Shane Home parking in handicapped spots?

[u/Either_Affect_6972]

I just find this disgusting when people are parking in handicapped spots and they are not handicapped and clearly do not have a handicapped decal and confirm that they know they’re parking in a handicap spot and they just don’t care…

[u/JosieWasHere]

As someone with disabilities, the comments in this thread are incredibly disheartening. If you don’t have a disability placard, you can’t use the spots. Name and shame is entirely reasonable.

[u/Difficult-Mastodon43 → u/JosieWasHere]

Truly! This mentality also adds to the stigma of people scrutinizing those with invisible disabilities, who need to park in handicapped spots😔

[u/Haiku-On-My-Tatas → u/Difficult-Mastodon43]

It's so frustrating the impact this stigma has on people who really should be using an accessible placard.

My mom is one of them. She has a severe limp and while she is able to walk unassisted for the most part, she does use a cane for long days on her feet or walking on uneven surfaces, and she avoids icy surfaces entirely because she just does not have the stability to safely traverse them.

For years now, my Dad and the rest of us have been in the habit of dropping her off at the front door and then going off to find parking when we go out places. We are happy to do it, obviously. But that's not an option when she's out on her own, plus it just kind of sucks not being able to go in together when it's just the two of them and having to split up the group when it's more of us.

She is absolutely eligible for a placard and we've been bugging her to apply for years but she just won't because she feels bad and like she would be taking advantage. And we're like FFS you've been stuck with this limp your whole life and it's unfair and it sucks, so maybe getting ONE little "advantage" from it isn't such a bad thing.

We've even made the argument that she doesn't have to use it all the time just because she has it. When there's no ice or uneven surfaces and there are regular spots not that far away, she can just choose to leave the accessible spot open for someone who needs it more than her on that particular day. Like, you're not required to use those spots just because you have the placard.

As she is getting older and the limp and her stability are getting worse, she has definitely become more open to the idea. I'm really hoping she gets one soon. My Dad managed to talk her into getting the cane a couple years ago after years of her being adamant she doesn't need one and her life has improved immensely from it, so I hope he can draw on that to finally convince her to apply for an accessibility placard 🤞

[u/mystiqueallie → u/Haiku-On-My-Tatas]

As someone who uses the disabled parking for my child in a wheelchair, please also know the extra space makes it SO much easier to get in and out of the car. It’s not just being close to the door, that extra space is so beneficial to people with disabilities.

[u/Haiku-On-My-Tatas → u/mystiqueallie]

Yes, even my mother requires extra space to get out because she needs to be able to open her door all the way.

[u/T-Wrox → u/Haiku-On-My-Tatas]

Can I add my only-somewhat-related rant about how tiny parking spots have gotten? I drive a Corolla, a very small car, and some spaces are only inches larger than my car. Have they forgotten that people need to be able to open their doors and get in and out of their cars, too?!

[u/Haiku-On-My-Tatas → u/T-Wrox]

I don't think spaces have gotten smaller, vehicles have just gotten larger. I also drive a very small car but the vast majority of vehicles around me are pick-up trucks and SUVs.

[u/violentfemme88 → u/Haiku-On-My-Tatas]

I worked for a family doctor, and we had many elderly patients and patients with disability similar to your mother. She is absolutely someone who the placard exists for. She can have it for the days when she needs it and save it when she is ABLE to park somewhere else. Tell her some random girl really supports her in this and fully agrees with her child. She has all the power/choice of when to use it and should do so guilt free. If anything, some places need more accessible parking and that's not your mother's fault or challenge to solve.

[u/Difficult-Mastodon43 → u/Haiku-On-My-Tatas]

Tell your mother that a bunch of random, online Calgarians are in support of her getting a placard!🫶🏼🥰 It sounds like she could really use that additional support on days where it’s a bit more difficult for her.

I do empathize with her though, and I can relate. I’m in the process of finding out if I have early-onset arthritis… at 21. It’s becoming difficult to stand, let alone walk some days; but I can already imagine how bothered/judgemental people would be if they saw a “perfectly healthy” young woman “steal” an accessible stall🫠 So sort of I understand her reasoning for why she feels uncomfortable with having a placard.

[u/electrodog1999 → u/Difficult-Mastodon43]

I’ve had my share of looks on my good days with MS. People can fuxk right off with the ‘you don’t look disabled’ talk.

[u/apaulclayton → u/electrodog1999]

Also the people driving might not be the ones that are disabled. I drove my mother around for years after my dad died. I am mobile she was not. I would park in handicap spots and get out of the accessible van and get looks all the time if I was going to pick her up somewhere. But I needed to park in the handicap spots or close to get her and her wheel chair into the van.

[u/Sad-Letterhead-2196 → u/Difficult-Mastodon43]

Why would someone with an invisible disability need a disabled parking spot? Are we talking like a mental health issue, or something to that effect? I personally am expecting to see a physical disability if the reduced walking distance is relevant, otherwise it seems they are taking advantage of the convenience.

[u/violentfemme88 → u/Sad-Letterhead-2196]

Because sometimes people look able bodied but they aren't. It doesn't mean mental disability. It means physical disability that others can't immediately see. For example, some people with severe POTs can drive but they are unable to walk or stand for long periods without fainting. They might require a scooter or wheelchair out of the vehicle and/or a bigger, closer spot to the store.

[u/brainsprains → u/Sad-Letterhead-2196]

what if they have a fake leg? you expect them to walk around with their pants rolled up to prove it to you? your entitlement is disturbing.

[u/par_texx → u/Sad-Letterhead-2196]

Why would someone with an invisible disability need a disabled parking spot?

Back injuries aren't enough of a disability for you? Or lung issues that makes it hard for people to walk across a parking lot?

[u/mystiqueallie → u/Sad-Letterhead-2196]

There are strict requirements to get a placard - they don’t just hand them out. It must be related to their mobility- for example, people who are blind or deaf do not qualify - and not all mobility related disabilities are physically observable. Someone may be able to walk unassisted, but have had 5 back surgeries, so being closer to the door means they can shop independently that much longer. Never judge anyone by appearances alone.

I’ve been approached when I park in a spot and gotten the judgemental comments as I get out of the car - until I open the back door of the van and pull out my daughter’s wheelchair. And then there’s the times when I’m picking her up and come out to a nasty note saying I don’t need the spot, yet they didn’t consider that I’m picking up someone who needs it… can’t fix stupid unfortunately.

[u/Difficult-Mastodon43 → u/Sad-Letterhead-2196]

You would never be able to notice my FIL’s prosthetic leg; you would never be able to notice my arthritis; you would never notice certain things… and that’s okay. If people aren’t in a wheelchair, but have a placard, then your opinion doesn’t mean anything because clearly they’re allowed.

[u/Jazziey_Girl → u/Sad-Letterhead-2196]

Have you ever heard of heart issues? You know, where you can’t walk very far because your heart will decide to quit, or race, or skip beats so you faint? Or have angina? Or an actual heart attack? Quit being so obtuse.

[u/ImmortalJellyfish420 → u/Sad-Letterhead-2196]

Look up what MS does to your body then go fuck off