Those with disabilities in the state of Wisconsin can rest assured that they can likely go about their errands without having to worry about walking further than they can easily go! This is due to the comprehensive disabled parking permit in the state. In parking lots all across Wisconsin, the handful of parking spaces nearest the entrances of most businesses and buildings have been set aside as specific disabled accommodations.

However, because these parking spaces are by their very nature limited in number, the state of Wisconsin does have a vested interest in ensuring that only those who need to use this service are able to access it. Therefore, in order to park in one of these spaces, you will need to apply for and receive a disabled parking permit from the state.

As long as you qualify, it shouldn’t be difficult to receive one of these permits! However, there are several steps you must go through before you are ready to go. Refer to this guide for a comprehensive overview of the steps required to get a Wisconsin disabled parking permit.

Speak to a Licensed Medical Professional

As it’s necessary to confirm the fact that you have a disability which qualifies you to use disabled accommodations before you do so, the state of Wisconsin requires you to speak with a doctor as part of the application process.

If your disability and life circumstances make it possible for you to go speak with a local doctor or personal physician, great! Download the application form for a disabled parking permit from the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles website. The second part of this form needs to be filled out by a medical professional. He or she will help you go through the list of qualifying criteria and discuss your options with you.

If, however, for any reason, you believe that you would rather complete the doctor visit from the comfort of your own home, you do have options! Video chatting with a doctor online is a safe, secure, and easy way to check this task off your to do list. In addition, after your call is complete, your finished application form will be mailed to the Department of Motor Vehicles in your name.

Make Sure You Qualify

The list of qualifying conditions for a Wisconsin disabled parking permit is printed in the second part of the application form. You may be eligible for one of these permits if:

  • You have any condition which significantly impedes your ability to walk with ease, without stopping to take a break, without hurting yourself or without falling;
  • You have a condition which requires that you use any form of portable oxygen;
  • You have a condition with impairs your ability to walk without using or requiring assistance from another person, a brace, a cane, a prosthetic, a crutch, a wheelchair, a walker, or any other kind of assistive device;
  • You have lung disease as defined by an expiratory forced volume that is less than one liter per second when properly measured by spirometrical measurements, or if your oxygen tension in your arteries is less than sixty millimeters of mercury when you are breathing room temperature air when you are resting;
  • You have heart disease or another cardiac condition as defined by the American Heart Association as functionally limiting you up to a Class III or Class IV level; or
  • You have an arthritic, orthopedic, or neurologic condition which makes it extremely difficult for you to walk.

If you have another condition which makes it difficult for you to walk or drive safely such as blindness, dementia, or deafness, make your case on the form, citing as many reasons as possible why you should be eligible.

If you are requesting a disabled parking permit due to conditions relating to pregnancy, please apply for a temporary disabled parking permit and cite your expected due date as the date of parking permit expiration.

Send the Completed Form In

Once the form is completed — the first part by you, the second part by your physician — please mail it to the address listed at the bottom of the form. If you spoke with a doctor in person, you will be responsible for mailing this in yourself. If you video chatted with a licensed medical professional, rest easy! This part of the proceedings has been taken care of for you.

Wait to Receive Your Permit

Before you begin to enjoy any of the amenities associated with your disabled parking permit, it’s important that you wait to receive it in the mail. Your permit will arrive with either parking placards or a license plate that will mark your vehicle as legally allowed to park in those spots. Doing so without such a representation of this permission may leave you liable for disciplinary action.

Use Your Permit Appropriately

Perhaps the most important rule to observe when using your permit is that your placards should only be posted in your vehicle when the vehicle is not in motion. Your placards are made to be hung from the rear-view mirror in the front of your car when you have already parked in a disabled parking space. Please make a habit of removing the placards before you drive away, as having a large swinging object in the front of your car when you are driving is very dangerous and highly illegal.

Having a disabled parking permit in the state of Wisconsin can help you navigate public parking areas both inside the state and out of it! In order to get this permission, though, you do have to go through several application steps, including speaking with a licensed medical professional to confirm your condition and mailing a form in to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Once you complete these steps, however, your life will be much easier, because you will be able to go about your day to day life without having to worry about walking further than you safely can.