Respiratory Conditions and DMV Parking Permits in California

Qualifying Diseases / Conditions / DMV Handicap Permits: Respiratory Conditions / Lung Diseases and DMV Handicap Permits in California

When you have respiratory disease, it can make it difficult to do routine tasks that other people may not think anything about at all. Take parking your vehicle in a public parking lot for example. If you have to walk very far in order to get inside the building, you may find it extremely difficult to cover that distance without becoming extremely short of breath. Depending on the severity of your condition, it might not be possible to walk long distances. Even if it is physically possible to do so, you could be putting a significant amount of undue strain on your body if you are becoming extremely short of breath. This can cause other problems with your heart and your ability to think clearly. Therefore, you may qualify for a handicap parking permit depending on the type of respiratory disease that you might have and how severe your condition has become. 

Medical content reviewed by Dr Eric Jackson-Scott MD, Chief Medical Officer

Respiratory Diseases That May Qualify You for a Disabled Person Handicapped Parking Permit in California

There are a number of respiratory diseases that may potentially qualify you for a handicap parking permit. Some individuals with severe asthma qualify, as do those who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, more commonly known as COPD. By the same token, you might qualify for a sticker if you have other breathing issues such as scarring of the lungs, cancer that has affected your ability to breathe normally, or even issues with your cardiovascular system which has a direct impact on your lung function. At the end of the day, it will come down to whether or not your physician thinks that a handicap placard would be helpful for you in order to minimize the stress on your body and ensure that you are able to breathe as normally as possible. In most respiratory diseases, the individual in question may find it very difficult to get a full breath, even if they are sitting still. Any type of physical activity can make it even more difficult. In some cases, respiratory diseases can be successfully managed with medication, exercise and physical therapy, at least for a time. In these cases, it may be possible to continue on without a handicap parking sticker. In other cases, having that sticker could make all the difference in the world. As is the case with most types of chronic illnesses, it really comes down to how the disease that you are suffering from affects you and your ability to carry out day-to-day activities.

Mitigating Factors to be Considered When Applying for a Disability Sticker

Of course, there are also other factors that have to be considered when applying for a disabled sticker for a parking permit in California  due to a respiratory condition. One of the biggest mitigating factors is whether or not you are forced to use supplemental oxygen. If you are using it, it is much more likely that you will be granted a disability parking placard because you are already to the point where you need to utilize supplemental oxygen to walk. Of course, all of this will have to be documented by your physician so it is important to let him or her know that you are thinking about applying for a disability sticker so that the two of you can be on the same page when it comes to providing the needed documentation.

Your First Step Towards Getting a CA Handicapped Permit Online

Obviously, your first step is going to be getting diagnosed. If you haven't already done so, that is the thing that takes precedence over everything else. Aside from needing that information to apply for a handicap parking placard, it is imperative that you get a definitive diagnosis if you are having difficulty breathing. You need to know why you are experiencing these difficulties and what can potentially be done to treat the problem. Respiratory difficulties can be caused by a lot of different things. You may be experiencing difficulty breathing as the direct result of a respiratory condition, but it could also be due to a heart condition, cancer or any number of other issues that need to be addressed. You won't know what to do moving forward without knowing exactly what type of disease you have and what your treatment options are. From there, you will likely see a number of respiratory specialists. Over time, your team of doctors will put together a profile, completing documentation that is needed to apply for your handicap placard. It is also common for people to wonder how do I renew my handicap placard in California.

How to Apply for a Handicap Parking Placard

Obviously, the first thing you need to do to apply for a handicap parking placard is to gather the necessary documentation. The easiest way to accomplish it within the state of California is to visit their website which tells you which conditions may potentially qualify and why (https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv-virtual-office/dpp-application/). This will give you a roadmap concerning the type of documentation that you need to put together for your particular condition. In addition, you will have to fill out a Form 195 and submit that along with any required documentation (https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/file/application-for-disabled-person-placard-or-plates-reg-195-pdf/). By submitting all of this documentation together, you are minimizing any potential delays in getting your disability placard approved.  Our HandicapMD experts will fill in and sign the Medical Provider’s Form of your application REG 195.

At the end of the day, it really comes down to how your particular respiratory disease is affecting you. If you are still able to function normally even in the face of this disease, a disability placard may be unnecessary at this particular point in time. However, the situation is much different if you are using supplemental oxygen or you are genuinely struggling to breathe as the result of walking only a few feet. By working closely with our HandicapMD physiciann and any specialist that you are seeing, you can minimize the time it takes to apply for a disability placard and be approved. Each case is different, so it is important to include any and all relevant documentation the first time around. Otherwise, it could prolong an accurate decision on your request for your handicap parking permit.