Hey, American friends! Did you know that U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities, including Type 1 diabetes (T1D), are eligible for a U.S. National Park Access Pass?
The pass is free if you get it in-person at a federal recreation site (find one in your state HERE) or $10 if you apply online and get it by mail. There are no age restrictions and it is good for a lifetime! The pass allows you to be admitted to more than 2,000 recreation sites and also can provide discounts on additional amenity fees (like for camping, swimming, and tours). The pass only works at federal recreation sites, unfortunately not state parks or local sites.
To apply for the pass, you must present 1) a copy of ID issued by an authorized U.S. agency (like a driver’s license or passport, for example) and 2) proof of your permanent disability. This can be in the form of a letter from your doctor or a document from a federal agency like the Social Security Disability Income.
So what is a permanent disability exactly? The U.S. National Parks Service defines it as a “permanent physical, mental, or sensory impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working” [1]. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), diabetes is considered a physical disability that affects endocrine function [2].
If you’re planning a trip, make sure to apply far ahead of time–applications usually take 10-12 weeks to process. To use the pass, you must present it with a photo ID at an entrance station or display it on your car. The pass admits the owner as well as accompanying passengers in the vehicle!
One of our goals here at Connected in Motion is to get people with diabetes out of the clinics and into nature. We hope that this information on the National Park Access Pass was helpful and that it allows you to experience more adventures! Want to join an adventure? Check out what we have planned, here.
References
- Frequently Asked Questions – Recreational Passes. store.usgs.gov/faq#Definitions.
- Diabetes in the Workplace and the ADA. www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/diabetes-workplace-and-ada.
