As a disabled person who uses a wheelchair, every trip outside my home is currently a gamble. I don’t get to trust that my community is open to me. I don’t get to assume I can run errands, attend events, or meet friends. A lack of accessible parking means I might arrive but never get inside. It means sometimes watching life happen from my van, turning around, and going home. It means knowing that, no matter how much I fight to be included, my place in the world is always conditional - if, and only if, there’s a space for me. 

Non-disabled drivers, rampant placard fraud, construction disruptions, and blocked access aisles exacerbate the issue. However, the root of the problem lies in the outdated Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, which fail to meet the growing need for accessible parking. These standards, last updated in 2010, require only 1 in 25 spaces to be accessible for smaller lots, dropping to a mere 2% for larger ones. 

United Spinal is calling for a revision of the ADA-accessible parking minimum standards. The current standards do not meet the genuine needs of wheelchair users, the broader disability community, and the aging population.

We advocate for the following revisions:

• Raising the minimum standard of accessible spaces to 10% of a parking lot across all lot sizes, matching the national average of 9.66 disabled placards and plates for every 100 registered vehicles.
• Raising the minimum standard of van-accessible spaces to 2% of a parking lot across all lot sizes.

These changes correspond with the demand and ensure that those who need this resource can actually use it.

The world should not just include us if there is a space; we should be a part of it - unconditionally. We urge a revision in the ADA standards for accessible parking to demonstrate a commitment to equality and inclusivity for seniors and those with disabilities. 

We need everyone, including those without disabilities, to advocate for the fundamental right for everyone to engage in life with dignity. Together, we have the power to pressure a removal of an easily fixable barrier which will significantly improve the lives and increase the freedom of 10% of our population.

Please sign and share this petition to support our call for equitable access to parking for all.

For in-depth information on accessible parking, please download the United Spinal Accessible Parking Guide here. It includes key terms, different types of accessible parking spaces, and covers the process of obtaining and using an accessible parking permit as well as delves into important aspects like accessible parking etiquette, public education initiatives for various stakeholders, and strategies for enforcing accessible parking regulations and preventing fraud.