How

HELP’S
AT HAND

HELP’S AT Hand, by North Shore
Community Services (NSCS), is a
forum for discussing government
policies and programs, benefits.
consumer and legal rights, taxation
and public services. Answers are
intended only as a general guide
and.should not be applied to indi-
vidual cases without further consul-
tation.
QUESTION: 1
had polio when I
was a child. Now in
my mid-40s, | am
experiencing
increased weakness
- and have difficulty
walking more than
short distances. I
know that you need
a disabled parking
pass to use a hendi-
capped parking
spot, and I have
wondered if I would qualify for
one. How can J find out if I would
be eligible?
Answer; Special parking spaces
- allow people with mobility impair-
ments to have better access to
buildings and services’in the com-
munity. People who qualify for per-
mits either need the extra width of
the disabled parking stalls when
using a wheelchair, crutches, or
canes, or néed to park close to a

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building entrance because their
health prevents them from walking
very far.

Parking permits are issued
through the Parking Permit
Program of the Social Planning and
Research Council of B.C.
(SPARC).

To qualify for a permit, you
must have a perminent or tempo-
rary disability. As we said, people
who need an extra wide parking
space or who cannot walk more
than 100 metres (300 fect), or who
are blind would be eligible for a

66 To qualify for a permit,
you must have a permanent
or temporary disability, 99

permit.

Whether you qualify under these
conditions or not is sonwthing you
can discuss with your doctor. You
must submit an application form to
SPARC, which has to be filled out
ty both you and your doctor. There
is a S10 application fee and applica-
tions are currently being processed
in approximately three weeks.

Your doctor may have applica-
tion forms or you can contact

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; COLOR MAE KING and have a

chance to win one of 5 prize packages consisting
of - 1 Lion King T-shirt, 2 pins and 4 movie passes.
Winners announced in the June 19th issue of the
North Shore News. Enter at Esplanade Cinemas or

the North Shore News.

cess parking

SPARC directly for a form at 736-
4367.

Permanent permits are good for
three years and you will receive a
renewal notice in the mail. Your
SPARC parking permit is valid
throughout Canada.

Temporary permits can be
obtained for temporary impair-
ments, For example, if were using
crutches. Your doctor must specify
on the application form a date when

you will be recovered or reassessed

and this would become the expiry
date of your permit.

Keep in mind that it
is egal to lend your
permit) to | anyone
(whether they are dis-
abled or not) and if you
do, it could be taken
away from you.

People who do not
have a disability them-
selves but drive someone
with a disability do not
qualify for a permit, All
applications must be
completed in the name
of the person with the disability. If
the applicant is unable to be respon-
sible for the permit, then someone
with power of attorney, a family
member, or friend may fill out the
application on behalf of the person
with the disability.

This column is prepared with
financial assistance from the
Notary Foundation, For more
information call NSCS at 985-7138.

|

COS 6 GARE 3 CEs a eres ss noe
ee 1] g E

NEWS photo Mike Waketieid
JEFF FAWCETT (front), along. with (left to sight} Gulshan
Mitha, Bill Sorenson and Jean Smith , makes up one of eight
foursomes that will be raising money for the Cancer Society
on June 20 in Squamish In “The Longest Day of Golf” event.

an
To.

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POSTAL CODE

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1139 LONSDALE AVE.
NORTH VAN. B.C. V7M 2H4