Disability-rights advocates have filed a federal lawsuit challenging a new Florida law that allows pregnant women to obtain disabled parking permits, arguing it violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by reducing access to limited disabled parking spaces for people with qualified disabilities. The law permits pregnant women to get these permits at any stage of pregnancy with a doctor’s note, costing $15 for a year. Plaintiff Olivia Keller, who has disabilities requiring van-accessible parking, claims the law exacerbates existing challenges in securing accessible parking, severely limiting her ability to participate in daily activities. The lawsuit contends that pregnancy is not a disability under federal law and that the law unlawfully excludes disabled individuals from the benefits of accessible parking programs.
The law was included in a transportation bill signed by Governor Ron DeSantis and was inspired by state Rep. Fiona McFarland’s personal experience of discomfort during late pregnancy. McFarland defends the law as a way to help pregnant women park more conveniently, not to take spots from those with physical mobility limits. However, advocates like Keller argue that separate parking spaces for pregnant women should be created without reducing the already scarce disabled parking spots. The number of disabled parking permits far exceeds the number of reserved spaces, and the law’s impact on disabled individuals’ access to parking and safety, especially in Florida’s heat, is a central concern of the lawsuit.
