Texas defines disabilities in terms of mobility or sight. An impairment in either of these qualifies you for a handicap placard. We’ve broken these categories to inform you of the specific conditions included.
- Temporary conditions lasting less than 6 months (if more time is needed, another application will need to be filled out)
- Permanent, chronic/lifetime condition
MOBILITY
Conditions affecting mobility are clearly defined as an inability to walk short distances without assistance (through devices or people). Texas requires an inability to walk 200 feet on your own for your condition to be considered a disability. This can be the inability to walk without a break or significant discomfort. There are two categories of loss of mobility in the case of handicap permits.
Conditions within impaired mobility include (not limited to):
- Lupus
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Obesity
- Asthma
- Arthritis (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid, gouty, etc.)
- Neurological diseases
- Fibromyalgia
- Parkinson’s
- Multiple sclerosis
- Foot conditions
- Serious injuries
Conditions affecting the use of arms and legs include (not limited to):
- Trauma – Leading to Amputation
- Infection
- Cancer
- Ataxia
These would indicate challenges in mobility without assistance. If you require the assistance of a person, crane, crutch, or other device, you qualify.
CARDIAC MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS
Conditions affecting cardiac functioning fit into four main categories, classes I, II, III, and IV, as the American Heart Association defines. To be classified as disabled, individuals must fit into Class III or IV and have significant limitations in participating in average physical activities (such as climbing stairs).
Conditions within this category include (not limited to):
- Heart Disease
- High Blood Pressure (HBP)
- Coronary artery disease
- Stroke
- Recurrent arrhythmias
OXYGENATION MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS
Conditions affecting breathing often limit an individual’s ability to walk more than 200 feet which challenges mobility. To be classified as having issues with breathing, the individual’s arterial oxygen needs to be less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest or use portable oxygen.
Conditions within this category include (not limited to):
- Asthma
- Emphysema
- Cystic fibrosis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Anemia
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
SIGHT
Conditions affecting sight are limited and highly defined.
The only condition which is considered a disability in this category is blindness.
To be considered legally blind and able to claim this in an application, corrected eyesight needs to be 20/200. This means the disabled person must be able to see at least 20 feet compared to the average person seeing 200 feet. In most cases, this placard would be used for passengers who need to park closer to avoid getting lost. It benefits an individual to receive the placard regardless of driving ability.
To see if you qualify, you can apply here for your Texas Handicap Placard and get approved same day.
