Handicap parking permits are designed to help individuals with conditions that impact their ability to walk short distances. The type of disability can range widely, from vision loss to a cardiac condition. — Dr Handicap
This post was inspired by writer Shannon Ashley and her struggles both with increasing pain & mobility issues and her struggles to find adequate local health care.
But it applies to so many of us struggling with ongoing chronic health concerns.
Why?
Ableism and fatphobia, both internalized and within ourselves, create an awful lot of barriers to living our best lives.
There is nothing shameful about using mobility aids.
FWIW, I consider disabled parking permits mobility aids.
Many people who could benefit from having a disabled parking permit either do not know they qualify or struggle with (often unconsciously internalized) ableism that says if you can push yourself to do the thing, you should push yourself to do the thing — even if doing so presets severe negative impacts as a result of pushing yourself to do the thing.
I also believe that sometimes resistance to getting a disabled parking permit is a manifestation of fatphobic messages unconsciously causing us to harm ourselves in the name of “wellness”, i.e. the notion that we should be parking at the back of the parking lot and walking if we truly want to lose weight and be healthy and other such toxic bullshit. If walking from the back of the parking lot adds enough extra stress and distress to your system that you are forced to lie down for days to recover, well, that isn’t healthy at all.
- If saving yourself those steps allows you to make yourself dinner that night, instead of say going hungry that night because you simply cannot conjure up the energy to eat, that is a sign you might benefit from a disabled parking permit.
- If saving yourself that walk in the freezing rain or seering heat of summer allows you to recover from your outings quicker, that is a sign you might benefit from a disabled parking permit.
- If saving yourself those extra steps gives you energy to spend working or crafting or just maintaining a clean enough home, that is a sign you might benefit from a disabled parking permit.
- And, most importantly, if saving yourself those extra steps gives you energy to be present and engaged with the people you hold me dear, that is a sign you might benefit from a disabled parking permit.
The Zebra.com states that:
Some health conditions that commonly qualify a person for a handicap permit include:
* Inability to walk without the use of a brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, wheelchair or similar device
* Diseases that limit walking or the ability to use your legs
* Advanced lung or cardiac disease
* Vision issues, including low-vision or partial sightedness, particularly at night
* Either the loss or significant impairment of the use of one or both legs, or both hands
* Arthritis
* Other mobility or neurological impairments
And in Washington state you must met one of the following requirements to obtain a disabled parking permit:
* Cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest or must use assistive device
* Walking severely limited due to arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition
* Uses portable oxygen or walking restricted by lung disease
* Class III or IV impairment by cardiovascular disease
* Acute sensitivity to auto emissions that limits ability to walk
* Legally blind with limited mobility
* Restricted by porphyria (applicant benefits from a decrease in exposure to light)
As I recently wrote:
“Does Getting A Mobility Aid Mean ‘Giving Up’?
The answer is a simple no.
Giving up is living in so much pain you cannot enjoy your life, much less be fully present for it.
Giving up is pushing yourself too far, again and again, until your disease or illness progresses to the point of no return (to mobility or worse).
Giving up is holding yourself to ableist standards that, frankly, don’t care if you are happy or suffering — just so long as you continue pushing yourself to be like ‘normal’ healthy, able-bodied people.
So, please, if you’ve read the above information about who qualifies for a disabled parking permit and you think you see yourself in those lists, please consider asking your doctor to fill out the forms your states requires asap. You can usually find your states’ form by Googling “Disabled parking permit (your state)”.
I recommend getting the placards because they can be used in whatever car you are riding in so if you go out with friends or family driving, you can still enjoy the benefit of your parking permit.
Mobility aids are not bad or lazy or sad — you know what is?
Ableism.
Thank you for reading.
Kat❤
