Access for disabled?

[Verket]

Hi, how is the access for people with disabilities? Is there a parking lot with easy access to the beach?

I have a handicap park permit in Norway, can I use that in the US?
Verket

[Jojo]

We spoke to the California Department of Motor Vehicle and they informed us you have to fill out an application and bring it into one of their offices. They'll process it right there and give you a placard for your vehicle. Here's the application:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg195.pdf

Be sure to have the doctor fill out their portion of this application.

Here is the main web site for the California Department of Motor Vehicles

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/

Here are some areas of interest in Laguna Beach that are wheelchair-accessible:

Crescent Bay Point Park offers several paved paths - but - no restrooms.
Heisler Park offers a paved path at the cliff edge which provides ocean views, but there are some short steep areas. Stay closer to Cliff Drive where the paths are flatter. From the south end of Heishler Park you can get to Laguna's Main Beach, but that path turns into stairs, so you'll want to take this alternate route on the city sidewalks: head down Aster Avenue to the Laguna Art Museum and turn right at Pacific Coast Highway.
Main Beach offers a wheel-chair accessible boardwalk parallel to the shore a few hundred yards from the surf.
Downtown Laguna Beach is generally flat and the curb cuts are good. Most restaurants and shops have wheelchair accessible front entrances.
Aliso Beach County Park - the sidewalk is level with the parking lot. However, something to keep in mind, the men's restroom will not be handicap accessible until mid-July 2007.

Best regards,

Jojo Bergstrom
Editor-in-Chief
LagunaBeach.com

[Verket]

Wow, how kind of you to investigate this for me! I am speech less! I have now downloaded the form.

On the form it said "send to...."...

You tell me to "bring it to their office...."...

I am going to SFO in July next year and then down south to Orange county. Do you think it is a good idea for me to mail it to this office pretty soon? Or do you think I should rather bring this application with me? I would think I need to take care of this before we travel...

If I mail it, how much time do you think they need? I could also attach a copy of my own parking permit. Or could I fax this, maybe? That would be faster. Mail would take at least several weeks.
Mosken

[Jojo]

The California of Department Motor Vehicle initially told us they would not mail a placard overseas and that you had to come in to one of their offices once you're in town - but we checked again and now they say they will mail it, but it will take 6 - 8 weeks for them to process and mail back to you in Norway.

[Verket]

You are an angel! Thank you, thank you! Yep, I think it will be hard enough for my husband to drive around...We are not used to your traffic!
Mosken