Illinois works hard to make the lives of its disabled residents and visitors as easy and hassle-free as possible. The state has an impressive, well-run, user-friendly disabled parking program and also allows its disabled residents to park in metered, on-street spaces.
Illinois divides disabilities into different types and classifications. This is intended to make sure that disabled people in Illinois get all the help they need in line with their specific disability. Today, we will discuss what is meant by a Class 2 disabled person in the state of Illinois.
Illinois Persons With Disabilities
In the state of Illinois, disabilities are divided into four different classifications, which deal with the details and severity of a person’s disability. The classifications of disability in Illinois are:
- Class 1
- Class 1A
- Class 2
- Class 2A
What Is A Class 2 Illinois Disabled Person?
In the state of Illinois, a Class 2 disabled person has “a disability that renders them unable to engage in any substantially gainful activity, or which substantially impairs their ability to live independently without supervision or in-home support services, or which substantially impairs their ability to perform labor or services for which they are qualified or significantly restricts the labor or services which they are able to perform”.
A Class 2A disabled person “has a Class 2 disability which renders them unable to walk 200 feet or more unassisted by another person or without the aid of a walker, crutches, braces, prosthetic device, or a wheelchair, or without great difficulty or discomfort due to the following impairments:
- Neurologic
- Orthopedic
- Respiratory
- Cardiac
- Arthritic disorder
- Blindness
- The loss of function or absence of a limb or limbs”.
What Is A Class 2 Disability Card From The Illinois Secretary Of State’s Office?
A Class 2 Disability Identification Card from the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office is a photo driver’s license or identification card that proves that its holder meets the Class 2 disability criteria under Illinois state law.
What Are The Illinois Disability Card Benefits?
The Person with a Disability Identification Card can be used for:
- Identification purposes
- As proof of disability
- As medical documentation of your disability
- Documenting medical information that would be relevant in an emergency
The Person with a Disability Identification Card can be used in the process of applying for:
- Disabled parking decal
- Special license plate
- Property tax exemption
- Reduced campsite fees at state parks
What Qualifies You For Disability In Illinois?
To qualify for a Disability Identification Card in Illinois, you need to have a consultation with one of the following:
- Licensed physician
- Physician’s assistant
- Advanced practice nurse
The medical professional will verify that you have a disability from one of the following five types:
- Physical
- Developmental
- Visual
- Hearing
- Mental
Disability Identification Cards in Illinois are free.
How Do You Apply For A Disabled Parking Permit In Illinois?
You can apply for a disabled parking permit in Illinois by submitting an application form to:
Secretary of State
Persons with Disabilities License Plates/Placard Unit
501 S. Second St., Rm. 541
Springfield, IL 62756
Applications for permanent permits must be mailed to the above address. Applications for a temporary permit can be mailed to the above address or taken in-person to any Secretary of State facility.
What Types Of Disabled Parking Permit Are Available In Illinois?
Illinois offers the following types of disabled parking permits:
- Permanent placard or license plate
- Meter-exempt permanent placard
- Temporary placard
- Organization placards
- Disabled Veterans license plate
What Are The Qualifying Conditions For An Illinois Disabled Parking Permit?
The full list of qualifying conditions for an Illinois disabled parking permit are:
- Lung disease to such a degree that the person’s forced (respiratory) expiratory volume is one second when measured by spirometry, is less than one liter.
- Use of a portable oxygen device
- Class III or Class IV cardiac condition according to the standards set by the American Heart Association
- An inability to walk without the assistance of a wheelchair, walker, crutch, brace, and other prosthetic device or without the assistance of another person
- Severe limitation in the ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological, oncological, or orthopedic condition
- An inability to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest because of one of the above five conditions
- Missing a hand or arm or has permanently lost the use of a hand or arm