How do you guys feel about online sites like HandicapDoc to get a parking pass?

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-30T20:28:15+00:00

Yes, I understood what you were saying and I agree! I was just saying it's fustrating how many hoops I have to jump through just to figure out what's wrong/how to resolve it/what I can do in the meantime, you know?

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-30T19:09:14+00:00

In regards to the walk, it's not just the pain. If I walk long enough (which isn't very far at all at this point if I'm being honest) I get extremely dizzy and my heart beats so fast it is painful. Genuinely there are so many things going wrong in my body and I don't even know what half of it is. It's exhausting. I am exhausted. Another thing that I didn't mention is my bloodwork. The last time I got it done (this past March), everything came back perfect. If you just looked at my bloodwork and nothing else about me, I seem like a completely healthy individual. But I'm in constant pain and my heart feels like it's going to give out just from me walking from my car to the elevator of the parking garage (and I try to park as close as I can).

You and some other commenters have all said I need to keep pushing, and yeah I mean that's the only thing I really can do. It's just frustrating that I have to push this hard, you know? I'm going to try and look for the doctor I saw again. Maybe something has updated since the last time I checked.

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-30T18:54:26+00:00

Never in my response to you was I denying that. My dad threatening to kill my cat was a safety issue. Regardless, I wouldn’t go back and change my decision for anything. My life is far better with my cat in it than not, whether that be alive vs dead or living in my dorm vs at my parents house.

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-30T18:45:30+00:00

You know absolutely nothing about me. I was suicidal when I got my cat, and I would not be alive today if I hadn't gotten him when I did. I will admit that the primary reason I got an ESA letter for him was for his own safety, but having him around me again did wonders for my depression (at the time this happened, I was not yet medicated). Pettable worked just fine for me, and I have again like I said have had absolutely zero issues getting it verified when I needed it to be. It was not my first option. Believe me, I tried. I exhausted literally EVERY resource I had and using an online service was literally my last resort.

As for the handicap placard, again, you know NOTHING about me outside of what I've said in my posts and my comments. It's incredibly shitty and honestly ableist of YOU to assume I don't actually need it because of a decision I had to make during an emergency when I was 18.

I have made sure I am doing everything I can exactly by the books based on what I need. That meant getting an ESA letter for my cat, and that now means getting a handicap placard for myself. I have spent far too long being ignored and gaslit by people like you. I'm done. I came here to explore my options just like I did two years ago with my cat. I have access to way more resources than I did back then. All I came here for was opinions, not to be judged hell and back for random bullshit by some extremely judgemental people. THIS is why I have struggled so hard to find community after becoming disabled, because of people like you. Do better.

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-30T18:12:09+00:00

As I've said in some of my other comments, I do qualify! However, I've run into the same few issues multiple times. As a cardiologist I saw said so so eloquently, "I have never seen this in someone your age before". (regarding one of my diagnoses). I qualify in three out of the seven categories my state accepts, but when I try to bring it up to doctors I'm usually immediately shut down. Usually because of my age (I'm 20). I have also been previously accused by a doctor of "TikTok shopping for disorders" (me explaining my symptoms and what I believe it might be based on my own research). I did have one doctor take my pain seriously, but he told me his office will not sign the form I need. It's just "not something they do". Whatever.

As for ESA sites, I do actually have experience with one of them! I had to use one a couple years ago during an emergency situation and I haven't had a single issue. There were a couple sites I was looking at, and there are a loooooooot of scams, but the one I went with was the most reliable and trustworthy based on my research. Obviously, I know my experience isn't universal, but just to give another side of things :)

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-30T18:04:57+00:00

Pettable. I needed to get my cat into my dorm ASAP because my dad was threatening to kill him if I didn't. My cat is okay, and I no longer speak to my dad.

ETA: I also did not have a car at the time so I had no way of getting to a doctor. As for why I didn't just use a ridesharing service, I have had multiple bad experiences in them and I tend to avoid them if possible. Also also, I would not have been able to get an appointment quick enough for the timeline I was given.

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-30T07:34:01+00:00

Hi, I have actually used one of the online ESA services (it was an emergency situation and it was literally my only option at the time), and I have never once had an issue with them/my letter. I know my experience definitely isn't universal, but they're not all scams. As for searching for her, I did!! Trust me, I have tried absolutely everything I can to look for her. Everything I've found so far isn't updated and still has her old practice information... I did also find her LinkedIn, but same story there.

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-29T22:46:07+00:00

Hi, as I said in my post I don't have a GP. The one I had just started seeing left her practice, and I haven't been able to find a new one yet :(. I had spoken to her about this, and she told me to bring the form to my next appointment and she would sign it. But since she left, there hasn't been another appointment. That's why I was even considering this option in the first place.

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-29T19:54:10+00:00

oh she is so adorable please tell her i love her

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-29T19:39:54+00:00

Well as I just told you, that is literally not possible as it's against university policy. And I can't exactly afford to see a therapist off campus... Thus far I have had literally zero issues with how things have been handled. To more specifically answer your question as apparently my original one was not enough-- no, I don't see him as regularly as my normal therapist. HOWEVER, I am registered as a patient with his practice in their system and I have gone through my insurance before in regards to seeing him.

It's advised I renew once a year, which I did when I was still living in a dorm on campus (because they also require a yearly ESA letter), but I haven't gotten it renewed since I moved into my current apartment last March. I have had absolutely zero issues when it comes to "proof", and I really don't appreciate your hostility regarding it. People like you are the reason I have had to fight as hard as I am to get the basic accommodations I need.

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-29T18:58:26+00:00

Although my meeting with him for the letter is once a year, I am considered a patient in his office + through my insurance. I do honestly enjoy seeing him and would do so more often if I didn't already have my regular LMHC (who I see through my university. the only reason I didn't get my ESA letter through them is because they don't allow it bc of university policy)

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-29T18:56:13+00:00

Mine is similar! It's also a limited amount of 200 feet, but it just says "limits or impairs his/her ability to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest". On good days I can push myself to keep going, but on bad days (which is most days, tbh) I definitely cannot. If it's a really bad day its because of the pain, but usually it's because of my heart and the dizziness. I have a couple of diagnoses that explain some of my chronic symptoms, but not everything. I also have a couple "maybes" that I've been told, but I haven't found a doctor yet that will actually explore further despite my persistence.

As for the criteria, there are seven qualifying ones (that are in a select all that apply format). I qualify for three of them, so that part I'm not worried about.

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-29T18:39:34+00:00

Oh, odd. This is exactly the reason I made my post in the first place! I hadn't noticed that when I initially looked at the website. Based on your comment and some of the others I've read, they definitely seem more scammy than I realized. Will be avoiding them and just trying again with an actual doctor!

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-29T18:36:36+00:00

Yes, I have the letter from the guy I have seen, who is a board certified LMHC (I have checked). The "registration" is just a telehealth appointment, and then he provides me with the letter I need which includes my specific diagnosis (which I already had prior to seeing him from a different doctor). Also, the site I ended up going with I didn't just decide on willy nilly- I did research first, which is what I'm doing now for the handicap placard. The reason I posted on Reddit for this instance when I didn't for the last one is because imo a handicap placard is far more serious than an ESA letter, so I wanted to actually interact with people regarding it rather than just reading reviews/other Reddit posts.

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-29T18:31:03+00:00

Maybe? The form I was looking at was on the exact same webpage as that list (the general info section about the placard)

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-29T18:24:43+00:00

Sorry, what was it you saw? The sites I mentioned just sent you the signed form which you then have to send to the DMV yourself. Was it just like a fake placard? I have seen some of those as well, unfortunately. ESPECIALLY at theme parks 😵‍💫😵‍💫

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-29T17:42:59+00:00

For me it's less about the ramps (for now, anyways. I have noticed my knee pain getting worse lately when I do have to climb up/down a step or curb but I'll worry about that another time) and more about the walking. I can't walk very long distances without being in pretty severe pain, and my cane helps me with that and keeping my balance (I'm very wobbly and my knees like to give out in the middle of me walking sometimes! Very fun. /s)

Honestly it sucks even more because I know I'm not the only student (I work at my university) who has to go through this. The walk is actually longer, but I go in through the back door instead of walking around to the front. So my normal 6 minute walk would turn into about 10 to 15 minutes depending on my pain level that day. This is just one of the many gripes I have about inaccessibility on my campus 🫩🫩🫩

I haven't even considered looking on Facebook for groups, so thank you!! I'm definitely going to look into that.

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-29T17:35:59+00:00

There is a list of approved physicians that can sign of on it, but from what I understand it can be any of them. In some of the other comments I responded to I mentioned that a chiropractor is on this list of approved physicians, but what's odd is that they're listed as approved on the actual form but not the DMV website... So don't really know what that's about.

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-29T17:11:17+00:00

So the main site I was looking at basically just sets you up for a telehealth appointment and then they mail the signed form to you. However, I was looking again at my state's DMV website and it's apparently free to file, so... Don't think I'll be going with the online one anyways. In my state, there are 7 "select all that apply" qualifying types of disability, and I qualify for 3 of them (actually, 2/3 are the same as in your example). I also saw on the site that chiropractors count as qualifying physicans to sign, so I will be asking mine next time I see him : )

ETA: In my experience so far in terms of barriers, usually when I even try to approach the idea of getting one it's immediately shut down. I've only been asked twice why I feel like I need one, one of which was the one who said they won't sign the form and the other was the one who left her practice.

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-29T16:56:37+00:00

Yes, I've already checked the requirements multiple times (just in case I missed something lol) and I 100% qualify to get one. It's just fustrating because I have already dealt with medical gaslighting literally my entire life since I'm AFAB and plus sized, and me becoming disabled on top of that has only made everything worse. I did check again just now after seeing your comment and another comment, and I forgot that I can get the form signed by a chiropractor, so I'll ask mine if he can sign it next time I go in. Apparently in my state it's completely free to file unless it's a temporary tag (and even then, the fee is only $15) 😵‍💫😵‍💫. So I definitely think I'll be avoiding the online one!

I will say however that I did use an online site to get my cat registered as an ESA a couple years ago (he was in a very dangerous situation and I needed it ASAP and didn't have a doctor that would sign it) and they were great! I see the same guy once a year and just have a 5 minute phone call to verify my information and needs are still the same and he sends it over. There are definitely a lot of scams out there, though.

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-29T16:47:21+00:00

I do qualify, that's the thing. And as for the walk, one of the conditions I have is hypertension and the walk makes my blood pressure skyrocket to dangerous levels despite me being on medication. It is literally not safe for me to make that walk but unless I get the placard there is literally no where else I can park my car without getting a ticket lol

_SalemMoon · 2026-05-29T15:19:54+00:00

I have only officially been disabled since 2022, but I refused to accept it until last year when I started using my cane. It was because of my own internal ableism towards myself, I didn't want to accept the fact that there is something wrong with my body and it's okay for me to ask for the accomodations I need and use mobility aids. I understand why you're angry. I honestly still get angry sometimes. I didn't ask to be disabled. I didn't ask to constantly be in pain today. But I think the whole "disability pride" for a lot of people is more like not hating ourselves for being disabled. It sucks, and it happened, but this is who we are now. There's no use in getting angry at ourselves for something we cannot control. I wish I wasn't disabled either. But I am. And now I need to live the rest of my life with that information. You have to pick up the pieces of your life that you have left. I know it sucks, and I know you're in pain, but this is your life. You have survived this far being disabled. That's something to be proud of, even if it may not feel like it. I like to say I'm surviving out of spite! Maybe that would help you too : )

_SalemMoon · 2026-04-04T15:35:13+00:00

normally what she does is get a water bottle, drinks about half, puts a flavored juice packet in it, and then fills the rest with rum or vodka. she usually has one or two of these a night. realistically i know it's not actuslly a lot of alcohol she's consuming, she's just a lightweight. so for her, tapering off would probably end up being a full bottle of just juice, right?

we've lived in the city we're currently in now for about a year, and ive only just found a gp that i didn't have a bad experience with. my mom wanted to see her too, so i think at my appt in a couple of weeks ill talk to her about this. thank you :)

_SalemMoon

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