| Have you ever seen someone get out of a | | | | designed to help those maneuver |
| car parked in a space reserved for the | | | | themselves and their assistive devices |
| disabled, who did not LOOK disabled? Did | | | | out of the car door. When someone fills |
| it make you very uncomfortable or even | | | | up these isles, a person could get |
| upset? Did you let them know of your | | | | blocked in or out of their vehicle. |
| disapproval by giving them a dirty look | | | | Second, there are spots strictly set |
| or yelling something at them? | | | | aside for those using wheelchairs or |
| Well, you are not alone. Many people are | | | | motor scooters. Not every parking lot |
| very disturbed by the sight of a | | | | has them, but for those that do, they |
| seemingly mobile person stealing the | | | | are clearly marked, "Van Accessible." |
| space of someone who is truly in need of | | | | These spaces are 96" wide, with a |
| it. After all, we want to protect the | | | | stripped 96" space to the side, allowing |
| rights of people for whom these spaces | | | | the person to maneuver their chair or |
| are reserved! | | | | scooter out with a lift or ramp. It is |
| However, in wanting to help those who | | | | not illegal for someone without a chair |
| deserve these parking spaces, we | | | | to park in a van accessible space, but |
| actually may be hurting someone who does | | | | it should be left open for those with |
| have a legal right and a legitimate need | | | | the specific need, if there are other |
| to park there. How can this be true, you | | | | spaces available. |
| ask? Isn't it obvious who is and who is | | | | On the other hand, the rest of the |
| not disabled? The answer is... NO. | | | | reserved spaces are properly referred to |
| The qualifications for the general | | | | as "accessible parking spaces." They are |
| accessible parking spaces include those | | | | marked with a sign that often has a logo |
| using chairs, walkers, crutches, canes | | | | of a wheelchair. Because of the |
| and assistive dogs. Nonetheless, most of | | | | wheelchair symbol, many people deduce |
| us do not realize the qualifications | | | | that the spaces are only for those using |
| also include certain impaired functions | | | | chairs. Nevertheless, the current logo |
| of the heart or lungs, as well as | | | | actually signifies there is |
| conditions which are worsened to a | | | | "accessibility" to ramps and shortened |
| specified impairment by walking a | | | | distances to accessible entrances. It is |
| certain distance. | | | | also used as the universal and |
| As we can see, people with a variety of | | | | international symbol for "disability," |
| disabilities may qualify to park in | | | | even though it is not restricted to |
| these spots. Moreover, not all | | | | those using a chair. |
| impairments can be readily evident to | | | | We would love to see them change the |
| the onlooker. Because of this, we refer | | | | signs, so that there is no longer such |
| to these conditions which cause | | | | confusion. Appel noted, "Perhaps only |
| disabilities that are not so apparent | | | | visible physical disability is implied |
| from the outside, as "invisible | | | | by such a symbol, thereby fostering a |
| disabilities." | | | | certain prejudice toward those with |
| There are thousands of people who are | | | | invisible disabilities. A possible |
| forced to contend with serious | | | | solution being bandied about is to |
| illnesses, injuries and circumstances, | | | | change the sign to a simple blue field |
| which have left them with mountains to | | | | with a bold white capital letter "D." |
| climb every time they take a step. Most | | | | At any rate, the purpose of the |
| people do not realize a person can have | | | | accessible spaces is to assist those |
| hindrances on the inside, that may not | | | | with many types of disabilities and |
| visible on the outside. Their | | | | disabling conditions. For those with |
| restrictions may not be conspicuous at a | | | | various types of limitations, the spots |
| glance, but their pain, limitations and | | | | help to make it possible for the visitor |
| inability to function normally is all | | | | to shop and run errands. |
| very debilitating in reality. | | | | How do you know who can park in an |
| Allan Appel, a disability columnist | | | | accessible space and who cannot? Look |
| added, "Think of a severe flu condition. | | | | for a temporary or permanent placard in |
| All of your energy is sapped, and every | | | | the front window or a disabled license |
| muscle aches. You would just as soon | | | | plate. These items are received through |
| jump off a bridge as get out of bed. Of | | | | an application form in which a patient's |
| course, most flu symptoms subside and | | | | doctor must fill out for them, through |
| disappear in a matter of days." | | | | the Department of Motor Vehicles. |
| What may seem easy to you, may seem like | | | | The DMV has specific guidelines and |
| a 14,000 foot hurdle to them. Being able | | | | requirements the person must meet in |
| to park close to the entrance of a | | | | order to receive a placard or license |
| building when they need to, allows them | | | | plate. They take into consideration the |
| to run an errand they otherwise would | | | | impairments due to the illness or |
| not have been able to conquer. Many even | | | | injury, as well as the implications and |
| collapse in stores, become very dizzy | | | | aggravations of symptoms and |
| and weak or even black-out. | | | | limitations. Therefore, if a person is |
| Here are just a few invisible reasons a | | | | issued a license and is displaying it, |
| person may be able to park in the | | | | then they have the LEGAL, MEDICAL RIGHT |
| accessible spaces: | | | | TO PARK THERE. |
| Back Injury, Brain Injury, Chronic | | | | Don't Judge By Appearances! |
| Illness, Heart Condition, Muscular | | | | Anyone who parks in a space reserved for |
| Disorders, Neurological Disorders, | | | | those with accessibility needs, must |
| Seizure Disorders, Spinal Disorders, | | | | display their placard or license or they |
| Bone Disorders, Chronic Injuries, Organ | | | | can be fined. You can call the sheriff's |
| Transplant, Oxygen Impairment, Difficult | | | | department of that county if it is not |
| Pregnancy, Prosthetic, Surgery and | | | | on private property. However, the |
| several others. | | | | vehicle must be illegally parked when |
| They Really Need It? | | | | the officer arrives. Do not call 911! |
| For many, the shortened distance from | | | | Or, you can notify a security guard to |
| the parking lot allows them to: walk | | | | ticket them or the store manager to page |
| into a building to use an electric cart | | | | the owner by license plate number and |
| or wheelchair; avoid dangerous exposure | | | | vehicle description. |
| to heat, cold and exhaust fumes; use | | | | But, what about those people who use |
| their energy for shopping; or to get | | | | their relative's placard, when their |
| back to their car when they have used up | | | | relative is not even with them? Well, |
| all of their energy inside. | | | | this is definitely immoral, selfish and |
| As you can imagine, it is very | | | | disrespectful as well as being illegal; |
| uncomfortable when people stare, because | | | | there is NO excuse of this dishonest |
| they think you do not look like you need | | | | behavior. However, unless you know them |
| to park in a reserved parking space. As | | | | and know without a doubt is not their |
| a result, many people with these | | | | placard, it is in the best interest of |
| circumstances are left feeling afraid to | | | | those of us who suffer from invisible |
| use the very spaces that were intended | | | | disabilities to just smile and assume |
| to help them, even when they need it! | | | | they have a right to be there. |
| Honorably, most with invisible | | | | These reserved spaces are designed to |
| disabilities genuinely want to leave | | | | help those in need of them for a number |
| these spaces open for others if | | | | of reasons. Without these spaces, |
| possible. Most will: not park in a space | | | | seemingly simple tasks in life would be |
| that is intended for wheelchairs and | | | | excruciatingly painful, overwhelming, |
| scooters; try to park somewhere else if | | | | impossible or even life threatening for |
| there are not several spaces left for | | | | thousands of people, whether the |
| those who may need one; just have | | | | disability is visible or invisible to |
| someone drop them at the door; or not | | | | others. |
| park in an accessible space at all on a | | | | Finally, it is honorable for you to care |
| "better" or "good" day. | | | | if these spots are being abused by those |
| What we usually do not realize, is that | | | | who do not need them. Just remember, as |
| most people with illnesses and injuries | | | | shown in this article, you cannot be the |
| would jump at the chance to trade their | | | | judge of who deserves to park in the |
| plates and placards in for the ability | | | | accessible spaces and who does not, just |
| to walk from the farthest parking space! | | | | by looking at them. |
| To those who are healthy and able to | | | | Appel plead, "Compassion means not |
| walk, they see these spaces as a bonus | | | | sneering at or verbally harassing |
| or luxury! But, for those who are sick | | | | someone who does not appear to be |
| or in pain, it is just a reminder of | | | | disabled but occupies a handicapped |
| what they have lost. After all, these | | | | parking space. The operative word here |
| spaces do not make life easy, they make | | | | is 'appear.'" |
| it possible. | | | | Therefore, if a person is displaying a |
| Who SHOULD Park There? | | | | license to park in an accessible parking |
| First of all, no person has the right to | | | | space, try offering a hand, instead of a |
| park in the access isles, which are | | | | visual judgment; after all..."the people |
| placed next to both accessible and van | | | | you are graciously intending to defend, |
| accessible spaces. These are the striped | | | | may be standing right in front of you!" |
| areas next to the parking places and are | | | | |