People With Disabilities Are Eligible for a Free Lifetime Pass to National Parks
If you or your child have a permanent disability, you may be eligible for a free life pass to visit national parks and federal recreational lands.
In fact, I found out about the program because my child friend has type 1 diabetes and has the qualifications to participate in the program. Skillful impairments include physical, mental, or sensory impairments.
The pass can be used at more than 2,000 federal recreational facilities across the country. These include national parks, national wildlife sanctuaries, national forests, and other federal recreation states. It also grants the same privilege to anyone in a vehicle with a pass holder. So, if one person in your family meets the requirements, you can all enter the park for free with that person’s pass.
To obtain a pass, you will need:
- A statement signed by a licensed physician certifying that you have a persistent physical, mental, or sensory impairment that severely restricts one or more of your primary activities and indicates the nature of the impairment. OR
- A document issued by a federal agency, such as the United States Veterans Affairs Office, that certifies that you have been recognized by medical professionals as eligible for federal benefits as a result of blindness or permanent disability. Other eligible FDA documents include proof of social security income (SSDI) or Supplemental Insurance Income (SSI).
- A document issued by a government agency, such as a vocational rehabilitation agency, that certifies that you have been medically identified as eligible for benefits or services from a vocational rehabilitation agency as a result of medical blindness or permanent disability. The presence of a sticker, license plate, or decal with a State Automotive Authority disability is not acceptable documentation.
You will need to complete this application and then either mail it with a $ 10 processing fee, or go to a federal vacation site in person with proof of disability and residency, in which case you can skip paying the fee and fill out the form. form. Passes can also be purchased online through their website , which is the organization’s preferred way of receiving applications.
Once your application has been processed, you will receive a physical card that you can use to enter the park.
This article was originally published in 2019 and updated on March 13, 2020 by Elizabeth Yuko. Updates include the following: Validated references for accuracy, revised the function image, and updated formatting to reflect the current style.