Only selected disabled people granted discs

POLOKWANE – Only selected disabled people are granted disabled parking discs in the city.

This came to light when a mother applied for a disabled parking disc for her 16-year-old daughter who is cerebrally disabled. The woman applied at Centenary House in Penina Park.

The mother claimed that a social worker at the home explained to her that her daughter did not qualify for a disc because she did not drive a vehicle.

“I explained to the social worker that we need the disc because when we go to town or the mall we are not allowed to park in the disabled parking space as we do not have a disc.

“It is a problem for my daughter to get out of a vehicle in a normal parking space. The social worker told me to leave my daughter at home when I go shopping.

“Because we could not get a disc from Centenary House, we eventually bought a disc at a stationery store, but a law enforcement officer said the disc was not valid and we were still not allowed to park in any disabled parking area,” the mother said.

The mother was due to appear before the Disabled Parking Disc Panel on Friday, where she could argue why she should be granted a disc, but the meeting was postponed to May 21, due to the Easter holiday.

Association for Persons with Disabilities (APD) public awareness and educational officer, Johnny Graham, confirmed that the mother would meet with the panel to state her case.

“There was a misunder-standing between the mother and the social worker, and we do apologise for the miscommunication. The law states that a disabled person who drives a vehicle is entitled to a disabled parking disc, but the law does not entitle people with disabilities who are passengers in a vehicle to a disc.

“The National Council for Persons with Disabilities is currently looking into the matter to change this law so that people with disabilities who are not drivers also get discs,” Graham said.

Graham could not say whether the mother would be granted a parking disc or not.

“The panel will decide whether a disc will be issued or not. There are three panel members, a representative from the traffic department, a social worker and an occupational therapist. The disabled parking disc is issued to a person and not a specific vehicle, and the disc is valid for two years,” Graham said.

According to Graham people with disabilities who used a wheelchair, two crutches or a walker, qualified for a disabled parking disc.

“Mall of the North has a special disc for people with disabilities, which allows them to park in a special parking area at the mall.

“This disc is only valid at the mall and not everywhere in the city,” Graham said.

René van der Merwe, Mall of the North marketing manager, said the discs were available for their customers’ convenience.

“The disc is issued free of charge and there is no expiry date to it. The client comes with his or her identity document and the disc is issued,” Van der Merwe explained.

• Following Review’s enquiries, the mother was contacted by the APD and informed that the panel would hear her case on Friday.