Two Years Remaining On Disabled Placard
I got this disabled placard in May 2008, after three months in the hospital, following a massive hemorrhagic stroke. Â At the time I still couldn’t move much of my left hand & arm but I was still getting back function so I was hopeful that by the time the permit expired I wouldn’t qualify for a renewal. Â I have better stability now, I walk around the house often without my cane and sometimes without wearing my leg brace. But it is now clear to me that I’ve reached a plateau in my recovery, I’m permanently disabled.
When I registered my car two month later, in July 2008, they asked me if I wanted disabled plates. Â I said no since I had the placard and I had every plan to not need the permanence of disabled plates. Â When I renew my plates in July 2012 I will switch to disabled plates so I no longer have to remember to hang the placard when I park somewhere, driving with it hanging is illegal.
No doubt you’ve seen someone that doesn’t appear disabled using a permanent disabled placard. Â Who qualifies for one?
Section 301.142.1 RSMo defines “physical disability” as listed below::
- The person cannot ambulate or walk 50 feet without stopping to rest due to a severe and disabling arthritic, neurological, orthopedic condition, or other severe and disabling condition.
- The person cannot ambulate or walk without the use of, or assistance from, a brace, cane, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or other assistive device.
- The person is restricted by a respiratory or other 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 60 mm/hg on room air at rest.
- The person uses portable oxygen.
- The person 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 the standards set by the American Heart Association.
- The person is blind as defined in Section 8.700, RSMo.
For a while 50 feet was a long walk for me but it is #2, above, that will always apply to me.
If I live as long as my dad did, 78, that means I’ll have 35 more years as a disabled person. Â That is rather hard to comprehend as it has only been 25 years since I graduated from high school.
Despite my disabilities, I love my life. Â I don’t want pity. I know so many people, able-bodied & disabled, have far worse issues to deal with. My life is charmed in comparison.
– Steve Patterson
I never knew the exact, legal threshold, and this is interesting. While 1, 3 and 5 seem to be scientifically based, the others seem more based in politics and/or open to creative interpretation. While many who qualify under 2, like you, benefit from closer parking, there are amputees out there competing in marathons using prosthetic limbs. In many cases, portable oxygen (4) isn't that much different than eyeglasses or hearing aids – used properly, it allows people to live nearly-normal lives. And 6 is included (hopefully) not for drivers, but for their passengers. And for all categories, it's always interesting to see how well the disabled navigate inside some of their destinations, whether it's Harrah's, WalMart or a mall.
Bottom line, like any other regulation or benefit, there will be people who are considerate, using it sparingly, people who really need it, and people who abuse it, sometimes blatantly. And as long as placards are issued for patients who don't (or shouldn't) drive, the temptation will be great to use the benefit even if the patient isn't along, especially if parking is limited. Unfortunately, no one can legislate consideration, and as the/us boomers continue to age, and the demand/need for accessible parking increases, it'll be interesting to see if we'll have enough designated spaces available . . .
I often end up parking farther away from an entrance because the wider space with curb ranp is at the end of a run of spaces. True, other times I get prime spots. I'd say it is 50/50.
While my wife was pregnant, I thought that there should be eligibility for her to get a disabled mirror hanger. I'm not aware that anything like this exists (let me know if there is). But I think that's a legitimate disability. Considering the fact that when she was pregnant she had to park long distances at work (even in the winter time), and they would not let her park closer unless she had a disabled tag. I know some business have “Expecting Mother's Parking”, but it is not standard everywhere like disabled parking is. Perhaps it should be, or there should be a tag for pregnant women…
Steve, your pragmatic acceptance of “what is” inspires me.
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