Posted on 08/20/2007 7:41:24 AM PDT by Between the Lines
OPINION, August 20 /Christian Newswire/ -- "Do you know the fine for using someone else's handicapped parking permit is $300?" "That parking spot is saved for the disabled! You should be ashamed of yourself!" Nearly everyone with an invisible illness has been told, "You don't look disabled to me!" One of my friends replied, "Well, you don't look stupid to me." I just bite my lip to try to prevent the tears from forming, broken-hearted that I appear to be deceptive, when I would do anything to give back this parking perk that I use on a rare occasion.
As I circle the parking lot a fourth time on this day I hope for a spot to open up within two-hundred yards of the store, but there is nothing remotely close at this bustling superstore where I need to buy my prescriptions and milk for my toddler. My rheumatoid arthritis is flaring badly, causing extra fluid in my knees to dislocate pieces of loose bones. Every step is painful and unpredictable.
Finally I sigh in resignation and pull into the farthest "blue parking spot." I reach for the placard--the one that has a bold white symbol of a wheelchair--and no, I don't have a wheelchair--yet. So after fifteen years of having this "privilege" at my disposal I still warily scan the area before reluctantly dangling the placard from the rear view mirror. Is there anyone watching, wondering, or waiting, ready to confront me?
I've had scathing notes left on my windshield and many people, empowered by television exposés, have approached me with their opinions. Judgmental expressions and whispers sting just as much. My husband and I adopted a baby and when I would get my child of the car I would avoid eye contact with onlookers because I could hear their whispers of, "She's not disabled! Or--if she is--she has no right to have a child!"
Nearly 1 in 2 Americans (133 million) live with a chronic illness. It could be diabetes, cancer, cystic fibrosis, fibromyalgia or even chronic back pain. Many illnesses make walking long distances impossible because of limited lung capacity, physical pain, or unpredictable numbness in the legs. According to statistics provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, about 96% of these illnesses are invisible. There is no sign of the illness existing, nor the use of an assistive device like a cane or a wheelchair.
I began National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week in 2002, which is held this year Sept 10-16, 2007, after witnessing thousands of people who had frustrations, fears, loneliness, and bitterness, about feeling invalidated. One's illness, age, diagnosis, or level of disease degeneration, doesn't change the emotional pain.
Strangers and loved ones alike doubt the severity of our illness or even the diagnosis. We've heard, "You look so good! You must be feeling better." But we don't feel better. We just bought some fake tan in a bottle and pasted on a smile.
National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week is a time to acknowledge that invisible illness is more prevalent than we'd imagine and everyone--both those who are healthy and ill--can make a difference by encouraging someone with an invisible illness, rather than tearing someone down.
Are those parking spots painted blue because they give so many people the blues? That small area of square footage is a breeding ground for many frustrations as we are forced to defend our illness and character to total strangers. I'd gladly trade in my placard indefinitely for just a week of having my old body back when I could run, sit on the floor, or even hold a fork without tendons popping out of place.
I anticipate the day when a nationally designated system is formed. Texas law states that blue placards are for those who use assistive devices; red permits are for people with a "condition that impairs mobility." In other states, red symbolizes six months of disability and blue is permanent. It's confusing! And for one with invisible illness, the wheelchair symbol discredits both our physical pain and--in the eyes of others--our reputation. Until then, we rely on Invisible Illness Week bumper stickers.
The next time you see a healthy looking man loading groceries into his car--parked in the "blue spot"--don't glare. Stop and offer to help him, or just smile nicely, giving him the benefit of the doubt. Seventy percent of suicides have uncontrollable physical pain as a factor. Your smile may save his life. At the least, it will astonish him, perhaps providing him with genuine encouragement he hasn't felt for months.
“Those of you critcizing this woman have no idea in the world what you’re talking about.”
Isn’t the reaction on this thread against handicapped people, and the ability of some FReepers to make snap medical judgements without having a medical degree, simply amazing?
What do I care if someone uses a spot they shouldn’t? I don’t have one and I’m thankful for my health. As a result I’ll spend my time looking for a spot as close to the entrance as I can and not give those using handicap spots a 2nd thought. Too many other things to take care of in life.
...and include a photo of the person. I'm sure we've all seen young, energetic people use these spaces, then zip into a store. The extent of abuse of these placards is appalling.
As you keep reminding us...
It costs nothing- I used to install sidewalks among other things, and when installing as new I charged exactly nothing for building an access ramp.
I am sorry it is different in Californica, but that's not my problem.
BTW, A replacement pad w/ access ramps in two directions, removal + replacement was $2500.
Wow, really? I'll be sure to tell my wife that her paralysis wouldn't be so limiting if she didn't have such a crummy attitude.
I hope you never reach the point where you have to use one.
oh that’s funny. I can imagine the looks you got when you climbed off your bike. Where’d you hang the tag? ;-)
Oh, the irony!
really? where? legally, that is. and I don't expect you to be open minded enough to see where you are wrong and stereotypical. that takes something else.
I dunno. If sidewalks cost that much, it implies that when they tear up the sidewalk in front of my house, it costs almost as much to replace the sidewalk as it would to rebuild my house.
If you handle several curb cuts at once in an efficient manner, costs should be lower. But this is the government and its contractors, right?
At any rate, if you are putting in a new sidewalk or re-doing an old sidewalk anyway the curb cuts should of course be included.
Mrs VS
Congratulations regarding your grandmother, she sounds like a tough lady.
There are those people (myself included) who behave a certain way and work up a righteous indignation at those who do differently. I never litter and I get plenty PO'd at those who do. knowing someone else who arguably should have obtained a handicap hanger and didn't (of course, it was her choice) and getting worked up over that? Well, I think that takes a special person. There are people who abuse the system but don't dump on those who do need it because of those who use it and don't need it, or need it and don't use it.
The reality is that when someone pulls into an H-space and has the credentials they should be left alone. No one there has the intel to decide if that person is using that space validly, nor do they have the right to quiz that person to find out.
There are plenty of things in the world to get steamed up about w/out inventing extra based on imagined "facts".
I don’t use my tag on the bike - it has HC plates.
Your probable indignation if I were to suggest that random checks be made of users of handicapped spaces, similar to DUI checkpoints.
Short of that, just my eyes, ears and many years' experience before and after ADA.
How crooked does a person have to be before someone seeing them apparently misuse the system is allowed to have an opinion?
Again, I don't object to those who need it. Those of us on the outside of this, though, are the ones who see the teenager pull up in a sports car, pop the card from the glove box to the mirror, and walk inside to buy DVD's. I just want every single person who deserves that spot to get it...because it is free of those who would misuse it.
It isn’t about the handicap. It’s about the whining.
You have a handicap? So do I. Shut up and live with it.
random checks fo HC space users, eh?
how about random checks of sportscar users? or random checks of luxury car users? How about “lemme see your papers”
they did things like that in Europe about 60 years ago. I disagree with empowering the police to subject any group of people to scrutiny not otherswise sharead by all.
that said, I beleive that if somebody uses someone else’s HC card and/or plates, that person should be heavily fined. and if a HC person continuously lends their placard to others not qualified to use it, that placard should be forfeited and not reissued.
in CT the placards have numbers on them that can be cross checked via DMV. that can be done without the person being present, then if there’s a problem, the person can be confronted. OTherwise leave them be.
“Ask my poor husband about having a wife with the Jimmy Legs.”
http://www.tbs.com/video/0,,47742%7C314580%7C,00.html
Maybe that's why you "used" to install sidewalks.
Every General and Concrete contractor I ever dealt with on the design or inspection end of construction have always charged extra for ramps. Even from scratch.
as for what I addressed originally, replacing perfectly good curb, gutter and sidewalk. My post stands.
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