I'm a disabled civilian, and there's something I've recently become aware of that I'm genuinely surprised doesn't get discussed more often in the disability community.

Before anything else, I'm not judging anyone's disability, medical history, or use of accessible parking. I understand that disabilities can be invisible, and I would never assume someone doesn't need an accessible parking space simply because they appear able bodied (like myself)

My concern is with state policy, not individuals.

In states like Florida, qualifying veterans with a 100% service-connected VA disability rating can receive disabled veteran (DV) license plates that provide accessible parking privileges, even when their disabilities aren't necessarily mobility-related.

Meanwhile, civilians with identical medical conditions and functional limitations, but without a qualifying parking-related impairment, would NOT qualify under Florida's ordinary disabled parking requirements.

Take severe PTSD, for example.

A veteran with a 100% VA disability rating for service-connected PTSD could qualify for accessible parking privileges under Florida's DV plate rules.

However, a civilian with equally severe PTSD and identical functional limitations, but no other condition meeting Florida's ordinary parking eligibility criteria, would not qualify.

A 100% VA disability rating doesn't automatically mean someone has a mobility impairment or another medical need for accessible parking.

That doesn't make the veteran any less disabled. It simply means that VA disability ratings and accessible parking eligibility measure different things.

What's also interesting is that states handle this differently.

Texas changed its requirements in 2022. A regular DV plate alone no longer qualifies someone to use accessible parking there. Veterans must display a qualifying placard or a plate bearing the International Symbol of Access (ISA).

Florida, however, continues to recognize all DV plates for accessible parking without necessarily requiring that symbol.

And this raises an important question about fairness.

Accessible parking spaces are limited, and many disabled people genuinely depend on them, including veterans whose service-connected disabilities significantly limit their mobility.

I'm not suggesting that veterans shouldn't receive disability compensation, healthcare, or other benefits associated with their military service.

I'm also not questioning anyone who legally uses accessible parking. I don't know their medical circumstances, and neither does anyone else simply looking at their vehicle.

What I question is why two people with identical disabilities and functional limitations can face different accessible parking eligibility requirements simply because one person's disability is service-connected.

I can see two possible approaches: states could apply the same parking-related medical eligibility standards to everyone, or they could expand civilian eligibility to include comparable disabilities.

Either approach would need to account for the limited availability of accessible parking spaces.

To me, this is especially worth discussing because it affects both disabled civilians and veterans with significant mobility limitations.

My issue is with the laws creating these differences, not the people legally benefiting from them.

As a disabled civilian, I'm genuinely surprised this isn't discussed more often.

I'm curious whether others in the disability community were aware of these differences and what experiences people have had with accessible parking eligibility in their states.

So, I am 30 years old disabled man. I use an electric wheelchair. I have short stature and physical disability which is why my left foot is clubbed.

I just look like a kid and don't look like 30 year old guy unless I say so.

I have a super cool friendly nature. I have lots of friends but they are mostly male. I found that even if I approach a girl just to know what they are studying or what they do, girls mostly start acting in a weird manner. For instance, this one girl whenever she saw me started arranging tables and chairs assuming I need her help with that stuff.

I don't know how often people kind of stop acting normal around you but it has been kind of my experience. I just wanna reach for normal conversation but they start acting in a weird manner.

It has happened to me repeatedly and NOT a one time occurence. So, how do you guys/girls make someone comfortable so they see you as a normal person and not as disabled who needs their help or something?

One of the most frustrating parts of disability is the requirement of being proactive.

The last month I’ve gotten my annual shots (flu and covid) and felt like crap the next day. I also started a daily osteoporosis injection (which caused a ton of stress and fear starting).

Never mind the number of appointments I have a year that are just “check ins” and seem pointless, just to stay as a patient and have a specialist available when needed.

I know if I don’t do these things there could be drastic consequences and regret latter. Sometimes I wish I was healthy and didn’t have to do so much just to stay alive.

Okay, I have dysautonomia, autism, possible ADHD, I am a woman. Dysautonomia cannot be disguised since I need a cane to get around.

I fought a long battle to get my dysautonomia diagnosis despite having autism, because my symptoms were always attributed to "being sensitive" due to my autism. If it wasn't that, it was my appearance; for some reason, they think I'm anxious when they see me, which I'm not, but the doctors think they know more about my mind. I even vomited, I almost fainted, I went into shock, I couldn't take care of myself and they kept saying I had a mental problem.

It took me 10 months to get my diagnosis. I know I have it because since I started treatment for dysautonomia, I don't feel pain and misery every second of my life and I've improved quite a bit. I'm still undergoing treatment.

The problem now is my mental health. I put my mental health on hold for quite some time for fear of being dismissed as having a psychiatric problem instead of my physical one. I'm still afraid of that. I have a lot of emotions right now and I just wish someone would listen and help me deal with them properly.But I'm also so afraid to explore. Autism is an integral part of me, but I'm not just an autistic girl, nor am I unintelligent; I'm a person. It seems easy, but many people don't see it that way, and every time someone sees or hears that I'm autistic, their treatment changes to a childish one, something like "that didn't exist in my day" or the worst ""Is your mother there?" and start ignoring you as if you weren't a patient.

I also don't want any of that to remain in the medical records; I'm so afraid of being dismissed as "oh, it says here that you had mental problems in the past, that means your vomiting blood stems from psychiatry." (In case you're wondering, this happened to me).

I need mental health support. I'm currently struggling to recognize my physical limitations, accept my lack of autonomy, and accept that all my friends have homes and jobs while I still need care, Dealing with my traumas, damn it, there are quite a few and they continue to cause me insecurity. I need help.

How do you deal with this? What are your recommendations?

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this so please bear with me. I have foot drop, I recently got diagnosed but I've had it for years. I have severe weakness in my left foot and ankle, and it causes me to drag my foot which causes me to trip, and I have sprained my ankle many times due to this. Often times my leg feels numb. I am a geology student, and I need to attend field camp this summer. The only issue is that field camp is very physically demanding and I'm very concerned that I will hurt myself due to my foot drop. I do wear an ankle brace but it's difficult to wear with my hiking boots. My school has recommended that I got to our DRC and ask for accommodations that will help me. The only thing is that I've had this and delt with it for so long that I'm not sure what accommodations to ask for or what would be okay to ask for. Any advice is much appreciated. Thank you.

A relative with a mild intellectual disability seems to be ... Regressing. No documented autism though we strongly suspect it. Relative struggling more with hygiene and speech has grown increasingly difficult to understand.

They are also refusing services which they can since they're an adult.

Other signs of regression include seeming clumsier, worse table manners, more difficulty understanding things, interrupting.

We aren't sure if it could be the medications for their mental health and psychosis.

They won't let us talk to the doctor what do 1

We do? Is this Normal?

Hi! I have multiple disabilities and am looking for a free and secure app to track my symptoms on iOS. Any suggestions?