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