Why You May Qualify For A Handicap Parking Permit

Dr Handicap - person in wheelchair

There are hundreds of thousands of people in the United States who may qualify for a handicap parking permit. But many folks are unaware of their eligibility (or the idea simply hasn’t occurred to them, or they are too darn stubborn!), and so they have not applied to avail of this useful service that would greatly improve their quality of life.

Many people soldier on, bravely battling through life, expending Herculean effort to get from A to B despite having mobility issues, chronic illnesses, or physical disabilities that make movement very difficult. Having a handicap parking permit that allows them to park in a strategically located disabled parking space would make life much easier for many of these courageous people.

A wide range of medical conditions and illnesses make a person eligible to qualify for a handicap parking permit. It is not only the wheelchair-bound, very disabled, or very elderly that can benefit from the use of a disabled parking space; thousands of people who suffer from mild but meaningful mobility issues can also see their quality of life hugely increase when they acquire a handicap parking permit.

Dr Handicap - motorized wheelchair

Each American state has its own specific set of health conditions that qualify a person for a handicap parking permit, so it would be worthwhile doing a little research into the specific qualifying conditions in your state. Practically speaking, most states’ lists of qualifying conditions are very similar, quite broad, and also up to the discretion of the medical professional that will verify you as ‘disabled’.

Before issuing your handicap parking permit, the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) will need to see written proof that your medical condition qualifies you for a disabled parking space. This proof can be provided by a physician, doctor, or other healthcare professional – for example, a nurse, doctor’s assistant, or optometrist. You can make an appointment and meet with this healthcare professional in person, or you can do an online consultation and get your letter of recommendation that way (which, for most folks, is the easier option). The DMV will accept a letter from a healthcare professional that you consulted with in person or online.

Dr Handicap - parking lot

There are many conditions that qualify a person for a handicap parking permit in almost every state. If you suffer from one of the following health conditions, you are almost certain to qualify for a disabled parking space in any U.S. state:

  • If you have any form of heart disease that the American Heart Association considers to be a Class III or Class IV cardiac condition, you are eligible to qualify for handicap parking permit.
  • If you are relatively immobile due to obesity and/or obesity related health issues and complications, you will also qualify.
  • If you are hard of hearing and need to use a hearing aid, struggle to hear at a reasonable level, or have subpar eyesight such as low vision or partial-sightedness, you will qualify for a handicap parking permit.
  • If you suffer with arthritis, the immobility caused by this is recognized as a reason for you to need a disabled parking space.
  • If you have respiratory problems such as lung disease or emphysema, you will qualify for a parking permit in most states.
  • Chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, allergies, asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease, which can leave a person in a lot of pain, will qualify you for a handicap parking permit.
  • If you are an amputee or have lost an arm or leg for any other reason, you will qualify.
  • People who require a portable oxygen tank and need it to get around will qualify for a parking permit.
  • In certain states, people who suffer from an acute sensitivity to sunlight that leads to a blistering or burning of the skin can qualify for a handicap parking permit.
  • If a patient has general mobility issues and cannot walk a set number of feet without needing to stop and rest, they will usually qualify for a handicap parking permit. In some states if a person cannot walk 50 feet without needing to rest, they will qualify. In other states, the qualifying distance is 200 feet.
  • In many states, people who cannot walk without the use of a cane, walking stick, brace, crutches, zimmer frame, wheelchair, or the assistance of another person, for any reasonable reason, will qualify for disabled parking space use.

If you have one of these conditions, see a healthcare professional – which you can easily do online – and get your letter of certification. Then it is simply a case of filling in the DMV application form, posting it off, and very soon you will be in possession of your own life-enhancing handicap parking permit. It’s really that easy!