Really? You’re going to park there??

Print

Some readers may be familiar with a recent news story out of the United States involving a war vet, a disabled parking placard and a skeptical onlooker. The vet and his wife had parked their car, with a disabled parking placard properly displayed, in a stall designated for those with a disability. When the couple returned to their car they found it had been vandalized and a note stuffed under the windshield indicating that the vet appeared to be "too mobile" to rightfully utilize a disabled parking permit. The matter is now being investigated by police.

For many disabled individuals, including those with a so-called hidden or invisible disability, disabled parking permits or placards are a crucial step towards increased mobility and independence. Understanding a little bit about the intent of our parking permit program and the process involved may help to avoid situations like the one discussed above and help ensure the availability of designated parking spots for those affected by mobility challenges, whether readily apparent or not.

In Saskatchewan, the Program for People with Disabilities issues parking permits that allow individuals with specific mobility challenges to park in designated parking spots. Designated parking areas may provide extra space for lifts, wheelchairs and other mobility devices and are frequently located near points of entries to reduce distances that must be travelled.

Permits may be issued to eligible individuals regardless of whether they drive or even own a vehicle. This enables those individuals to utilize the placard when then are travelling with other people, such as a parent, spouse or friend. The standardized placard design used in Saskatchewan is recognized throughout the country.

Individuals applying for the parking permits must provide basic personal information about themselves and have a designated health care professional complete a section detailing the nature of the applicant's disability and verifying that they are generally unable to walk unassisted for more than 50 metres without great difficulty or danger to their health. Applications can be considered for those that have a short-term, temporary disability, such as a broken leg, a longer-term disability that may improve over time, perhaps due to surgery or treatment, or a permanent disability which will not improve within three years.

It is important to understand and appreciate that not all disabilities are visible. Many individuals face mobility challenges without any outward display of a disability, such as those suffering from cardiovascular disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OCPD). As one disabled individual, tired of being accosted for utilizing parking spots designated for those with disability, put it ... "When someone calls out that I don't look disabled, I simply respond that they don't look like a doctor either".

Of course the flip side of this is that there are some individuals that do abuse the program. Individuals who have been issued a temporary placard may continue to use it even when they have recovered to the point of no longer requiring it. Because the placards are designed to be easily transferred from vehicle to vehicle, there may be the temptation to use it even when the permit holder is not present. However, the consequences for abusing the program can be severe. Misuse of the parking permits can result in cancellation as well as refusal to re-issue a permit in the future. And individuals without any kind of placard who simply park in spots designated for the disabled because the spots are available or convenient are subject to a range of parking tickets, possibly without ever considering the grief this causes for legitimate vehicles.

Over time, some changes to the program have been designed to curb abuse while still ensuring permits are available to those in need. Permits now have an expiry date but can be renewed by individuals continuing to meet the eligibility criteria. For more information about the program, including links to printable online applications forms, visit www.abilitiescouncil.sk.ca. Application forms are also available at all branches of the Saskatchewan Abilities Council as well as SGI licence issuers.