My disability exists not because I use a wheelchair, but because the broader environment isn't accessible.
— Comedian Stella Young
I am a member of several Facebook groups for residents of Sherwood. A couple of weeks ago there was a post from a fella about van-accessible handicap parking at a local store.
It seemed that spots marked van accessible were being taken by people not driving vans or who didn't have a "van accessible" parking decal. But a handicapped person who drives a van doesn't always need to use a van-accessible spot.
Back at the first of the year, I remember a conversation about this topic on an online neighborhood chat page. I wrote about the problem in this column at the time because there was a lot of confusion then. There is still confusion now.
I went to a very reliable source — the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. So, back in November 2017, van-accessible parking decals became available at revenue offices throughout the state. They came out of Act 799, "The Van Accessible Parking Act." The decal is used in addition to the existing license plates and hang tags for those with a disability. There is no fee, but a doctor's form, which can be found on the website, should be submitted to the revenue office.
The laws on the spots haven't changed. But since Jan. 1, their use is being enforced in hopes that the decals will allow law enforcement to confirm a vehicle in a van spot is parked legally.
In some lots, van spots are plentiful, in others, not so much. The Americans With Disabilities Act includes regulations on how many spots there should be per lot, based on how many spaces there are in the lot overall.
The decal legislation was created to help ensure that space is used by an authorized vehicle, allowing those using a mobility device the space they need to get in and out of their van. To be eligible for a decal, you must meet the requirements for a mobility device as defined by the law: a wheelchair, a three- or four-wheeled scooter, a four-wheeled walker with a seat, or a similar device.
I've not dealt with these spots since my surgery in 2015 when I had a temporary tag. I was able to hobble and hop, and we tooled around in my mother's car, which is not unusually tall or hard to access. Even so, it was hard to get in and out of the car. I can only imagine the frustration caused by realizing that you have no place to park because other drivers are abusing the parking lot.
I often see the spots being taken up by cars or trucks around Sherwood, especially at the library. I've toyed with the idea of putting a note on a car to alert the driver that this is a violation and the car could be ticketed if the police come by and have time to stop.
Under Act 1003 of 2017, the Arkansas General Assembly established a mechanism for a person to report the suspected misuse of a disabled license plate, placard or parking space to the Office of Motor Vehicle of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.
Complaints must be based on fact rather than suspicion. Not all disabilities are apparent and not every person with a disability uses a mobility device. Never confront any person you assume is abusing the program, and if you think the situation requires immediate attention, call the police non-emergency number.
A form is available online. You will need to make note of the license plate or disability placard number, vehicle make and model, date and time of misuse, county and location, and provide a brief description of the misuse or abuse. The authorities need your name and number, and you can take a photo of the miscreant car and upload it to the online form for good measure.
Until I had surgery and had to deal with this type of problem, it never dawned on me how important accessibility is in day-to-day life for everyone. Whether we are shopping, conducting business or having fun, we can't do it if we can't make it to where we need to be.
Handicap horror stories? Email me at:
rboggs@arkansasonline.com
Style on 08/26/2019