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