Information for health professionals

The ACROD Parking Program relies on information provided by medical practitioners to determine if an applicant meets the eligibility criteria and how long their condition is expected to last.

An ACROD Parking Permit may be issued to an applicant:

  • who is unable to walk and always requires the use of a wheelchair, mobility or medical aid; or
  • whose ability to walk is significantly restricted by a permanent disability or medical condition; or
  • whose ability to walk is significantly restricted by a temporary disability or medical condition (for a minimum of six months); or
  • who is legally blind.

Comments regarding applicants with mobility restrictions

If you consider a person has a severe walking restriction, the following information may assist you to complete your part of the Application Form.

Condition Objective test results or information Examples of severe functional impact on walking
Arthritis
  • Type
  • Location of arthritis in relation to ability to walk
  • Prognosis
  • Frequent stops when walking due to pain (e.g. less than 60m)
  • Requires ongoing specialist pain management
  • Complex walking aid for stability and endurance
Fractures & Joint replacements
  • Site of fracture/surgery is related to weight bearing
  • Method of fracture reduction or fixation; type of joint replacement.
  • Fracture is impacted by other conditions affecting recovery (e.g. ageing, diabetes)
  • Multiple fractures/joints
  • Walking restriction expected to last for 6 months or more
  • Weight bearing restriction
  • Requires walking frame / wheelchair to move
  • Requires crutches for 6 months or more
  • Fractures or surgery to both lower limbs
Heart conditions e.g. IHD, post AMI recovery, CCF, Cardiomyopathy
  • Echocardiogram (ECG)
  • Walking aid for stability and endurance
  • Dyspnoea on rest or exertion
  • Angina on exertion
Lung conditions e.g. COPD, emphysema
  • Spirometry measure
  • Unable to walk and talk
  • Requires portable oxygen
  • Using walking aid
Multiple Sclerosis
  • Type e.g. progressive/ relapsing / remitting
  • Walking aid for stability and endurance, most days
Peripheral Vascular Disease
  • Lower limb Doppler Study
  • Severe cramping
  • Frequent stops when walking due to pain
Renal failure
  • Late stage renal failure – dialysis or pre-dialysis
  • Fatigue
  • Breathlessness
  • Oedema
Severe pain on exertion
  • Pain medication
  • Location of restriction in relation to ability to walk
  • Requires ongoing specialist pain management
  • High dose pain medication

The ACROD Parking Program team may contact the applicant’s health professional to discuss the following issues as part of the assessment for an ACROD Parking Permit:

  • What is causing the applicant’s severe walking restriction? (Consider medical diagnosis, tone, coordination, pain.)
  • Does the applicant use an aid to walk, or any other adaptive equipment? (This could include the use of oxygen.)
  • Describe the applicant’s gait pattern: speed; balance; tone; coordination.
  • How far can the applicant walk before they need to stop? Why do they stop?
  • What is the impact on the applicant’s health when they walk between 50m -100m? (Consider shortness of breath, angina, claudication, severe pain.)
  • If the applicant has an intermittent severe walking restriction, how often does the restrictions occur? (e.g. days per week / weeks per month / months per year.) How long does this period of restriction usually last?
  • Describe the applicant’s walking ability during both good and bad periods.
  • What past treatments to improve the applicant’s severe walking restriction have been trialled?
  • What is your current or future treatment plan for the applicant’s severe walking restriction?
  • Is there an expectation that the applicant’s walking restriction may improve in the future? (Consider surgery, therapy, rehabilitation, trial of medications.)
  • Have all treatment options been exhausted?

Comments regarding applicants who are legally blind

Legally blind means:

  • Visual acuity (1.1.V.50) on the Snellen Scale after correction by suitable lenses of less than 6/60 in both eyes; or
  • Constriction to within 10 degrees of fixation in the better eye irrespective of corrected visual acuity; or
  • A combination of visual defects resulting in the same degree of visual impairment as that occurring in the above points.

If you are providing the applicant with a letter, please make sure to include whether they meet the criteria above (including measurements where appropriate), and a confirmation of their legally blind status.

You may also use the ACROD Low vision certificate form which can be downloaded in .PDF format here.

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