Mom With MS Finds Nasty Note After Parking In Handicapped Spot

Illinois Patch ^ | Nov 15, 2017 | Shannon Antinori

[KeyLargo]

Mom With MS Finds Nasty Note After Parking In Handicapped Spot

By Shannon Antinori, Patch National Staff | Nov 15, 2017 Updated Nov 15, 2017

"You need to think twice before judging someone," the Plainfield mom said. " You have no idea what they've been through." By Shannon Antinori, Patch National Staff | Nov 15, 2017 2:22 pm ET | Updated Nov 15, 2017 11:50 pm ET

PLAINFIELD, IL — From all outward appearances, Michele Clarke, 39, looks young and healthy. But 16 years ago, the Plainfield mom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Since then she has had to battle back from flare-ups that have at times left her using a cane or a wheelchair, and even hospitalized for weeks at a time.

"Then there's times when I'm able to go to the gym and build up my strength," she told Patch.

Like many who suffer from "invisible diseases," Clarke said that for many years she was hesitant about using the handicapped placard for fear of being judged.

"It almost gets to the point where I'm afraid to use it," she said, "just because I'm not in a walker or I'm not using a cane ... I may look good on the outside, but on the inside I'm struggling."

Her fears came true on Monday, Clarke said, when she took her 12-year-old daughter to a doctor's office on 127th Street in Plainfield. As she was getting into the car, her daughter handed her a note that had been left on the passenger side windshield.

[sheana]

That depends on where you live. In California we have permanent placards that hang from the rear window mirror. They’re free through the DMV. We also have disabled license plates but those you have to pay for. We also have temporary placards that hang from the mirror.

[from occupied ga]

People with heart problems don’t LOOK handicapped, but they can’t walk very far.

[Beagle8U]

“We also have disabled license plates but those you have to pay for.”

Are you sure about that? I think Fed law doesn’t allow charging for the Handicap plate.

[Drew68]

Like many who suffer from "invisible diseases," Clarke said that for many years she was hesitant about using the handicapped placard for fear of being judged.

Everyone has an invisible disability these days. I can't recall the last time I saw someone in a wheelchair using a handicapped spot. And I mean an actual wheelchair, not one of those motorized scooters for the morbidly obese.

I guess I can't blame them for staying home. All the handicapped spaces are taken and there's never anywhere for them to park.

[COBOL2Java]

My wife is deaf, and blind in one eye. She works late hours at a store. In our state, she is eligible for a handicapped placard for those times. Why? Because it enables her to park her car in a well-lighted section of the parking lot, near the front of the store. When she leaves work at 11:00pm, she is unable to hear a mugger sneaking up on her; being blind in one eye, neither is she able to easily see one approaching.

I guess some Freepers think she shouldn’t qualify for a handicapped placard. At the end of her 8-hour shift, she should just always go around and hope to find a co-worker to escort her, right? Every night?

[hecticskeptic]

Just browsing the comments here and agreeing with quite a few of them.... but then as we all know, there will be that inconsiderate bee otch whose actions make one suspicious of all people who park in HC spots.

[KeyLargo]

"The placards are for those that have a temporary condition, not something that will get better with time."

Wrong.

The woman has a permanent parking placard which must be renewed annually.

Believe it or not, people, including permanently handicapped do have more than one vehicle, or may have to operate a vehicle, not their own.

Illinois Secretary of State

How do I obtain a disability parking placard or disability license plates?

An applicant must complete a Persons with Disabilities Certification for Parking Placard/License Plates form (VSD 62) certifying the disability by a licensed physician. If the applicant has a permanent disability, the form must be mailed to the Secretary of State's office (by either the physician or the applicant). Based on the information on the certification form, a disability parking placard and/or disability license plates will be issued.

If the applicant has a temporary disability, he/she may take the form to a Secretary of State facility and receive a temporary disability parking placard, which is good for up to six months, depending on the disability.

[Redwood71]

I’m one of those that use a placard and do have open symptoms. But there are always going to be people that have an “opinion” that I am either cheating the system, stole the placard (which happens in western Washington often), or the illness I have doesn’t warrant the placard because I found a doctor to write it.

I stopped worrying about those people a long time ago. I don’t write the laws concerning this, but I am happy that those that need can get the help that have earned it.

I’m reminded of the people that walk into a public restroom with no one in it, and head immediately to the handicapped stall, in some cases stepping right in front of the person who needs it for the rails or the extra size for a chair or cane/walking device.

Or maybe there is a reason why the fine is so big for illegally parking in that set aside space that is limited by number and in some cases set up a long way from the entrance due to the location of the ramp.

In looking at the situation with the letter displayed, I have nothing to prove to the people that seem to take offence for disagreeing with the determination of my situation. They don’t support me, feed me, house me, or suffer the pain I have everyday as my illness follows its road to finally take me. I’ve got a lot more things in the bucket list than their limited life seems to hold if this is how they think and seem a need to react. I can’t help them. No one can.

rwood

[ClearBlueSky]

Well, there is-and should be- anger at people using handicapped spots when they’re not entitled. Happens a lot. What concerns me most is the fact that the daughter was conceived AFTER the woman was diagnosed with MS. I’m sorry, that’s not only selfish- it’s insane. Not only will your child have a handicapped mother, she will have to worry that she inherited the disease. I just don’t understand people who choose to do this to their children. Before a diagnosis is one thing-intentional reproduction afterward is- IMO-the height of arrogant selfishness.

[faucetman]

Handicapped? You mean “challenged”, right? /s

I hate the idea of handicapped parking spaces, period. It’s just another way to segregate society. “I’m special, I’ve got a handicapped permit, you don’t.”

“If you build it, they/he will come. Like FREE cheese. I’m not hungry, I’m not poor, but heh, it’s FREE.

Just like every other “perk/privilege” people take advantage at the expense of others.

First of all, there are WAY too many H/C parking spots. They are mostly empty.

Here is my solution. For every H/C spot have a NON H/C spot right next to it. Spread them out more. Let the rest of us (most of us) have a shot at the best parking spots too.

I remember before H/C parking spots, there were dead disabled people littering the parking lots. You had to swerve around them. Sometimes they were still alive shouting “ I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up.” /s (I know this shouldn’t NEED a sarc tag, but you ALWAYS need the sarc tag!)

Most of these people don’t work. Retired, disabled, lazy. They go to the stores during the day, when parking lots, and the stores are mostly empty.

If you are so impaired that you can’t walk an extra 20 feet, maybe you are too impaired to DRIVE?

I do make exceptions for veterans and anyone in a wheelchair. That’s what ADA was all about in the first place.

[Iscool]

A family walks in front of the car towards the store and the dad stares at the front of the car, then leaves the family and walks around to the back and looks at the back. He then walks up to the driver’s side window and knocks on it. I roll it down. He asks if I have a handicapped sticker. I tell him I don’t. He then says I’m parked in a handicapped space and must move. I tell him, “I’m not parked. I’m stopped. And if these other three stalls fill up I’ll move.” He left in a huff.

Backed in so no one could see you didn't have a handicapped plate, eh???

[COBOL2Java]

Virginia’s laws are similar. My wife’s disabilities are permanent (she was born with them) and thus has a permanent placard.

[Beagle8U]

I’d be willing to bet that she was driving her own car.

[faucetman]

“The woman had a handicapped placard, how can a third party judge if they are or are not handicapped?”

Easy, they weren’t in wheelchairs.

Too sick or feeble to walk from a regular spot, too sick or feeble to be driving.

BILLIONS spent on making ALL sidewalks accessible. I never see ANYONE in a wheelchair on the sidewalks.

Cost/benefit never considered in ADA.

[Delta 21]

I am still pissed about stepping in the cat water this morning at 3am when I got up to go pee. Does that cnn affiliate have legal representation?

[Flaming Conservative]

WTH? Who made YOU the handicap tag monitor? Those tags are obtained by a medical doctor certifying their necessity. A person who needs one may have a condition that would flare if they had to walk any distance. My husband has one because he has copd. He may look fine when he gets out of the car, but if he had to walk any distance,he would become extremely short of breath. I hope I never get to the point where I have nothing better to do than stand around and watch people with handicap tags to monitor if they really need one. Get a life!

[ronniesgal]

i got yelled at for parking too close to the entrance.
“ you should save that spot for an old person, or a mom with kids” go blow, parking police!

[Flaming Conservative]

No, they are NOT just for temporary conditions. They are valid for a certain number of years, then you order another one.

[b4me]

the person spewing hate in the note likely did more harm to themselves then to the woman or daughter.

To write or speak such anger filled words releases chemicals that cause harm to the body systems. The person reading should not take it personally or should quickly forgive so their own body doesn’t start releasing harmful chemicals.

[sheana]

OOps you’re right. For some reason I thought they were a $30 add on. I have a permanent placard so I knew they were free. Mea culpa.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr07