calling your local parking enforcement team
Submitting photos to the Parking Mobility app.

Rules For Disabled Parking

The rules for disabled parking are:

Only permit holders may park in disabled parking spots.
It is illegal to use a handicap permit that is not your own.
There must be a legally required number of disabled parking spaces in every area and parking lot.
Disabled parking spaces must be clearly signposted.
Disabled parking spaces must be of the correct size and dimensions and located as close as possible to an accessible entrance to the building or amenity they serve.

parking spaces — *Image by Binyamin Mellish on Pexels: What are the rules for disabled parking?*

How Can You Get A Disabled Parking Permit?

If you do not yet have a disabled parking permit, the best way to get one is to visit the Dr. Handicap online clinic. You will have a consultation with a medical professional in your state who will verify your disability and complete an application form for disabled parking. You can then submit the application to your local disabled parking authorities. (Disabled parking authorities are different in each state, but it is usually the local DMV.)

What Types Of Disabled Parking Permits Are Available?

You can get the following types of disabled parking permits in most states:

Permanent disabled parking placard
Permanent disabled parking license plate
Temporary disabled parking placard
Disabled Veterans license plate
Organizational disabled parking permit

Where Are Handicap Parking Permits Valid?

Handicap parking permits are valid in all US states, as well as in all US overseas territories and several foreign countries including Canada, Mexico, UK, EU, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.

Featured image by Obi Onyeador on Unsplash