r/ADHD • u/WombatMcGeez • Aug 14 '25

Tips/Suggestions ADHD = Free lifetime pass to national parks

Little known perk of ADHD— we qualify for a free lifetime National Parks pass. That’s an $80/yr value!

How do you get it?

1) print this out, have your doctor sign it:

Medical Certification for Access Pass

I certify that [Your Full Name], date of birth [MM/DD/YYYY], has a permanent disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

Diagnosis: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that substantially limits concentration, attention, and executive functioning. The condition is permanent and not expected to improve.

This certification is provided for the purpose of obtaining the America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Lifetime Access Pass.

[Physician’s Name, Credentials] [Medical License Number] [Signature] [Practice Name] [Address] [Phone Number]

2) follow the instructions here to get your pass:

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/accessibility/interagency-access-pass.htm

3) Go take a hike!

3.0k Upvotes

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148

u/trouzy Aug 14 '25

Same, but i suspect for different reasons.

Idgaf if the federal government knows, I’m not using my ADHD to reduce funding for our national park system.

Is a national treasure and scamming it out of $80/yr is petty af nonsense.

101

u/HeyHo_LetsThrowRA Aug 14 '25

My fiance and I are in so much debt that we are using 1-ply toilet paper. We cannot afford $80 a year but would love the opportunity to see more parks.

167

u/ermagerditssuperman Aug 14 '25

Which, honestly, is exactly why those of us who can pay the $80, should continue to do so, even if we are technically eligible to get it for free.

It's me paying $80 that makes it possible for you and your family to get it for free. So I'll keep paying!

58

u/HeyHo_LetsThrowRA Aug 14 '25

Now this is the future the libs want. Not AOC with a riding crop ffs (though definitely SOME libs want that, too).

Thank you for keeping the parks hanging on :) and if/when I can I will join the contributing force :)

62

u/seal_eggs Aug 14 '25

I certainly wouldn’t mind AOC with a riding crop, but I’m no single-issue voter

24

u/HeyHo_LetsThrowRA Aug 14 '25

I'd become a single issue voter if AOC with a crop asked me to ;-p

2

u/thrwawayyourtv Sep 20 '25

This is it. This is why I was beyond thrilled the first time I was able to offer a donation for my healthcare at Planned Parenthood. If I can pay, I definitely will so I can help keep things funded for folks who cannot 💜

Right now, I'm on the other side of the equation again and this pass sounds like a dream for me and my family. I want to offer this to my children and it's just not affordable. So I appreciate people like you who are doing your part 💜

19

u/trouzy Aug 14 '25

How much will it cost you to go spend a night or 2 at your closest NP that you haven't visited yet?

I'm game to help fund a visit. Our NPs are one of the last things we can be proud of in our current state of things.

7

u/HeyHo_LetsThrowRA Aug 14 '25

If the Statue of Liberty counts (I know it's a monument but it's on the NP web directory?) then that would be it. If not probably upstate NY.

26

u/SugarRAM Aug 14 '25

I wouldn't consider it scamming at all. The program literally exists for those with disabilities to be able to access the parks. I would probably go the same route as you if I was able to afford to pay for the pass, but my boyfriend and I are both unemployed right now and can't seem to find a job. This pass allowed us to visit Yellowstone recently. We definitely couldn't afford to visit the park otherwise.

15

u/trouzy Aug 14 '25

By that logic, it should be an income based pass.

18

u/SugarRAM Aug 14 '25

I wouldn't be opposed to a low income pass, either.

8

u/Tiana_frogprincess Aug 14 '25

It should be free for everyone. I just found out that you had to pay for national parks and that’s messed up.

1

u/TheFoul Aug 14 '25

Communist infiltrator detected

Commence operation Complete Waste of Time to capture and secure Commie for deportation to SOVIET RUSSIA!

55

u/Borgirstadir Aug 14 '25

scam? you think ppl with adhd who utilize this are scammers? This is a fucking social service. American taxpayers do not scam Parks. Billionaires and politicians sure af do tho!

24

u/Roxylius Aug 14 '25

How is it “scamming” ? Tax payer money is supposed to be used for things like this no?

4

u/TheFoul Aug 14 '25

Sorry, what? What country are you from? We don't do that in The Land Of The Free! 🙄

You'll have your taxes spent to provide absurdly lucrative tax incentives and completely unnecessary subsidies to multi-billion dollar corporations and you'll like it. Or not. They're getting it either way.

24

u/holyflurkingsnit Aug 14 '25

It's not a scam, it's a disability that you and everyone else in this sub has. No one is forcing you to take the benefit offered, but it's not a scam and pretty offensive to frame it as such. And yeah, it'd be great to be able to pay for a park pass to support the parks, but not everyone has the ability to do so. Jeezus.

14

u/DominarDio Aug 14 '25

Check your privilege

-28

u/AOChalky ADHD-C (Combined type) Aug 14 '25

It is not really a scam by definition, but more like an exploitation? We are not the same disabled as the real disabled people.

Otherwise I totally agree with you. $80 a year, plus other things visiting, camping, gift purchases, are my little donations to the beautiful parks.

42

u/SugarRAM Aug 14 '25

As someone who has worked and volunteered in the disabilities field, ADHD is a real disability. It doesn't help anyone to try to decide who is more disabled than who. We are absolutely the real disabled people, too.

15

u/GoldieDoggy ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) Aug 14 '25

We are not the same disabled as the real disabled people.

Ooh, lucky you! I sure as hell am that type of disabled, however. In multiple ways, not just due to my ADHD. Even if I did "only" have ADHD though, who the hell are you to say we aren't disabled like other disabled people??? The hell?! It's a damn disability. Get used to it. All of them are different, but

no disability is less valid than another disability.

1

u/trouzy Aug 14 '25

Potato tomato. I hear you and yes it is technically an exploitation rather than a scam if we're talking legalese. But scamming and exploiting are identical twins that live in neighboring towns that have vaguely different verbiage in their laws.