Disability plates are issued to qualified massachusetts residents who are primary owners of a registered passenger vehicle or a motorcycle. A holder of a passenger vehicle disability plate is entitled to a temporary disabled placard. .Advantages of cognitive learning theory everyone else who qualifies for disability parking will be issued a placard. Permanent disabilities only. Veterans will need a letter from the veteran’s administration stating that your disability is at least 60% AND related to your military service (for disabled veteran plates only).Advantages of cognitive learning theory

Placards are issued to qualified massachusetts residents on a temporary or permanent basis. Persons who do not own vehicles may only apply for disability placards.Advantages of cognitive learning theory for a temporary placard a medical professional must certify that the disability is predicted to last at least two months. Disability placards or plates allow you to park in designated disabled parking spaces.Advantages of cognitive learning theory if you have more than one family member who meets the disability criteria for a placard, you will need a placard for each person. You can use the placard in any vehicle in which the person with a disability is being transported.Advantages of cognitive learning theory

If your current placard has been lost or mutilated, you may apply for a duplicate or replacement. To apply for a duplicate placard, you must submit a letter stating the reason a duplicate is needed.Advantages of cognitive learning theory in your request, please include your name, social security number, date of birth, address, and the placard number or the date the placard was first issued.Advantages of cognitive learning theory your request must be signed and dated. All placard holders must be photo-imaged on RMV computer system.

To apply for a placard (the placard is mobile, so it can be used in different cars) or plate, a person with ME/CFS must have his or her physician complete a registry form.Advantages of cognitive learning theory the two most important criteria of eligibility as related to ME/CFS are as follows: (1) the doctor must state the diagnosis and nature of the impairment which would be to confirm the ME/CFS diagnosis.Advantages of cognitive learning theory the doctor would also provide information on the prognosis of the illness (how long it is expected to last) and on its severity; (2) the doctor must confirm that the patient cannot move more than 200 feet.Advantages of cognitive learning theory the registry emphasizes that the mobility issue is of prime importance and must be documented by the physician. If the registry gets only partial information, it will have to ask for a more complete evaluation.Advantages of cognitive learning theory the essential focus for approval is for the physician to explain exactly how the patient is impaired: how easily, quickly, or unexpectedly the patient tires, and the extent of weakness and its direct effect on the lower extremities.Advantages of cognitive learning theory

Note: with many patients, there are some days a person might be able to walk the 200 feet, but then suffer substantial after-effects—including relapse of substantial symptoms—so walking the distance is medically too risky.Advantages of cognitive learning theory again, the person might be able to walk the distance on some days and not on others, so the person should have the placard; or the distance might be walked but only under conditions of suffering.Advantages of cognitive learning theory all these points should be taken up with the persons physician before submitting the registry form.

When the application arrives, follow all the directions and have your doctor write a letter, on his/her letterhead, answering all the questions.Advantages of cognitive learning theory make sure that your doctor includes the following information: how long you’ve been sick, whether you require any ambulatory aids (canes, wheelchairs, etc.), and why you have difficulty walking (muscle weakness and pain, joint pain, exhaustion, or whatever applies to your situation).Advantages of cognitive learning theory your doctor should use clear, straightforward non-medical terminology; there is evidence to suggest that the people who review your application will deny you a placard if they don’t understand the medical jargon your doctor uses.Advantages of cognitive learning theory

When you have to indicate how far you can walk, remember that you will mostly need the placard on your bad days. Estimate your walking ability based on a bad day, not on a good day (because if you don’t need it on a good day you won’t use it anyway).Advantages of cognitive learning theory think about the days when you can barely stand or walk to the bathroom. Those are the days you will really need this placard. You can even ask your doctor to describe these day-to-day mobility issues.Advantages of cognitive learning theory also there is a section where you are asked how far you can walk without rest, and how far with intermittent rest. To the registry, “rest” does not mean sitting down or lying down, it means standing!!Advantages of cognitive learning theory since standing is not rest for a person with CFIDS, I recommend either putting the same range for both sections, or describing in the doctor’s letter what “resting” means for you. (one person to whom I spoke at the medical affairs branch at the registry indicated to me that the placards are not awarded to anyone who indicates that s/he can walk 200 feet or more, but this measure was not given to me in writing, nor is it indicated in the state guidelines governing eligibility for a placard; therefore, it is unclear whether this is the actual cut-off point that is used for all applicants).Advantages of cognitive learning theory

The registry has recently begun to issue temporary placards. Make sure to indicate whether you are seeking a permanent or temporary placard. If you have been sick for less than five years, you should request a temporary placard.Advantages of cognitive learning theory A temporary placard is good for one year, and then must be reapplied for. If you have been sick five or more years, make sure that your doctor indicates that your disability is permanent.Advantages of cognitive learning theory

— call the registry and ask why you were denied. Make them cite the specific reason(s). Ask what information they would need to have clarified in order for you to obtain a placard.Advantages of cognitive learning theory take notes on everything they tell you, including the date you called, and the name of the person with whom you spoke. If anything is unclear to you, ask the person to repeat of clarify the information.Advantages of cognitive learning theory

— also, take this opportunity to tell this person a little bit about yourself: how ME/CFS has affected your life, why you need the placard, how upsetting it is that people don’t understand that CFIDS is a real disability, etc.Advantages of cognitive learning theory the medical affairs branch is staffed by people with disabilities (primarily people with visible disabilities). They need to be educated about CFIDS and what it means to have a hidden disability.Advantages of cognitive learning theory they are trying to protect people with disabilities from fraudulent usage. Tell them that you support this goal, as you, too, are a person with a disability that needs a placard. (I did this, and it worked).Advantages of cognitive learning theory

If you applied for a placard in the past, but were denied, you can still apply again. I would suggest calling the registry and asking them why you were denied the last time (they should still have your file).Advantages of cognitive learning theory in your new application, follow the same guidelines as above, but explain which part of the process you didn’t understand before. Provide a clarification of that issue.Advantages of cognitive learning theory