Ohio issuing more handicapped-parking tags

[Guest guest]

Ohio issuing more handicapped-parking tags

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1202117

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By Horton

The blue-and-white placard hanging from the rearview mirror allows

Elsie Danevich to park in those close-to-the-front-door spaces

reserved for people with disabilities. She rarely ends up there,

though.

The reason? Danevich, a wheel chair user from Elyria, seldom finds an

open spot.

Competition for handicapped parking has increased dramatically in the

past few years. Between 2000 and 2006, the last full year of

available data, the number of placards assigned annually by the Ohio

Bureau of Motor Vehicles increased by more than 80 percent.

Nearly half of the more than 800,000 individuals with active placards

possess multiple copies, according to BMV records. More than 3,500

users possess five or more placards; 16 hold 10 or more.

Currently, more than 1.2 million placards -- or roughly one for every

10 Ohioans -- dangle in circulation.

" There aren't that many more people disabled, " said Danevich, 62, who

is paralyzed from the waist down and is program director at Lorain

County's Doris Brennan Center for Disability Education and Advocacy.

" There are just more people who realize they can qualify for a

placard. "

Many in the disability community say the system requires tightening

in order to stifle abuse and misuse of placards. There's growing

belief that numerous people use the parking permit more as a

convenience than a necessity.

Terry Tyna said he routinely sees people hop out of vehicles with

disability placards and proceed into a Wal-Mart with three acres of

shopping space. Tyna, 56, of Valley View, is president of the Buckeye

Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America.

" If you're going to walk and shop in a place like that, you can park

another 20 feet away, " said Tyna, a wheelchair user who also has

trouble finding parking spots.

Letters on the issue arrive regularly at New Mobility, a magazine for

active-lifestyle wheelchair users. The publication's editor, Tim

Gilmer, said he believes the definition of disability " has loosened

up so much " that placards end up in the hands of too many people.

Ohio law defines who's eligible for the placards. People qualify if

they cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest; cannot move about

without the aid of a device such as a wheelchair, prosthetic or cane;

or have limited mobility due to arthritic, neurological or orthopedic

conditions.

The benefit also extends to people inflicted with lung disease or

cardiac conditions that limit physical activity; those who use

portable oxygen; and the blind.

A physician, chiropractor or advanced practice nurse must prescribe a

placard for it to be issued for up to five years.

A spokeswoman for the Ohio BMV said the state does not question

medical orders: " If a physician writes a prescription, the person's

going to get a placard, " Ehrhart said.

The BMV attributes the rise in placards to Ohio's aging population

and more requests for duplicates. People often seek extra placards to

leave in multiple vehicles, including those of family members who

routinely drive them places, Ehrhart said.

Nothing about the increase between 2000 and 2006 " raised red flags "

within the agency, she said.

Reviewing handicapped parking laws looms as a top objective this year

for the Governor's Council on People with Disabilities, said

Fernandez-Mote, chairwoman of the advisory organization. The rise in

placards will be discussed during the process.

It's difficult to judge a person's need for a placard, given " hidden

disabilities " such as lung or heart conditions, Fernandez-Mote said.

But given the growing numbers, there are calls for more stringent

assessments by doctors before signing off on applicants.

Every placard in circulation also increases the odds of illegal use

of handicapped parking by able-bodied people.

" We don't want to deny individuals who truly need them from getting

them, but there is concern " that the system is being exploited,

Fernandez-Mote said.

Meanwhile, people like Danevich, Tyna and make do.

, 64, of Elyria, said her van usually ends up in the far

reaches of a parking lot, taking up two spaces to allow room to use

the side-loading wheelchair lift. Then she rolls across the pavement,

passes the filled handicapped-parking spots and enters the store.

" It's no use to get mad about it, " said. " You just hope the

people using them really need them. "

[Guest guest]

Gretchen,

These kind of sound bite articles exemplify why most professional writers should

be executed. Nothing to write, do a handicapped story. In truth the overwhelming

majority of those who get a placard need it. While I can get out of the car and

walk to the store, if I do get out of the car and walk from the back of the lot

I'm not going to be shopping very long, my legs will quit before I get to the

cash register. Instead of whining about cheaters why not cite the lack of spaces

available as the number of them is not increasing at the rate that babyboomers

are entering their late 50's.

Ed

[Guest guest]

I agree with Ed. Years ago, it seemed that there were always lots of spaces

available. Now it's difficult to find a handicapped spot (in Southern CA).

This is just one of many issues that we will be facing as baby-boomers age. It

would be great if the real issue could be addressed, i.e. legislators increasing

the number of parking spots needed to accommodate this new situation.