“The office would be hindered enough if I had one less body part. To put it bluntly, I would have to have one less arm or one leg, then I would be allowed to stand here,” explains Plikat in an interview with SAT.1 breakfast television.

Degree of disability and landmarks

The administrative assistant lost his right leg in a traffic accident in 2014 and is now lying with a grade disability of 80 and the mark “G” for disabled. He was not awarded the “aG” mark for exceptional mobility impairment, which is necessary for entitlement to disabled parking spaces.

Everyday life is made more difficult by a lack of recognition

“What makes me particularly angry is that it’s not properly recognized that you actually have an impairment. In my opinion, things are dismissed far too quickly,” says Plikat. For him, this means that, for example, he is not allowed to use the disabled parking space at his three-year-old daughter’s daycare center and often has to walk long distances – with considerable pain.

State representative for the disabled calls for reform

Bremen’s state commissioner for the disabled, Arne Frankenstein, sees a need for reform: “Mr. Plikat’s case shows very clearly that the hurdles for this symbol aG are very high. That’s why I believe that there needs to be a significant increase in flexibility in these requirements.”

Petition for parking rights for leg amputees

That’s why Plikat has one petition for the parking rights of leg amputees. Over 60,000 people have already signed. “For me it can’t really be that one-sided Amputee has to fight for something at all. The topic of humanity is very, very important here. “Put yourself in this person’s shoes,” he demands.