Qualifying Conditions For A Disabled Parking Permit: Limited Or No Use Of Arms

With approximately one in ten of our citizens suffering from a disability of some sort, it’s comforting to know that the Americans with Disabilities Act is there to help and to protect these people. One area in which the Act is effective is the provision of disabled parking spots. These spots are required by law in every public parking lot, the minimum requirement being one designated disabled spot for every 25 spaces. Certain places that have a public parking lot are required to supply more than the minimum disabled spaces; a health facility would be one example. The law goes further to stipulate that “accessible parking spaces should be at least 96 inches (2440 mm) wide and parking access aisles shall be part of an accessible route to the building or facility entrance.” These rules and regulations are very important if you have a physical impairment that makes driving or being a passenger in a car difficult. A disabled parking permit allows you to use these designated spaces, which can make life a little more manageable for you.

There are many conditions that qualify you for a disabled parking permit. Some are obvious; some less so. It’s possible to be issued with one of these permits if you have either limited or no use at all of one or even both of your arms. This disability could have been from birth, from an accident, or from an illness of some sort. If you have had to have an arm amputated or you suffer from an arm deformity, you would almost certainly qualify for a disabled parking permit. Alternatively, you might have a condition or illness that limits the use of your arm or arms, such as a joint disorder or muscular spasms. In some of our states, even a hand disability – such as carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis – is also seen as a qualifying condition.

You may wonder, with some of the above disabilities, why you might meet the requirements for a parking permit if your condition means that you can’t actually drive a car. The answer to this is that it is a disabled parking permit, not a driving permit. This means that you can use it with your own car if you’re the driver, of course, but you can also use it in a friend’s or neighbor’s car where you are the passenger. A disabled parking permit is usually available in two different formats: either specifically marked license plates or a placard that hangs inside your car. The latter, of course, is portable, meaning you can use it in any car – not just the one you own – in order to park in dedicated disabled parking spots. The placard just needs to be visible inside the car.

The abovementioned requirements about the size of disabled parking spots and the access to the building or facility entrance mean that you will, first of all, have more space around your car, which will simplify the process of getting in and out. This is important if you have limited or no use of your arm/s. You might need the help of another person or the use of a wheelchair once out of the car. Whatever assistance you need, you will only have a short distance to travel to the facility entrance. These seemingly small things certainly make life a little less burdensome if you are affected by a physical impairment. A disabled parking permit gives you back some independence, as you can be confident in the knowledge that your needs will be met when you have to park in a public parking lot, whether you are the driver or a passenger.

To find out if you qualify for a disabled parking permit, the easiest way is to simply apply online. You don’t even need to travel for an evaluation; one of Dr Handicap’s in-house specialists will carry out an assessment with you via a relaxed and stress-free video call. It’s clearly appealing to be able to do this in the comfort of your own home without traveling and without a face-to-face consultation, which some people find daunting. If you’re missing a limb, some states even allow you to forego the full medical evaluation process. As the different states have different rules for both the qualifying conditions and the certification mechanism, it’s worth finding out what applies in your own state before beginning the process. Once approved, you will receive your disabled parking badge, which you can start using straight away – either in your own car or as a passenger in someone else’s car.

If you had given up on the idea of going anywhere public by car because of your disability, then hopefully the above will make you think again. Apply online today for your disabled parking permit and it may just be the start of an easier and more enjoyable life for you.