doesn't necessarily mean he's disabled. i know a few people who get to use handicap parking because they were in car accidents. they say it's basically as easy as getting a doctor's note saying your back is ****ed up and submitting it to the DMV, and they give you the thing to hang from your rearview.
my dad had 2 herniated discs in his back and he got one(even though 2 months of therapy fixed everything, the parking things still valid). never used it though...i needa find that thing.