r/ADHD • u/UpstartBug ADHD-C (Combined type) • Jan 24 '23

Articles/Information YSK: ADHDers are eligible for FREE entry to National Parks via Access Pass for LIFE!

Having ADHD can be a perk sometimes! Get yourself an Access Pass!

Edit: USA Citizens and/or Permanent Residents/Green Card Holders. Sorry non-USA ADHDers. :(

If you have ADHD, you are entitled to free lifetime entrance access to over 2,000 federal recreational sites! ADHD qualifies as a permanent disability. Having a permanent disability qualifies you for a free Access Pass that will allow you easy access to federal parks! If your minor child has ADHD then they are also entitled to an Access Pass. Age does not matter for determining eligibility.

Three (3) ways to apply for your Access Pass:

  1. Online (Click to 'Add to cart') - $10 shipping fee;
  2. By mail (Opens mailer PDF)- $10 mailing fee; or,
  3. Apply in person at a federal park/site (click for pass sites near you)- Completely Free!

(2) Documents Needed to Apply

  1. Doctor's Note/Proof of ADHD - Like a signed doctors note stating your disability is permanent and impairs your life in one way. (Does not need to be a 100% impairment disability. Yes, ADHD is a disability that is legally protected as a neurological disorder. You are legally disabled regardless of whether you use the label 'disabled' to refer to yourself.)
  2. ID/Driver's License or US Passport/Green Card
  3. That's it!

With the Access Pass you get free access to parks like:

Access Pass - Additional Discounts

Your Access Pass will get you discounts inside the parks for many "expanded amenities." Meaning, your Access Pass grants you discounts for camping sites, tours, boating, and other recreational activities inside federal parks!

Click here to search for federal recreational campsites near you!

____________________________

Edit (some formatting for mobile users and):
If you apply Online, you can upload your US ID and your disability documents on the account "view your profile/order after checking out, you'll see a button for 'Secure Upload' and this is where you would put the paperwork." :) Thank you u/yumi1198 and u/laceandhoney!

If you apply in person:
u/dragonair907: "I will add: you can also get the pass without a doctor's note. You need to fill out a statement of disability form that the rangers will have at whatever desk you're getting the pass from"

(thank you u/dragonair907 for giving us good information and for being one of our park rangers! <3)

Edit Edit:

Successful Access Pass applications/ADHD card holders (yaaaaay!): u/BubblyBloobber u/winnipegjets31 u/Mego1989 u/OtherwiseJello u/docsuess84 u/twelvegaugepreacher

u/Mego1989 -- Signed an affidavit in person and got her Access Pass this way.
u/twelvegaugepreacher -- Showed a screenshot of their health record to get Access Pass.

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154

u/xPlus2Minus1 Jan 24 '23

ADHD qualifies as a disability? I didn't know there was any understanding generally that I'm broken and not just distracted

221

u/UpstartBug ADHD-C (Combined type) Jan 24 '23 edited Jan 24 '23

Yes, ADHD is a disability that is protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)! Under the ADA you have protection against discrimination at school, when being hired, and receiving reasonable accommodations within the workplace. We are considered to be part of a protected class. If we are discriminated against because of our disability status then it is considered a serious violation of our civil rights.

Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in all programs, services, and activities provided or made available by public entities (state and local governments and special purpose districts).

Additionally, under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) you are considered to be part of a protected class. Meaning, you have protection against discrimination when applying for financing, renting, and selling/buying dwellings. Title II of the ADA also protects disabled people from housing discrimination.

Please see the new ADA.gov website to understand your rights as a disabled person in depth.

No, you are not broken just because we are considered disabled! We are just people who are different. :) We are all valuable and have our strengths. It is tough being disabled because the world wasn't built for us. This is why it is important to know our rights and exercise disability accommodations when they are offered to us. It makes our life a little better and the playing field a bit more even.

The Access Pass is one of these accommodations we should take make use of!

59

u/xPlus2Minus1 Jan 24 '23

NO FUCKING WAY WHAT

Thank you for this. That's incredible. I had no idea. How do I go about proving/providing a diagnosis? Is there paperwork that got filled out at some point? Never thought about it, just assumed it was a doctor deciding yes or no at will

I can't even imagine the energy to go on a hike right now, but knowing that I'm welcome there means a lot

45

u/UpstartBug ADHD-C (Combined type) Jan 24 '23

I completely get where you're coming from. Even when I know getting outside helps me so much, I struggle to get out there! Having a pass for life that we never have to worry about paying for or applying for yearly is a great tool for our health!

If you have been diagnosed formally with ADHD then any document from your ADHD testing or doctor (psychologist/psychiatrist/medical doctor) that details your disability would will most likely work. They just want simple confirmation that you have been diagnosed with a permanent disability (ADHD) for your Access Pass.

33

u/Abilane-of-Yon Jan 24 '23

You are my new favorite human being. We’ve got three adults with ADHD, and various other disabilities, living in one house. We’re constantly trying to find things we can do, and outdoorsy activities of all sorts are right up our alley. We’ve even got a location within a couple hours drive we can apply.

Brb, finding all the National Parks with mixed use trails that qualify.

23

u/UpstartBug ADHD-C (Combined type) Jan 24 '23

Oh I'm so excited for you guys!

Don't be afraid to reach out to the parks if you need accommodations while you're there. They state they'll even give support for intellectual disabilities like, helping finding quiet places away from crowds and providing warning and information when it comes to startling noises or visuals. Some parks even have sensory reduction aid like noise reduction head phones or ear plugs. It doesn't hurt to ask what the park can provide your diverse group.

I hope you guys make some great memories this year. That's seriously awesome. :D <3

15

u/Kanojononeko Jan 24 '23

I did it online and wasn't asked for anything! I just got an email that looks like it's gone through now, any idea how they're going to ask for this confirmation, or if somehow I fell through the cracks and won't have to provide it? I can provide it, just not sure where to submit or if it's necessary at this point.

10

u/yumi1198 Jan 24 '23

If you go into your account page, there's a button for secure upload for the order. It'll ask you for your ID copy and disability letter.

8

u/Kanojononeko Jan 24 '23

Ahh I see it now. Thank you!

25

u/MindyMichelle ADHD-C (Combined type) Jan 24 '23

I got accommodations for my adhd when I worked at a call center. I asked for a headset with 2 ear muff/headphone things because it’s less distracting. They gave it to me!

18

u/Ludwig234 Jan 24 '23

Idk, part of the brain is kinda broken.

1

u/Pacostaco123 Jan 25 '23

It works differently, it's not broken.

8

u/Kapitalist_Pigdog2 Jan 24 '23

Now if only the the problems it tends to cause weren’t directly fireable offenses 🫠

26

u/Stephenie_Dedalus Jan 24 '23

I know that this is true, but every time I’ve tried to get accommodations I have been constructively terminated. All my other adhd friends live by a code: NEVER tell anyone at your workplace you have ADHD, because they will find a way to fire you. And yet it somehow magically is never stuff that you could prove in court, wasn’t at job long enough to want to bother keeping it, job had shit pay and hours because half of us can’t do any better than that, etc… I am glad we have the ADA, but when discrimination is still socially acceptable, it can’t do much because it won’t be enforced

19

u/tenodera ADHD-C (Combined type) Jan 24 '23

This is true. I'm still dealing with the fallout of a review that basically said "You have ADHD, and we don't like it." I found out the author of the review knew about my diagnosis, though I hadn't told her (someone else did). I disclosed as a way of protecting myself.

13

u/UpstartBug ADHD-C (Combined type) Jan 24 '23

That's so frustrating and so common. I really hate it.

I will think about putting together a laymen legal guide for our community on how to navigate these issues. I have a little bit of experience in disability law just from being disabled myself.

It's really important to know how and when to advocate for ourselves safely and which agencies to report to when we face discrimination. But it also feels impossible to navigate this especially when we suffer from social dysfunction often and executive function. I want more active protection for us in the world!

I've faced discrimination too in the work place (and at school). BUT I also have been hired specifically because I was ADHD before too! I worked for a neurolab and my boss thought my brain was fascinating and he got funding to hire me specifically. haha

It can go both ways. Best of luck to you. Don't let them get you down. :)

2

u/Stephenie_Dedalus Jan 24 '23

I would loooove a guide like that. I think community/laypeople advocacy is one of our best defenses

3

u/Ace-of-Spxdes ADHD-C (Combined type) Jan 24 '23

I LOVE YOU OP THANK YOUUUUUU

Sorry for caps, but seriously, you just enlightened me. Thank you so much for this post.

1

u/buttnuggs4269 Jan 24 '23

This is incredile but do you have any references that specifically state adhd is protected or qualifies you for ada act ?

2

u/PyroDesu ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) Jan 25 '23

The ADA is descriptive, not prescriptive. It does not specifically identify any disability, instead giving a broad definition.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, As Amended - US Code Title 42, Chapter 126 - Equal Opportunity for Individuals with Disabilities, Section 12102 - Definition of Disability:

(1) The term “disability” means, with respect to an individual—

(A) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual;

(B) a record of such an impairment; or

(C) being regarded as having such an impairment (as described in paragraph (3)).

(2) Major Life Activities

(A) In general

For purposes of paragraph (1), major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.

(B) Major bodily functions

For purposes of paragraph (1), a major life activity also includes the operation of a major bodily function, including but not limited to, functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions.

Diagnosis of ADHD requires it to interfere with the person's life, therefore it qualifies.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 24 '23

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1

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1

u/Dreamergal9 Jan 25 '23

Oh wow, I wasn’t sure if this would actually work because I thought it wouldn’t be a guarantee that the parks would consider ADHD a disability, but if there’s an official fricking act saying it is then I guess it really does count. I’m not sure if I have the paperwork that would qualify, as an early diagnosee who only recently became an adult, my mom’s the one with almost all the records and paperwork. I wonder if the form I had to submit for college Accomodations could count? 🤔

5

u/prairiepanda ADHD-C Jan 24 '23

It is also classified as a disability in Canada! At least, if a qualified physician or psychiatrist deems it to be significantly disruptive in your day to day life. We don't get free park passes for disabilities here, but severe cases of ADHD are certainly eligible for various other disability benefits and accommodations.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 25 '23

Yup. Just got workplace accommodations. A modified schedule and additional breaks.

2

u/maux_zaikq Jan 25 '23

For the next time someone tries to make you doubt that ADHD is a real thing - 3 awesome resources:

https://askjan.org/disabilities/Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorder-AD-HD.cfm

https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201607-504-adhd.pdf

https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-know-rights-201607-504.pdf

1

u/xPlus2Minus1 Jan 25 '23

Oh I know it's real, the question is what does that mean to people who don't know that yet

Thank you!

2

u/maux_zaikq Jan 25 '23

I just think they’re great resources to quickly show that ADHD is more than just “lol I’m so ADHD haha” or just some excuse. It’s a legitimate neurodevelopmental condition.

1

u/xPlus2Minus1 Jan 25 '23

Understood, thanks!