Interagency Access Pass

Guidelines for Eligibility and Required Documentation

1. Persons Eligible for the Access Pass

The Access Pass may be issued to citizens or permanent residents of United States who have been medically determined to be permanently disabled (as defined in 29 U.S.C. 705(20)) and who show adequate documentation of medically determined permanent disability and proof of U.S. residency. 29 U.S.C. 705(20) defines a permanent disability as a permanent physical, mental, or sensory impairment that substantially limits one or more of the person’s major life activities, such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, and learning.

2. Required Documentation

The Access Pass is to be issued only to applicants who apply in person, show adequate documentation to the issuing officer. The issuing officer may assess only whether one of the forms of documentation for the Passport, described below, has been shown by the applicant. The documentation is not to be copied or retained by the agency.

Applicants are required to show one of the following forms of documentation to establish proof of permanent disability:

(1) A statement signed by a licensed physician attesting that the applicant has a permanent physical, mental, or sensory impairment that severely limits one or more major life activity;

or

(2) A document issued by a Federal agency, such as the Veteran’s Administration, which attests that the applicant has been medically determined to be eligible to receive Federal benefits as a result of disability. Other acceptable Federal agency documents include proof of receipt of Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) due to disability.

or

(3) A document issued by a State agency, such as the vocational rehabilitation agency, which attests that the applicant has been medically determined to be eligible to receive that agency’s benefits or services as a result of medically determined permanent disability. Showing a State motor vehicle department disability sticker, hang tag, or license plate is not acceptable documentation because those items do not identify the individual to whom that disability related permit was issued.

For more detailed information about the Access Pass visit the Forest Service website at http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/access.shtml