Oy. Didn't mean to start a new argument. I should have defined 'mobility issues'. I looked up the forms.
Cannot walk two hundred feet without stopping to rest.
Cannot walk without the assistance of another person, walker, cane, crutches, braces, prosthetic device, or
wheelchair.
Is restricted by a lung disease to such an extent that the person's forced (respiratory) expiratory volume
for one second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one liter, or the arterial oxygen tension is less
than sixty mm/hg on room air at rest.
Uses portable oxygen.
Has a cardiac condition to the extent that the person's functional limitations are classified in severity as
Class III or Class IV according to standards by the American Heart Association.
Has a diagnosed disease or disorder, including a severe arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic impairment,
which creates a severe mobility limitation.rest.
Nothing whatsoever for hang nails or bad hair days. Nothing. So I sampled a few states. I looked at those states well known for doing their own thing with federally-mandated or -funded public health issues (FL, CA, NY, IL, and WA) plus a few others:
DE just passed a law that disabled no longer have to get a Dr. signature every time they renew. Other requirements same as GA, except everybody over 85 gets one, too.
AK - Same
AZ - Same, but mentions the hearing impaired have no special parking privileges.
FL - Same, minus pregnancy, plus "If the assistive device significantly restores your ability to walk enough so you can walk without extensive limitation, you are not eligible for the permit"
GA - Same, plus deaf and conditions of pregnancy
TX - Same, adds "has another debilitating condition that, in the opinion of a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state or a state adjacent to this state, or authorized by applicable law to practice medicine in a hospital or other health facility of the Veterans Administration, limits or impairs the person's ability to walk."
IL - Same, plus some more visual restrictions and the special Disabled ID card
WA - Same, plus "Has a disability resulting from an acute sensitivity to automobile emissions, which limits or impairs the ability to walk." And you can use the max time on a metered space for free, and get your gas pumped at self-serve price.
CA - Same, plus open-ended questions requiring your doc to state the dx, plus loss of both hands or lower extremities. Parking also includes: Next to a green curb (green curbs indicate limited-time parking) for as long as you like. In a metered parking space on the street at no charge. In an area that indicates it requires a resident or merchant permit. Check public arenas, like sports stadiums, to see if they offer free disabled parking. Many do.
NY - Same, adds: "Any other physical or mental impairment not previously listed that 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."
New York City - Did the bizarre and issues its own permits. "Things are a little different in New York City, which differentiates between the state-issued parking permit and one issued specifically for New York City residents. Unless your permit is issued specifically for New York City, you may not use the on-street parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities. There are off-street spaces reserved in parking lots for shopping centers, offices, apartment buildings, and school campuses that may be used by anyone with any disabled license or permit, but the special license plates and permits are not valid for parking on any NYC street."
Only CA was significantly less restrictive - but they get all up in your business. Only NYC was insane enough to fail reciprocity with...well, not only all other states, but even its own state. Not that there's enough street parking to argue over anyway.
Still nothing on hang nails or bad hair days - although I could see how CA might potentially be open to some abuses. How big a hassle getting the tag or renewing the tag is, is also varied. Some states require you to show up in person every year. Some don't. They do their own thing with that.
So I've come to the conclusion that claims that the unqualified can get permits easily is probably not justified enough to bother with. If someone has a tag, it's not my business to question them. This says nothing about others using tags that don't belong to them, etc. But that's illegal in the states I checked, and in some you can get your own license revoked if you get caught doing it. The tag usually issues to the individual - not the vehicle, even though that's where the plates stay. Some states allow anyone doing business on behalf of the disabled person to use the tag. Some states require the disabled person to be in the vehicle. That part is all over the place, and you still can't tell just by looking at them.
Some states make specific mention of leaving the wide spaces for the vans if you possibly can, others say nothing. Some commercial locations make all the blue spaces wide, so it matters far less which you take. Others grudgingly put all of them far away from the entry and justify it by putting the ramp there. Even saw one in GA where the blue spaces were all down a hill, and not accessible without a motorized chair. At the Centers for Disease Control(also GA), ALL the parking is now down a steep hill and only accessible with a motorized chair. You'd think...but no.
So I came to a second conclusion, which is that the state DMVs (according to those I looked at) really have nothing to do with reasonable accommodation in public or private parks for RV use. This is not given the same treatment as parking spaces at all. As disabled RVers, this is something we should probably know about. But I got tired again. I don't do enough interstate travel to care about more than a couple of them for my own purposes, though it would be real nice to have a guide somewhere we could all just look up, instead of trekking the internet state by state.
Type One: Physical (P)
A physical disability is a physical impairment, disease, or loss, which is of a permanent nature, and which substantially impairs normal physical ability or motor skills.
Type Two: Developmental (D)
A developmental disability is a disability which originates before the age of 18 years, and results in or has resulted in impairment similar to that caused by mental retardation, and which requires services similar to those required by mentally retarded persons, and which is attributable to mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, or other condi-
tions or similar disorders.
Type Three: Visual (V)
A visual disability is a disability resulting in complete absence of vision, or vision that with corrective glasses is so defective as to prevent performance of tasks or activities for which eyesight is essential.
Type Four: Hearing (H)
A hearing disability is a disability resulting in complete absence of hearing, or hearing that with sound enhancing or magnifying equipment is so impaired as to require the use of sensory input other than hearing as the principal means of receiving spoken language.
Type Five: Mental (M)
A mental disability is an emotional or psychological impairment or disease, which substantially impairs the ability to meet individual or societal needs.
Classifications of Disabilities
Class 1
A Class 1 disability is any type of disability which does not render a person unable to engage in any substantially gainful activity, or which does not impair the person’s ability to live independently or to perform labor or services for which he/she is qualified.
Class 1a
A Class 1a disability is a Class 1 disability which renders a person unable to walk 200 feet or more unassisted by another person or without the aid of a walker, crutches, braces, prosthetic device or a wheelchair, or without great difficulty or discomfort due to the following impairments:neurologic, orthopedic, respiratory, cardiac, arthritic disorder, or the loss of function or absence of a limb or limbs.
Class 2
A Class 2 disability is any type of disability which renders a person unable to engage in any substantially gainful activity, or which substantially impairs the person’s ability to live independently without supervision or in-home support services, or which substantially impairs the person’s ability to perform labor or services for which he/she is qualified or significantly restricts the labor or services which he/she is able to perform.
Class 2a
A Class 2a disability is a Class 2 disability which renders a person unable to walk 200 feet or more unassisted by another person or without the aid of a walker, crutches, braces, prosthetic device or a wheelchair, or without great difficulty or discomfort due to the following impairments:neurologic, orthopedic, respiratory, cardiac, arthritic disorder, blindness, or the loss of function or absence of a limb or limbs.
Printed by authority of the State of Illinois.November 2006 — 20M — DSD X 164.2
Seems to me a PDM2a would have some problems. Note a blind person is a 2a. Perhaps DP's should have to wear this ID in a manner that is readily visible or at least when they park in a DP spot.
Can a PDM2a hunt? Is he/she restricted as to what is fair game? Would you want an M2a to hunt? Is a P2a more disabled that a D2a or a M2a or a V2a?
What is the punishment for a P2a who climbs a ladder? If a PM2a climbs a ladder would that be OK? One would expect a PM2a to climb a ladder or better yet ride a motorcycle.
People, let's respect those with disabilities and let them be the judge as to what they should do and not do for you do not know what thier card says nor should you ask nor should they have to tell.
Beware of the PMD2a's!
* This post was
edited 05/17/08 08:08am by an administrator/moderator *
I wish I were closer as well Larry because I would welcome the chance to work with you on accessibility issues.
I certainly agree that we can certainly disagree on some issues but it sounds like when all is said and done, we would still be "on the same page".
I was building accessible vehicles long before my daughter came along so it wasn't her condition that made me an advocate for the disabled.
I commend the disabled that have met the challenges that this world places before you and am still committed to do whatever I can to contribute and, if possible, make the wrongs I see into rights.
God bless, Larry and I would be honored to meet you some day.
Steve
2007 Springdale 291RKL
2003 F150 King Ranch
2001 Dodge Van w/Wheelchair Ramp
1991 Palomino Mustang PUP
Eureka Timberline Tent
Yamaha IF2400isc
Yamaha EF3000iSEBC "Politically Incorrect And Proud Of It"
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