ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 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.<\/p>\n
Supporters, including Rep. Fiona McFarland (R-District 37), say the law addresses real challenges for expectant mothers. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs someone who was pregnant in the Florida hot summer, I struggled as I sweat and waddled across a parking lot nine months pregnant,\u201d McFarland said. \u201cRather than complain about a problem without a solution, I realized I had the power to help women like me.\u201d<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Jose Lazarin says, \u201cPretty much every day,\u201d who uses a wheelchair after a workplace fall. <\/p>\n
Amanda Perla, injured in a 2007 car crash, added, \u201cIt can actually become a scary situation because I\u2019ve almost been hit several times in parking lots.\u201d<\/p>\n
Accessible parking spaces aren\u2019t just about proximity\u2014they provide extra room for ramps and mobility devices. \u201cWhat a lot of people don\u2019t realize is it\u2019s not the convenience of being closer. It\u2019s about having the extra space,\u201d Perla explained.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t approve,\u201d said Laura Engstrom. \u201cPregnant women need exercise and movement.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the federal lawsuit, \u201cThere 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.\u201d <\/p>\n
For now, the law stands, and the debate continues: Should pregnancy qualify for the same parking privileges as disability?<\/p>\n
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