D.C. to Make Meters More Accessible

"It's difficult to find a parking spot in D.C., but it is even more difficult to find an accessible space where a ramp can come down from a van, and even more difficult to find a parking meter that is not in a flower bed or surrounded by roots," he said.

"The way we see it is that this is the nation's capital and where the ADA was signed," Holt said. "This is a big step in this direction."

The new law on parking permit reciprocity will allow Isabel Kessler to visit the city's museums and attractions more often. The 10-year-old from Chevy Chase has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair.

Her father, Lewis Kessler, said the District's refusal to honor the family's Maryland handicapped placard made it difficult to attend events in the city. Some states allow holders of handicapped placards issued in other states to park for free at metered spaces.

"D.C. was basically an island in this whole debate," Kessler said.

"It sent a message out that if you have a disability, it will be extremely difficult to enjoy D.C."

The suit was filed shortly before the dedication of the National World War II Memorial on the Mall in May 2004.

It contended that thousands of veterans with disabilities should be able to visit the memorial without getting a parking ticket and that the city should recognize their out-of-state handicapped parking permits and not require them to obtain city permits.