2026 Legislative Priorities
Occupational therapy practitioners help Missourians of all ages participate in the activities that matter most to them—from children learning to write, to adults returning to work after injury, to seniors maintaining independence at home. We are essential healthcare providers working across hospitals, schools, clinics, and communities throughout Missouri.
Support HB 1827 / HB 1891 / SB 1634
SUPPORT | Disabled License Plates and Placards
These bills would add occupational therapists to the list of authorized healthcare practitioners for purposes of physician’s statements required for disabled license plates and placards. Please support this effort to:
- Eliminate redundant appointments and delays in obtaining necessary parking accommodations
- Reduce healthcare costs
- Improve access for patients with disabilities
This is a NO cost solution for Missouri taxpayers.
Background:
Currently, occupational therapists are excluded from the definition of ‘other authorized health care practitioner’ for purposes of certifying disability for disabled license plates and placards. This creates unnecessary barriers for patients who see occupational therapy practitioners as their primary rehabilitation provider.
What is occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy enables people of all ages to participate in daily living.
House Health and Mental Health Committee Testimony from 1/29/26:
“My name is Maria Lindbergh, and I am a licensed occupational therapist from Kansas City. Occupational therapists help people do the everyday activities that occupy their lives, things like getting dressed, using the bathroom, and shopping for groceries. I have primarily worked with older adults in hospitals, senior living communities, and in the community.
I am here today to ask for your support of House Bills 1827, 1891, and 2372, which would add licensed occupational therapists to the definition of “other authorized health care practitioner” for the purpose of physician statements required for disabled license plates and placards.
Occupational therapists are experts in how people function during daily activities, making us well qualified to determine when a disabled parking placard is appropriate. I’d like to briefly illustrate this with an example from my practice.
I worked with a patient recovering from knee surgery who also had a lung condition. She lived alone and needed to return to grocery shopping independently. Through activity analysis, a core skill in occupational therapy, I noted the physical demands of grocery shopping: parking, walking through the store, standing, reaching, and loading groceries. When we practiced this at a nearby store, her pain and shortness of breath required frequent rest breaks and increased her risk of injury.
I knew that reducing the walking distance from the parking lot would significantly improve her safety and independence. I recommended a temporary disabled parking placard, but she had to schedule an additional physician visit solely to obtain it.
Had I been authorized to complete that certification, I could have done so efficiently, appropriately, and without added cost or delay.
Occupational therapists across our state already make these functional determinations every day. In fact, the American Occupational Therapy Association and AARP developed a program called CarFit that helps older drivers enhance safety and comfort and discusses community mobility. This change would improve access, reduce unnecessary appointments, and support collaboration with our physician friends, especially in rural and underserved areas.
Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration of this legislation.”
What the Bill Does:
- Adds licensed occupational therapists to the list of authorized healthcare practitioners
- Allows licensed occupational therapists to complete the physician statement for disabled parking credentials
- Aligns Missouri law with OT scope of practice and clinical expertise
Why It Matters:
- OT practitioners routinely assess functional mobility, safety, and independence
- Eliminates redundant appointments and delays in obtaining necessary parking accommodations
- Reduces healthcare costs and improves access for patients with disabilities
- Recognizes OT expertise in evaluating functional limitations related to mobility