Handicap Parking

The definition of Handicap is a circumstance that makes progress or success difficult per the Oxford dictionary. Another definition per the same dictionary is a condition that markedly restricts a person's ability to function physicall mentally, or socially. Though this definition is marked as possibly offensive.

The informal definition of invisble illness is any medical condition that is not outwardly visible to others, even health care professionals.

Either separately or together, both these defintions define who is able to park in a Handicap spot as long as they have a Blue or Red tag hanging or a designated handicap license plate.  In order to get one a person must have a doctor write a script saying they are in need of this type of parking. Red means it is a temporary handicap and as an expiration date while blue is permanent and I believe is good for 5 years.  Only the person with the disability is able to use the spot, wether they are driving or a passenger in a vehicle. If the person assigned to the handicap tag is not in the vehicle, the spot should not be used. Unfortunately many ignore this rule and will take advantage of the closer spot even if they are not the ones with the issue. It is fast becomong a pet peeve of mine.

The hard part to seeing a person in a handicap spot is knowing if they are the ones with the disability or are they just using the spot because someone in their household, not with them at the time, has one. An invisible illness is exactly that, invisible. A person may appear to be completely healthly parking in the spot yet suffer from an invisible illness like Rheumatoid Arthritis or Chronic Fatigue syndrome.  Sometimes it is hard to tell but sometimes it is very easy to see the person parking as no disability and is just using the space. It is these cases that piss me off as I consider it rude. It is even worse when a person parks in a handicap spot without any tag at all, regardless of the warnings of a steep fine.  I try and give the person the benefit of doubt when they have a legal tag hanging, try being the operative word.

I have a blue handicap placard and have had one for several years now. It was a struggle for me to finally ask for one as it meant I had to acknowledge that I have a disability. When I brought it up to my RA doc, she told me she would have writted a script for me several years before had I asked. We only use it when I am in the car and even then, it depends on tthe parking spaces. If Josh is driving, we may find a spot right next to one so won't use it or he will ask me if I need it. Unfortunately, the last several years most of the time I do so will park in one.

Parking in handicap parking can bring on a host of reactions. Thanfully they have all been nonverbal but I know of circumstances where people have been questioned and yelled at for using their placard. They have been told the spot is supposed to be for people in a wheelchair and that they don't have a "real" disability. This is ignorance on display. In my case, what people don't see is that I may be fine walking in but half way through shopping, will be extremely tired. My joints may be stiff that day or my knees may have given out from the start making walking a challenge. I have days where every step I make hurts so parking in a closer spot makes my life a little easier. Unless you know me and my situation, you don't know these issues though. When I park I get dirty looks or people who will walk slowly by just staring at me. Some will shake their heads or whisper something to the person they are walking with.

Yesterday we had a circumstance when pulling into the parking lot for our kids indoor soccer trainging related to handicap parking that set this post off. When pulling in, the two spots are a little off to the right of the main road in, right in front of the door. We had a car pull into the handicap spot, kind of turned some, in order to let his daughter out by the door. No tag was visible on the rear view mirror or on the liscense plate so we waited, backing up traffic in the process as we legitimately needed the spot. After a few minutes, his daughter finally got out and the guy turned so he could find another spot to park allowing us to pull into the handicap spot. As soon as we parked, Josh pulled the placard down as it is illegal to drive with it hanging on the rear view mirror. I was told this specfically by a police officer recently despite everyone leaving it while driving.

When Josh walked into the facility, Josh confronted the guy. His excuse was that is car wasn't turned off and that we could have still pulled into the spot. I wish I would have taken a picture of his car at the time in order to show him that there is no way we could have pulled into the spot. Josh said it was rude and inconsiderate. The guy disagreed simply saying he didn't turn his car off.  Josh was right in confronting the guy. Unfortunately this guy believes what too many people believe in regards to the spots. To these people it is ok to pull into a handicap spot for a few minutes as long as you don't turn your vehicle off or are not staying long. It is not ok and I consider it very rude using the spots this way, no matter how much of a rush or how busy things are. People, like myself, need these spots open to use.  It is a need not something we wished would happen.

With this specific training facility, usually only two of us use these two spots available. Yesterday we saw another valid car we didn't recignize in the other spot. Knowing that a parent in a wheelchair usually used taht spot, Josh told the owner of the facility that if the guy pulled up and needed the spot to let him know. He could always move the truck to a different spot so the guy in the wheelchair could have our spot and could come and pick me up by the door. This is showing respect to someone else since we had other options available at the time.

No one with a disability, silent or otherwise, wished for a disability just so they could have the perk of parking in a closer spot compared to others. Most in fact would give up their tag in a heartbeat if it meant not having to fight various illnesses or impairments every day of their lives. Unfortunately too many people don't see our side of things and think we are lucky. I do consider myself lucky that I am surrounded by a loving family and supportive husband but lucky to qualify for a blue handicap tag, yeah not so much.

In parting, if you don't have a blue or red handicap tag don't use the handicap spots unless someone with you at the time has one assigned to them.  Until tomorrow.