February 2016 Coach's Quiz

We have given you seven rules for handling disability-related requests for parking accommodations. Now let’s look at how the rules might apply in the real world. Take the COACH’s Quiz to see what you have learned.

INSTRUCTIONS: Each of the following questions has only one correct answer. On a separate piece of paper, write down the number of each question, followed by the answer you think is correct—for example, (1) b, (2) a, and so on. The correct answers (with explanations) follow the quiz. Good luck!

QUESTION #1

Several months after moving into your community, a resident tells you that she’s disabled and asks you to reserve for her an accessible parking space near her unit. You may deny the request because she didn’t ask for the space when she moved in. True or false?

a.   True.

b.   False.

QUESTION #2

Although your community has a policy of providing unassigned parking, an applicant says he wants an assigned parking space near to the building entrance because of a disability. He doesn’t use a cane or appear to have any difficulty walking, but you could trigger fair housing trouble if you ignore his request. True or false?

a.   True.

b.   False.

QUESTION #3

A resident with a mobility disorder asks you to reserve a parking space for her that’s closest to the entrance of the building. Parking at your community is limited, and the space she wants has already been reserved as a reasonable accommodation to another resident with disabilities. Though you’ve offered her another space, which is farther away but still within the medical restrictions provided by her doctor, she says she’s much more impaired than her neighbor and demands the closest space. To avoid fair housing trouble, you should give her what she wants. True or false?

a.   True.

b.   False.

COACH’S ANSWERS & EXPLANATIONS

QUESTION #1

Correct answer: b

Reason: Rule #1 applies here:

     Rule #1: Consider Requests for Special Parking Arrangements Under Reasonable Accommodation Policy

The FHA does not require that a reasonable accommodation request be made in a particular manner or at a particular time, so it doesn’t matter that the resident waited several months after moving into the community before making the parking request. Follow your community’s policies and procedures to evaluate whether to grant her request as a reasonable accommodation.

QUESTION #2

Correct answer: a

Reason: Rules #1 & #3 apply here:

     Rule #1: Consider Requests for Special Parking Arrangements Under Reasonable Accommodation Policy

     Rule #3: Determine Disability-Related Need for Requested Parking Accommodation

You can’t ignore the applicant’s request for an assigned parking space close to the building simply because he doesn’t display any outward appearance of a disability. Under fair housing law, the definition of “disability” is broad enough to cover an array of physical impairments, such as a heart or lung condition, which would not require use of a cane but may significantly affect the applicant’s ability to walk long distances. Treat the request as a request for a reasonable accommodation and follow up by requesting verification of his disability in accordance with fair housing rules regarding disability-related inquiries. 

QUESTION #3

Correct answer: b

Reason: Rules #5 & #6 apply here:

     Rule #5: Get Legal Help If Requested Accommodation Seems Unreasonable

     Rule #6: Offer Alternatives to Unreasonable Accommodation Requests

Consult your attorney if a resident makes an unreasonable demand for a parking accommodation. In general, you should grant requests in the order received—and avoid any discussion about who’s more disabled than someone else. You don’t have to take the space from the other resident, but it’s a good idea to offer the resident a reasonable alternative that would effectively meet her disability-related needs, like the parking space a bit farther away, but still within her medical restrictions. If she rejects it and files a complaint, you’ll be able to show that you took reasonable steps to accommodate her disability-related need for a parking accommodation.