Taking Multi-Vitamins

Autism Community Connection=

Autismcc Yahoo Group Responds!

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Topic: Handicapped Placards

One of our parents expressed the need for a handicapped placard based on her son’s ability to walk safely through a parking lot. She was denied the placard. Many parents offered their own experiences and suggestions.

Lee wrote,

There are new "definitions" for the issuance of the placards.  Be sure NO= T to use only the 200 feet thing, because that has  been changed. But, do stress the danger of them just walking  into traffic. I personally know two children that died being hit by a vehicle. Tragic. They need to know this.

Here is the part about qualif= ying disabilities now. It seems to me that you should still be able to qua= lify with the unable to walk ANY distance safely without the assistance of another person and the last one, limited due to a neurological condit= ion.  --- As recommended, too, contact your legislator for help. They need to know this need.  Lee

Qualifying Disabilities

The requirements for qualifyi= ng for a disabled placard or license plate have recently been tightened. ̷= 2;To qualify as disabled, it used to be considered sufficient to be unable to walk 200 feet without stopping to res= t. Now that limitation must be connected to one of the following debilitating conditions:

. Cannot walk without the assistance of another person, prosthet= ic device, wheelchair, or other assistive device.

. Be restricted by = lung disease to such a degree that forced (respiratory) expiratory volume (FEV) = in one second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one liter.=

. Must use portable oxygen.

. Have a Class III = or Class IV cardiac condition according to standards set by the American Heart Association.

. Be severely limited in the ability to wa= lk due to an arthritic, neurological<= /b>, or orthopedic condition.<= /o:p>

http://www.dmv.org/il-illinois/di= sabled-drivers.php

=

Laurie commented,

Yes, absolutely we must stress the safety aspects especially as our kids get bigger and physically too heavy to carry that magic 200 ft. distance. Even when mine was little, the issue was= not that she COULDN'T physically walk 200 ft. it was that she had such huge transitioning and sensory issues that she would simply not be able to walk without another person's 'assistance' or without me trying to carry a whirl= ing dervish through a crowded parking lot or busy street

along with her infant brother who a= lso needed to be carried.

Julie said,

I read that if you have a child diagnosed with autism, you can receive a disabled placard. This is NOT the case. I filled out the form and waited two weeks to hear from someone. I ne= ver did hear or was never sent a letter of denial. I called down to Springfield= and was told my son didn't qualify and was denied due to the fact that his walk= ing wasn't a problem (although my sons doctor filled in the form and put his walking problem as part of his diagnosis.) I need the placard and the office won't give it to me..They told me that just because he was diagnosed with autism doesn't mean he automatically qualifies. I wanted to share this info with all of you who are planning or have planned to get the placard. Call a= head to Springfield before hand and check it out first. I thought this wouldn't = be a problem but it is now for me.

Ellen suggested,<= /p>
You might try a diagnosis of neuromuscular disorder if your physician is willing to do that. It is certainly accurate. Autism is just not readily associa= ted with a physical component though we probably all know a child or two who collapses and has such a severe movement disorder component that it does require special accommodations. Alternatively you could attempt to educate the bureaucrats about the wide array of symptoms associated with an autism spectrum disorder if you a= re up to the challenge.

Eric stated,

While I have never pursued this for= my kids, my understanding is that you want to stress the safety issues and not= any mobility issues. Stress that = your child does not understand the danger of cars and will bolt right across the drive aisle so the closer you are, the better.

Sherelle replied,=

I was surprised to read about the d= ifficulty in getting the placard. My so= n is a runner who is diagnosed with MR and autism. I have to hold his hand constantly= when we are out or he may decide to bolt. The doctor completed the form stating that it was a safety risk and I received the placard without any problems.= Maybe it is all in how the doctor explains the situation. I would ask the doctor to complete= the form again.

Gloria said,

I had a handicapped placard when my daughter was young, based on the safety issue that she would just take off = and I am a severe asthmatic. I was afraid I either would not be fast enou= gh or would throw myself into an attack (which did happen). I filled the forms out and took them to my doctor to sign (we had previously discussed t= he need) and them mailed them myself. We no longer have it since bolting= is not an issue. I have been told that they have gotten stricter wi= th the regulations. As others have said, I would stress the safety issue= in parking lots, especially when you are also dealing with carts and perhaps o= ther kids.