If you have experienced a major medical event resulting in a permanent or temporary loss of mobility, you may be eligible for a disabled parking permit in the great state of Nebraska.

This could be a chronic condition affecting your balance, vision, respiration, or ability to walk. This could be a challenging pregnancy which is affecting your walking speeds, or where you have been ordered bed rest by your OBGYN. This could be pain from a surgery, procedure, or brought on by obesity.

If you suffer from any of those conditions or circumstances, you may be entitled to a disabled parking permit under Nebraska state law. Depending on the nature of the condition and how long it is expected to last, you could be issued either a temporary or a permanent disabled parking permit placard, which can be used any time you travel.

Because the program was designed with your comfort and safety in mind, you may use your placard when you drive or when you are a passenger, ensuring you can use handicap spots anywhere you go. Check with your Nebraska provider to see if a disabled parking permit could help keep you safe and comfortable in your daily life.

Does My Injury Entitle Me to NE Disabled Parking?

The rules laid down by the Department of Motor Vehicles in Nebraska regarding disabled parking are expansive and straightforward. If you have had an accident or are experiencing a temporary medical condition which hinders your mobility, you may be eligible for a temporary disabled parking permit placard. The guideline for issuing temporary disabled parking permits is that the patient will be injured for more than three weeks. If your projected healing time is more than three weeks, you should ask your provider about a temporary placard.

Common conditions resulting in a disabled parking permit being granted are as follows.

  • Broken bones, sprains or tendon problems
  • Pneumonia, bronchitis, or severe respiratory issues
  • Surgery or invasive procedures with a healing time of more than three weeks
  • Pregnancy or postpartum pain
  • Severe vision impairment including cataracts
  • Illness affecting balance

There is no master list of conditions or injuries that entitles you to a disabled parking permit. Talk to your provider about what you are experiencing and why you feel you need a permit.

If you are experiencing pain or difficulty when walking more than 200 feet relating to an injury or condition, you owe it to yourself to seek a disabled parking permit. The many handicap spaces in communities all over Nebraska are there for your comfort and your safety. Particularly in snowy weather, mobility issues, even slight ones, can be very dangerous for you.

Does Obesity Qualify as a Disability?

Like many states, the state of Nebraska often issues disabled parking permits for obesity. If your obesity inhibits your ability to walk or causes difficulty breathing, you may be eligible for a disabled parking permit placard. You must stay safe and comfortable in your community, and disabled parking spaces in and around town are there for you.

Obesity can be not only painful, but can make walking a challenge, and can affect balance and speed when crossing streets. In icy or wet conditions, parking lots can be very dangerous for those of you experiencing balance issues.

If you feel your mobility is limited by your obesity, be sure to ask your provider about a disabled parking permit placard, to ensure your comfort and safety.

Does My Chronic Condition Qualify for Nebraska Disabled Parking?

The Cornhusker state is intentionally open-ended about the guidelines for issuing disabled parking permits. This decision is up to your provider, not the Department of Motor Vehicles. That said, there are some major guidelines recognized by providers across the state of Nebraska. An impairment in any of the following categories is generally indicative of eligibility.

  • Ability to walk including speed, pain level, and gait
  • Vision impairment
  • Balance or the need for an ambulatory device such as a walker, cane or brace
  • Breathing difficulty brought on by exercise or the need for supplemental oxygen

If you feel that your comfort or safety is affected by your physical condition, or that you would benefit from a disabled parking permit, there is a good chance your provider will agree with you. The following are some common conditions that qualify for a disabled parking permit placard in the state of Nebraska.

  • Partial or total loss of a limb
  • Seizures, dizziness, loss of balance, muscle spasms or sudden loss of muscle tone
  • Blurry vision, partial or total blindness
  • Use of or reliance on ambulation devices such as a walker, wheelchair, brace or cane
  • Emphysema, Bronchitis, COPD, or reliance on a supplemental oxygen tank
  • Stroke, heart attack, pacemaker, or other major cardiac condition
  • Pain or difficulty when walking more than 200 feet

If one of these describes your physical condition, or you feel that you would benefit from a disabled parking permit, chances are, your provider will agree with you. Talk openly and honestly with your provider about what you are feeling, what your difficulties are, and what your needs may be. Disabled parking permits exist to ensure the safety, comfort, and happiness of Nebraska residents.

Handicap Parking in Nebraska

Nebraska state parking permit regulations are open-ended and all-inclusive. If you are experiencing temporary impairment or have a chronic condition, you may be eligible for a disabled parking permit placard in the state of Nebraska. Most medical providers, including your primary care team and specialists who treat you for chronic conditions, can provide the documentation you need.

The Nebraska Motor Vehicle Department accepts physician signed certificate online and sends your disabled parking permit placards and license plates through the U.S mail, right to your door. Temporary placards are valid for six months, after which you will need to have a new examination and apply again. Permanent placards are just that, permanent, but must be renewed online every five years. Placards are always free, but the license plates will cost you the same as any other license plate renewal.

Your placard is for use in your vehicle, or the vehicle of a loved one if you are driving or are a passenger at the time of use. Failure to display the placard while parking could result in a fine, and your placard being revoked.

If you experience difficulty walking for any reason, you should consider getting yourself a disabled parking permit. These permits are to safeguard you and keep you comfortable. Ask your Nebraska provider today.