Disability advocate Martin Butcher said, too often, people in the community prioritise their own needs above those with disabilities, making life harder for them to get out and about with ease.

From the 2018-19 financial year to date, Wagga City Council's parking rangers have issued 878* fines for drivers misusing disabled parking spaces in the city.

The executive officer of Regional Disability Advocacy Services said when drivers illegally take a parking spot away from a disabled person, it forces them to "bend their plans or just give up" and go home.

He said they see similar "appalling" behaviour when it comes to accessible bathrooms at restaurants and shopping centres.

"Disabled bathrooms are often appalling and often misused," he said.

"They have become a storage room for mops, chairs and other things and it is not appropriate."

Mr Butcher said there needs to be a greater understanding about why accessible parking spaces are there, but also be aware that not all disabilities present themselves in a physical way.

"It is annoying when people (without a disability) use that spot for convenience," he said.

"However, there is also the issue where people who have hidden disabilities get abused for using them despite being entirely entitled to do so.

"I know a carer who was using a disabled parking spot and got a fine, but the person who they picked up had a disability.

"It is common to get people who are using them appropriately, but are being penalised."

During this week's Local Government NSW conference, the state's councils considered a motion to reform the eligibility criteria used by medical professionals to issue disabled parking permits.

Mr Butcher agreed there needs to be "clearer guidelines" about who can receive and use a permit and how it can be used.

"It is not for me to say, who receives a permit and how it can be used ... but what we don't want is people who don't need them, to have a permit," he said.

*These numbers provided by Wagga City Council are fines issued however due to various reasons, including permits being held but not being displayed properly, some of those fines have been waived and therefore may not accurately reflect the penalty notices which were ultimately enforced.