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

Is Depression A Qualifying Condition For A Handicap Parking Permit?

Mental health conditions, including depression, are on the rise in America today. Depression is a debilitating condition that can have serious negative effects on a person’s life. But is depression a qualifying condition for a handicap parking permit? Let’s investigate.

Who Qualifies For A Handicap Parking Permit?

Handicap parking permits are available to any person, or caregiver to a person, who has a disability that reduces their mobility and makes traveling by vehicle or public transport difficult or impossible.

A handicap permit can be used by its disabled holder in any vehicle in which they travel. If a caregiver or organization holds a handicap permit, it can only be used when a disabled person is traveling in the vehicle.

Are The Qualifying Conditions For A Handicap Permit The Same In Every State?

The qualifying conditions for a handicap permit are not the same in every state. Each state has its own list of qualifying conditions. However, the list is very similar in all states, and each state recognizes handicap permits issued by all other states.

Dr Handicap - depression qualifying condition
Image by 1388843 on Pixabay: Depression can be considered a disability if it is severe and debilitating.

Is Depression A Disability?

Depression can sometimes be considered a disability under the law if it is severe and debilitating enough. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), depression is considered a psychiatric disability.

The ADA defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. It considers depression to be a significant mood disorder that’s known to interfere with daily activities, but depression must substantially limit a major life activity to qualify as a disability.

Many physical disabilities that commonly necessitate handicap parking permit usage correlate with depression. It is common for people to experience depression when they first become disabled, for example. Once a newly disabled person learns to live with their disability, their depression can lessen, or go away completely.

Can You Get A Handicap Parking Permit For Mental Illness?

“Mental illness” is a very broad term that includes a large array of disparate conditions. It is defined as “a health condition that involves changes in emotion, thinking or behavior, or a combination of these”.

While no mental health condition is, in and of itself, a qualifying condition for a handicap parking permit, it is possible to qualify for a handicap permit due to physical symptoms of conditions that fall under this umbrella term, as well as for conditions that involve a mental component along with a physical component.

To get a handicap parking permit, an applicant’s mental illness would need to considerably curtail their mobility and/or ability to use public transport.

Is Depression A Qualifying Condition For A Handicap Parking Permit?

Depression is not, in and of itself, a qualifying condition for handicap parking, and it does not appear on any state’s list of qualifying conditions. However, there are some gray areas that may enable a person who suffers with depression to make a case that they should qualify for handicap parking.

Almost all states have ‘Cannot walk 200 ft without needing to stop to rest’ as a qualifying condition. And several states, including New York State, have the following qualifying condition: “Any other physical or mental impairment not previously listed which constitutes an equal degree of disability, and imposes unusual hardship in the use of public transportation and prevents the person from getting around without great difficulty.”

If a person’s depression is of a type or severity that it prevents them from walking 200 feet without needing to stop, and/or it makes using public transport unusually difficult and prevents them from getting around without great difficulty, it is possible that they may qualify for handicap parking.

Dr Handicap - mental illness
Image by Peggy_Marco on Pixabay: Depression is not a direct qualifying condition for a handicap parking permit, but it can go hand-in-hand with some conditions that are.

What Are The Qualifying Conditions For A Handicap Parking Permit?

The qualifying conditions for a handicap parking permit are all conditions that cause limited mobility. Illnesses that do not cause limited mobility are not qualifying conditions for a handicap permit.

The most common qualifying conditions for handicap parking are:

  • An inability to walk 200 feet without needing to stop to rest
  • Any condition that necessitates the use of a walking aid such as a wheelchair, crutch, cane, prosthetic device.
  • A heart condition classified Class III or IV by the American Heart Association
  • Lung disease
  • Any condition that necessitates the use of a portable oxygen tank
  • Amputees
  • Neurological, arthritic, or orthopedic condition that severely inhibits mobility
  • Legal blindness
  • Sensitivity to sunlight
  • Any other physical or mental impairment not previously listed which constitutes an equal degree of disability, and imposes unusual hardship in the use of public transportation and prevents the person from getting around without great difficulty

How Do You Make A Handicap Parking Permit Application?

The easiest way to apply for a handicap parking permit is to set up an online consultation with a medical professional through Dr. Handicap. Once your condition has been verified the medical professional will fill in the relevant sections of a handicap parking application and email it to you.

Featured image by Nik Shuliahin on Unsplash

Are Handicap Placards Tax Exempt?

One of the most useful things you can get if you’re disabled is a handicap placard – something most people know about. What many people don’t realize if that if you are disabled, then you may be eligible to certain tax deductions and credits, including those associated with the costs of handicap placards.

Taxes can be confusing, but they don’t have to be. Here’s what you need to know about handicap placards, how to know if they’re tax-exempt where you live, and what you can do to ensure you get the tax credit when April rolls around.

Who Does the IRS Considered Disabled?

The Internal Revenue Service, the government entity in control of taxes, considers a person disabled if:

  • They suffer from a mental or physical impairment such as hearing or sight impairment that limits one or more major life activities such as walking, working, speaking, or breathing; and/or
  • They suffer from a mental or physical disability that functionally limits their employment.
Dr Handicap - disabled sign
Image by Marianne Bos on Unsplash: Are handicap placards tax exempt? Maybe!

What Tax Benefits Are Available?

There are a few major tax benefits that disabled drivers may be eligible for.

Large standard deductions

This depends on your filing status and whether an exemption for you can be filed by another taxpayer.

Some disability payments

Some disability payments are not taxable, such as military service disability payments, but others are, such as workers’ compensation, compensation for permanent loss of your body, or compensatory damages for physical sickness or injury.

Impairment-related work expenses

If your employment is limited because of a mental or physical disability, then you can deduct any work expenses related to your disability, such as a disabled parking placard.

How To Receive The Correct Tax Exemptions

If you need a disabled parking placard to move through your daily life, including getting to work, then you can qualify for a tax deduction based on that. A 7.5% adjusted gross income limit is not required to be used for any impairment-related work expenses such as a parking placard. Check in the IRS handbook under Miscellaneous Deductions to make sure you’re giving yourself enough credit and itemizing your deductions correctly.

How To Get A Disabled Parking Permit

If you need a disabled parking permit in order to get to school or work, or even to participate in daily activities such as going to the store, then there are a few things you need to do.

First and foremost, you should understand if you’re eligible for a disabled parking placard. Each state will have its own requirements for disabled parking placards. Typically, the state Department of Motor Vehicles will have the information you need to apply for a disabled parking placard for your vehicle.

The form you fill out will require your condition to be verified by a doctor, nurse practitioner, optometrist, or other health care professional.

In general, you can qualify for a disabled parking placard if you have certain conditions. Some of the most common are:

  • Lung disease
  • Impaired mobility that requires you to use a cane, wheelchair, or other mobility devices
  • Heart disease
  • Loss of use or limited use of arms or legs
  • Vision issues
  • A condition that impacts your ability to walk over 200 feet
Dr Handicap - tax
Image by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels: Tax exemptions for disabled drivers are out there if you know where to look!

How To Get A Disabled Parking Placard

Again, how to get a disabled parking placard varies from state to state, as does its cost. In some states it is free, while in others you will be expected to pay a small fee.

The process to get one is fairly similar no matter where you live and includes:

  • Obtaining an application from your local Department of Motor Vehicles
  • Completing the form with the help of your health care provider
  • Submitting the application in person or by mail

States offer both temporary and permanent parking placards. Temporary passes are generally good for about six months, while permanent disabled parking placards do not expire. You are legally allowed to use this placard in any car in which you are traveling, whether you are the driver or not. Just be careful not to loan your placard out to anyone or you could risk losing it permanently.

When tax time rolls around, it’s important to know what exemptions and deductions you are eligible for. For those with disabilities, the list may be longer than you realize. You don’t want to miss out on exemptions for things you need to use every day, such as a disabled parking placard.

Featured image by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Are There Any Disability Tax Deductions For Wheelchair-Accessible Vans?

In 2020, there are plenty of excellent, state-of-the-art wheelchair-accessible vans on the market. These vans make traveling in a wheelchair, either as a driver or passenger, comfortable, safe, and enjoyable.

Options abound when it comes to making a van wheelchair-accessible. You can buy a purpose-built wheelchair van, or you can adapt a van that was not purpose-built for wheelchair users.

Wheelchair-accessible vans are not a luxury, however. For most wheelchair users, or people who care for a wheelchair user, a wheelchair-accessible van is truly essential. For many  wheelchair users, a wheelchair-accessible van is an indispensable tool and a must-have to live a comfortable and independent life.

But wheelchair-accessible vans, either purpose-built or adapted, do not come cheap. The technology is life-changing, but it is also expensive. Disabled wheelchair users and their carers incur a lot of extra costs that non-wheelchair users do not have to worry about.

This means that as a wheelchair user you need to be savvy and clued-in about where and how you can save money. Major savings can come in the form of tax deductions. A lot of medical expenses are tax-deductible, so you can save a lot of money by educating yourself on your tax entitlements.

Dr Handicap - wheelchair-accessible van
Image by StockSnap on Pixabay: Are wheelchair-accessible van adaptations tax-deductible?

How Do I Make My Van Wheelchair-Accessible?

Many people choose to buy a purpose-built wheelchair-accessible van. But for many others – for example, people who are newly disabled – converting their current van to make it wheelchair-accessible is a good option.

There are lots of excellent adaptations you can make to a van to make it wheelchair-accessible, and most of these adaptations are tax-deductible. The most common adaptations people make to make their van wheelchair-accessible are:

  • Raised roof
  • Dropped floors
  • Wheelchair lifts
  • Wheelchair ramps
  • Transfer seats

What Are The Disability Tax Deductions For Handicap Drivers?

As a handicap driver you are entitled to various tax deductions. Essential medical expenses are tax-deductible once they are above 7.5% of your gross income. This means you add up all of your deductible medical expenses, and the amount of the total that is above 7.5% of your gross income is deductible.

What Tax Deductions Are Available For Wheelchair-Accessible Vans?

The most common deductions for wheelchair-accessible vans are essential adaptations, and a portion of the cost of a purpose-built wheelchair-accessible van.

Purpose-built wheelchair-accessible vans are partly tax-deductible. The cost of the wheelchair-accessible van that is above the cost of a similar van without wheelchair-accessible features is tax-deductible.

The most common tax-deductible adaptations to make a van wheelchair-accessible are:

  • Electric hand controls
  • Left-side accelerator pedal
  • Pedal and steering-wheel extensions
  • Raised roof
  • Dropped floors
  • Wheelchair lifts
  • Wheelchair ramps
  • Transfer seats

How Do I Apply For Disability Tax Deductions For A Wheelchair-Accessible Van?

Register your tax-deductible medical expenses on your tax return when you submit it to the IRS each year in April. On each year’s tax return, include the tax-deductible expenses from that year. This expenses total is then taken off your gross income and you only pay tax on the reduced income amount.

Who Is Eligible For Disability Tax Deductions For Wheelchair-Accessible Vans?

Tax deductions for wheelchair vans and van adaptations are available to the disabled person, spouse, or caregiver that paid the tax-deductible expense.

What Other Travel Expenses Can I Claim A Tax Deduction On As A Disabled Driver?

As a disabled driver you can also claim for travel costs that accrue from essential medical related travel. This can include gas, parking fees, and toll fees that are spent on the wary to and from medical appointments.

Dr Handicap - calculator
Image by Shutterbug75 on Pixabay: You can apply for disability tax deductions on your IRS tax return.

How Else Can I Save Money As A Disabled Driver?

A great way to save money as a disabled driver is by getting a disabled parking permit. A disabled permit enables its owner to park in designated disabled parking spaces. This is incredibly helpful and a great money-saver.

What Are The Qualifying Conditions For A Disabled Parking Permit?

The qualifying conditions to get a disabled parking permit change slightly state by state. But in all states, being a wheelchair user will qualify you to hold a disabled parking permit.

How Do I Apply For A Disabled Parking Permit?

To apply for a disabled parking permit, arrange a telemedicine consultation with a medical professional through Dr. Handicap. Once the medical professional verifies your disability they will sign and fill in the relevant sections of a DMV application form and email it directly to you.

The government is there to give you the help you deserve, as a disabled person, in the form of tax deductions and disabled parking permits. So don’t miss out on what you are legally entitled to!

Featured image by Marcus Aurelius on Pexels