Requesting a Handicapped Parking Pass

[SandraC]

Hi all! At home we never requested a handicapped parking pass from dd's doctor. However, with all the walking and heat in Florida it would really help dd if we had one. Can I apply for a parking pass thru Disney or should I start the ball rolling at home first? S

 

[Talking Hands]

You need to have a handicapped pass for your car issued from your local drivers office.

 

[SueM in MN]

Agreeing with Lisa.
Disney doesn't issue handicapped parking permits. You need to have a valid goveernment issued one to park in the handicapped area (like my DD has one issued by the state of Minnesota). If you get one from your home province, it will be recognized as valid to park in the handicapped lot. If you park without one, you risk getting a ticket.
Actually, if you don't have a wheelchair, you are better off parking in the regular parking area and take the trams. At most of the parks, you will walk farther from the handicapped parking area to the park entrance than you willl walk from your car to the tram. And the trams let you off very close to the entrance. If you mention that you have someone who can't walk far, they will try to direct you close to the end of a row where the tram picks up.

 

[JudithM]

In addition to checking with your local motor vehicle office, you might want to ask you doctor. Where I live the doctor has the forms & has to sign off on them before one goes to the motor vehicle office.

 

[April76]

I just picked up the Handicapped Parking permits from my local Motor Vehicle Admin. today. We're taking my Mom (who recently began using a wheelchair while recoving from a hip replacement) to WDW next week.

I had printed the form from the MVA website and took it to my Mom's doctor's office.... took a day for him to fill it out and sign it and only a few minutes time standing in line at MVA.

Considering I had to deal with MVA, I thought the process was very quick and easy.

 

[Michigan]

Just a few handicap parking don'ts for all of you with new passes. (I wish they gave out sheets explaining this when they issue the passes)

Please don't park on the blue hash lines in handicap spots. That the area that is intended for someone in a wheelchair to be able to transfer out of their car and into their chair.

Please only park in the van accessible spots as a last resort unless you have a van with a side lift. As a person that used to have a side lift van and now has a rear lift van there were times we started out somewhere and ended up just going home because I couldn't find a van accessible spot or 2 spots together so I could cross park. Even though the van accessible spots look like the spot next to them is big enough for someone to park in this where a side lift that requires 8 feet of space comes down or out.

Some places like Walmart now have sideway parking so if you see a big parking space with the hash lines in a different place then you normally see them those are also intended for vans with side lifts and not for 2 cars to squeeze into the space.

Also remember that just because you have a handicap parking placard it's not intended for everyone in the family to use whenever they want to. It is to only be used when the person it is issued to is going to get out of the parked vehicle. I took my oldest DD to a kiddy concert when she was about 4 and the women that parked across from me ask if my Grandmother let me use her handicap pass too. My DD was in braces from her armpits to her feet and using a walker but all she could think of was how great it was to have a Grandmother that would let her use her pass.

I'm glad all of you that needed passes were able to get them and hope that they make you life a little easier.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the reminder. I also wish that they gave out an instruction card with the handicapped parking passes.
Two weeks ago, I took DD to get her hair cut. There are usually only a few van accessible spots in each parking area anyway. On that day, all but one was filled. The one that was empty had a car parked in the cross-hatched area next to it, so we were not able to use it. We ended up parking at the far end of a row, in the last spot. That meant that DD had to drive her wheelchair across the entire length of a very slushy parking lot in a wind chill of below freezing. Not fun or safe. And, when we came out, someone had illegally parked next to us in fire lane.

 

[Michigan]

Sue I know the feeling of looking for a place and then having someone park illegally when I parked in the last spots. Having a rear lift van has been great! I would never go back to a side lift. Oldest DD goes down the lift by herself and I ride down with the youngest one.

Cindy

 

[SueM in MN]

I had never seen a rear van lift /ramp unitl at least a year after we bought our side ramp van. After living with it for over 2 years, I will look into a rear lift one next time.

 

[April76]

Thanks for passing that info along. Unfortunately, it's a bit like "preaching to the choir" isn't it?? Those who are going to misuse the system KNOW they're wrong, but they'll justify it somehow.

Actually, when I picked up the HC plaquard, it came with a pretty comprehensive list of do's and don'ts.

 

[Nanajo1]

Brava Cindy! Well said. I wish there was some sort of test given when a HP tag/placard is requested. I just had a very bad week of being trapped out of my van several times. Took to parking across 2 spaces, felt badly to do so but it is COLD and trying to find someone to move my van takes time.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

A few comments from 'across the pond' ...

Here in the UK one of the biggest areas of debate in 'disabled' circles is parking abuse. The perception is that a lot of people 'borrow' granny's parking badge to go shopping, and it is very common to see people parking in disabled bays (with badges) and then running into the shop. I know that some disabilities are hidden, but when you see someone apparently young and fit running, you suspect they might be cheating! A part of the problem is that grocery store companies do not like to 'police' the disabled bays for fear of annoying their customers. According to the rules you can have your badge taken away if you lend it to anyone - not that this is ever happens!

There was also a series of thefts recently, where disabled drivers were having their car windows smashed and their 'blue badges' stolen. Victims were being advised by police not to display the badges to stop them being stolen... but you can get a parking ticket if you don't - a 'Catch-22' situation.

I have recently received a parking ticket for parking 'not within the designated parking spaces' because I parked my side entry Grand Voyager wheelchair van diagonally across two spaces so that I could unfold my ramp. (The ticket was withdrawn after I explained the situation).

There have been some recent embarresments reported in the press. First, our deputy prime minister was photographed parking his Jaguar in a 'disabled' parking space, and a few weeks later the police were caught out also parked in a disabled bay when shpping for their lunch.

Andrew

 

[Cheshire Figment]

One local shopping center has posted the police "non-emergency" numer on the same poles as the handicap parking restrictions signs. I have entered that number into my cell phone and have since called in several times when I have seen the spaces abused. The worst was when someone parked in the cross-hatched area between two disabled spaces. Not only did the police respond with a ticket, but the car was also towed and impounded.

 

[SandraC]

I am one of those annoying people who confront car owners who park in handicapped parking without a permit. Last week I was taking ds to preschool and saw a family of a mom, dad and 4 year old ds park in the handicapped parking spot. I waited until they got out of their car and and pointed out that it was a handicapped spot they parked in. I examined the car and there was NO indication of a permit. The dad replied, "it's for him" pointing to the son. The mom replied at the same time, "it's for him" pointing to the dad. GEES! You'd think if they had the nerve to take a handicapped parking spot they would get there lie straight.

Last year, the same thing happened but I knew the family who took the spot. I went into the community centre and said to the owner of the car and his car was being towed from the handicapped parking spot he took. He ran out of the building. This time I lied. The car was fine, but I needed to make a point and let everyone in the centre hear that he took a handicapped spot.

I am the handicapped parking police! S

 

[Nanajo1]

Sandra,
I appreciate your help but please be careful. There are a lot of nuts out there. I have stopped confronting people and usually call the police. I too have programed nonemergency police numbers in my cell phone.

 

[CdnDisneyNut]

I remember the polce in our are were cracking down on the misuse of the disability tags at the shopping centres during the Xmas season. The police would fine and take the tag from the unauthorized usse. Some of the tags were counterfit. Is it worh borrowing granny's or whomever tag in the risk of them losing the tag. It was given to them for a reason.

 

[Lachesis00]

Do you guys who have had parking passes/plates for a while notice more and more people are getting handicapped plates/passes?
Here in Juneau they will hand out a pass for 5 years for something that should heal in 3-6 months. And yes I *do* know of people this is happening to.
I feel if it is a long term disability and you are a adult that drives you should get the plates. There is a lady here at work who is proud she "won" and just had her placecard renewed another 5 years. And I think it's the doctors fault as much as anyones. I wish I knew who to contact to make stiffer requirements.... now days anyone can get a pass here.
Im not saying all people are abusing the system but I do feel a large part of my local community is from observation.


Can you help me phrase this better? I am going to make lables and stick them right on the drivers window....


These spots are not intended for non-disabled people to run into the store, the Post Office, waiting for a family member or friend ect...

If you do not have a Handicapped parking pass you should not be parking here. I have taken your license plate down and turned it in to the Juneau Police Department.

 

[JudithM]

Originally posted by Lachesis00
I feel if it is a long term disability and you are a adult that drives you should get the plates.

Are you saying adults who get a permanent handicapped tag should only get the license plates? If so, I totally disagree. First of all, my husband & I own three vehicles, so my hanging tag comes in handy depending on which vehicle I am in at the time. Secondly there have been several times I have been with someone else in their vehicle & have used my hanging tag. It is a handicapped tag for me not a vehicle therefore the tag comes with me .

 

[Lachesis00]

No I am talking about if you drive ONE car all the time Like I have my car and I have plates. I also have the pass for other cars or traveling.

In Alaska we have plates on all 3 of our cars. Is that not the same in other states? The first plate is free, the additional plates we pay just like other plates.

 

[Nanajo1]

When I first got my placard several years ago it was an either or situation. Either you got a set of plates for one car or you got the placard.This was in MA. My placard was for an indefinite period . Now Mass issues them for 5 years and requires a medical update. We were leasing our cars back then so I got a placard.