Parking Placard for Third Trimester? Say Less!

Average Read Time: 1-2 minutes

A dear friend and client of mine recently entered her third trimester of pregnancy - which means that her belly and baby are getting pretty big! Walking, while great for third trimester and birth preparation, has become a lot more time consuming and difficult, and in this busy world we live in, time is precious! Parking, walking to and from places, and trying to navigate parking lots was also causing her a lot of stress, something she doesn’t need more of as she finishes up her pregnancy.

What did she do? She got herself a parking placard! In the state of Illinois, people who are in their third trimester qualify for a parking placard for people with disabilities. This is a temporary placard, and expires 90 days after it is issued. She got hers a bit into her third trimester, which means that her 90 days actually expires after the baby is here! 

(Talking with another doula, we thought that postpartum is actually a great time to have extra support for parking… can we get this support extended, state of Illinois?)

Here’s how you apply: 

1) Complete part one of this application. (If you are under 18, your guardian must fill out part two. If you are over 18, you are your own guardian and can disregard part two!)

2) Give/Send the document to your healthcare provider to complete part 3.

3) Part four is to apply for meter payment exemption. Read over that section to see if it applies to you! 

4) Once your healthcare provider sends you the completed form, bring it to the special services desk of the DMV. They will process your application and give you your placard right then! 

While this process does take a few days (and requires a visit to the dreaded DMV), you may determine that this accommodation is the right next step to help you navigate the end of your pregnancy! I encourage all people who are pregnant to think about what accommodations feel necessary to help them feel safe, comfortable and taken care of as they finish their pregnancy journey. Feel like you’re doing OK? Then maybe this accommodation isn’t for you, and that’s OK too! Each person is unique and requires different methods to help them through life. 

Want help getting accommodations for your pregnancy, or a thought partner to help you feel more comfortable at the end of pregnancy? Message me here and I’ll help in all the ways I can!