ORLANDO, Fla. – Starting in July, any pregnant woman in Florida can apply for a handicap parking permit valid for up to one year. The change comes as part of a sweeping transportation bill that passed unanimously in the state legislature.
Supporters, including Rep. Fiona McFarland (R-District 37), say the law addresses real challenges for expectant mothers.
“As someone who was pregnant in the Florida hot summer, I struggled as I sweat and waddled across a parking lot nine months pregnant,” McFarland said. “Rather than complain about a problem without a solution, I realized I had the power to help women like me.”
But disability advocates warn the move could make an already difficult situation worse. At Next Step Rehabilitation in Orlando, patients told us lawmakers probably never consulted those most affected.
Jose Lazarin says, “Pretty much every day,” who uses a wheelchair after a workplace fall.
Amanda Perla, injured in a 2007 car crash, added, “It can actually become a scary situation because I’ve almost been hit several times in parking lots.”
Accessible parking spaces aren’t just about proximity—they provide extra room for ramps and mobility devices. “What a lot of people don’t realize is it’s not the convenience of being closer. It’s about having the extra space,” Perla explained.
Critics argue the law prioritizes convenience over necessity. A Leon County woman is suing the state, claiming that while 7% of Floridians are disabled, only 2% of parking spots meet accessibility standards.
“I don’t approve,” said Laura Engstrom. “Pregnant women need exercise and movement.”
According to the federal lawsuit, “There are approximately 225,000 live births per year. As such, there could be at least a twenty percent increase in the number of placards issued that are eligible to use parking spaces for people with disabilities.”
For now, the law stands, and the debate continues: Should pregnancy qualify for the same parking privileges as disability?
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