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March 2, 2004

Dave Druker
Elizabeth Kaufman

Secretary of State Jesse White Unveils Guide for Medical Professionals In Effort to Reduce Abuse of Disability Placards and License Plates

CHICAGO — Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced a new outreach program to educate medical professionals about the requirements necessary for approving parking placards and license plates for people with disabilities.

A new brochure, Parking Program for Persons with Disabilities - A Guide for Medical Professionals, is being unveiled by White as part of an ongoing effort to reduce the abuse of parking placards and disability license plates.

"This guide will help educate and inform medical professionals about the provisions of the program so they can ensure a person meets the eligibility requirements of the program before they approve a patient for a placard or disability license plates," White said. "The fraudulent use of parking placards and disability license plates is a serious problem and I believe that by working with the medical community, together we can be part of the solution."

When applying for a disability placard or license plates, applicants are required to submit a medical form signed by their physician. A study conducted by the Secretary of State's office concluded that many medical professionals approve their patients without being aware of all of the eligibility requirements and provisions of the program.

This new guide was produced with the assistance of Rush University Medical Center Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Task Force in Chicago.

"The Rush ADA Task Force is pleased to be working in partnership with the Illinois Secretary of State's Office in developing the brochure," said Beverly Huckman, Chairwoman of the Rush University Medical Center ADA Task Force. "Our committee considered at length how best to raise this awareness and now the test begins to try to ensure that the placards and plates are issued to those who truly qualify for them."

The easy-to-read guide is divided into sections that cover important facts about the program, eligibility requirements, the application process, types of parking placards and disability license plates, privileges of the program and penalties for misuse of placards and disability license plates.

Over 30,000 copies of the guide have been printed and will be distributed to medical professionals across the state.

The guide is part of Secretary White's ongoing campaign to help educate the public about this vital program for persons with disabilities.

Other informational guides include: A Guide to the Parking Program for Persons with Disabilities, The Law Enforcement Quick Reference Guide to the Parking Program for Persons with Disabilities, If you don't belong here, please don't park here posters, and a 30-second television commercial and educational videos about the Parking Program for Persons with Disabilities.

In addition to these materials, the Department of Senior and Community Services conducts presentations to community groups, law enforcement personnel, medical professionals, disability service providers, senior citizen groups and veteran organizations on the Parking Program for Persons with Disabilities.

For more information about the Parking Program for Persons with Disabilities - A Guide for Medical Professionals or other programs and services, please contact the Department of Senior and Community Services at 1-800-252-2904 (v/TTY) or www.cyberdriveillinois.com.