Rude People

[Gordon]

I am really MAD about the people who have no consideration for people in Wheelchairs or ECV's. After a week of looking at peoples butts I am tired of the way they just walk in front of you and just look back as if you are problem in their way.
This time I have my ECV and the problem is worse, if I go slow they cut in front of me and cause me to stop suddenly, which causes people behind me to crash into me. If I try to go quicker than the people to get ahead, I notice that most of them walk as they were DRUNK! not knowing weather to go left or right!
I actually had a child jump infront of me and wave his arms just to see if I could stop in time not to hit him!!:mad:

Once by accident at Biergarten at Epcot I backed into a woman while parking my ECV, I apoligized and once I was parked and got out of my ECV to hobble into the restraunt to eat her husband elbowed me on thier way out almost causing me to fall!

:(
Gordon

[teri]

:::sigh::: I am very sorry that you had those experiences. You are not alone, I am afraid. Here is another thread of other people's similar experiences...
a day in a wheelchair at Epcot (http://64.225.125.24/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15452)

[SueM in MN]

With some people, you just can't win. There are some who would like to keep people with disabilities invisible. Fortunately, there are some nice people in the world and you hope to come across the nice ones as oftne as possible.

[olena]

Holy Cow! That's just plain rotten, especially that kid. My mother would've jerked a knot in my tail, on the spot! I am so sorry you were treated that way. It would've had me in a tizzy for the rest of the day.

If it helps, there are nice people out there, as I'm sure you know. Even at WDW. They're just not as obvious as we'd love them to be.

*snickers* I know this isn't very constructive, but I think it would be hilarious to sell ECV's and wheelchairs with electric cattle prods mounted on the front. If folks are gonna behave like cattle......ZAP!

[LindaDVC]

My husband always says -- people step in front or a chair and expect it to stop! He is an experienced driver so with novices at WDW the ambulatory folks should be careful but they are not!!!

Add a service dog and people also stop and talk. One person asked if she could take a picture of our family ---but we noticed lots of others snapping our photo and videoing our approach! Ned is a gorgeous golden and gets lots of attention.

Linda

[Wheelsie]

I've had the cattle prod suggestion brought up to me on many occasions!! :)

But when I was reading the post to DH..he thought I was going to say CATAPULT!!!!!

I think I like the latter idea better.....

SHHHHHHH-KUNK!!!!!!

:jester: :jester: :bounce: :bounce: :jester: :jester:

[Gordon]

I was thinking about a AIR HORN like those used on boats, if someone got in my way I would blast the horn causing them to leap out of my way!:D

[lisapooh]

Gordon,
My daughter threatened to buy me one. How about a cowcatcher to mow them down with and push them out of the way?
It is really fustrating at times. Especially when you warn them and then they get mad at you for being there. Been cursed out a few times when I've told someone to watch out as they are walking in front of me or precariously close to the wheels.:(
I really thing AB need to realize that they need to be responsible too and assume that a person in a wheelchair has the complete responsibility to avoid accidents with them. After all would they walk in front of a car and play dodge with that? I don't think so.
I've learned to handle all sorts of barriers but the people are the most difficult to deal with.

[SueM in MN]

Some people DO walk out in front of cars without looking and expect they will stop. My oldest DD drives thru downtown Minneapolis for school andd finds people jumping out in front of her all the time.
I think some of the same people who jump in front of wheelchairs at WDW, probably jump out in front of cars.
i like the catapult idea thought. My DD wouold really enjoy catapulting people out of her way.

[tink2dw]

My DD was pushing her stroller with Grandbaby in it between Small World and Pooh when this Ladie decided the line was too long and in stepping back to get out of the crowd,she almost stepped in the stroller ON the BABY!!! DD yelled watch out for my baby!! And then the Lady cussed DD out!?!?:( :(

[Andrew Bichard]

I hate people who cut in front of my powered wheelchair in slow moving lines. Two recent occasions come to mind, one at MK closing when I was part of the crowd moving slowly up the ramp to the monorail, the other at the end of a Tarzan Rocks show when I was part of the crowd heading back into the rest of AK.

Because people stop dead in front of me, I hold back five foot or so to give me a safe stopping distance. People behind me assume I am not trying to keep up with the crowd and 'overtake', filling in that gap in front. If I fall back another five feet the cycle just starts again. So now, I shout at them explaining why I was holding back, and if they don't get behind me again, I take it as their consent to my riding six inches behind their feet, with the inevitable consequences.

Another one that gets to me are people who 'fill in' in front of me when say, I am watching the performers on the Boardwalk.

My final grumble is about crowds watching Tappestry at Epcot. I am not near a special wheelchair enclosure so line up right behind the white line with everyone else. Then as the parade approaches, the guy on my right leans out to get a better view with his camcorder completely blocking my view.

Andrew

[lisapooh]

It's no better at the handicapped areas. Unfortunately Disney has choosen to place the crosswalks right by the handicapped area and always between it and the approaching parade. No way to take a decent pick as you constantly have people crossing between you and the parade.:mad:

[scroot]

My favorite are the people who walk backward. They just decide to take two or three steps back from what they are gawking at as though there isn't anyone around. There is an often crossed fine line between getting lost in the Disney magic and losing your common sense.:p

[Cheshire Figment]

I'm a supporter of the air horns. I wonder if they are available in lime green? :confused:

However, the clamps in the back of an ECV designed to hold a cane will also fit a cattle prod!!!!

[sha_lyn]

I'm "just visiting". I as a person who is not disabled love the idea of the air horn. I became very aware of the treatment of those in chairs when I still in High School and my Best friend's fiance was in a wheel chair. Later I was freinds with someone who had a circulatory diease and lost one leg and 1/2 his foot on ther other one. His wife and I almost got into a fist fight with a couple of punks who wanted the handicap spot we were pulling onto. They kept yelling it did not matter if she had handicap plates they were in the parking lot first and it was the only space left. I also have a close friend who is particially paralized and blind in one eye. I could not beleive the way one woman spoke to him becasue she tried to cut around him on his "bad" side and he did not see her and bumped her. I was ready to run after her and he begged me not to. He said he was use to it. I hate the idea anyone would have to get use to people being rude to them becasue of their disability. Hope you don't mind the visit. LOL

[FergieTCat]

I confess, I once stood behind a lady in a wheelchair because I wanted to take pictures at the Tapestry of Nations. I asked her and her husband if they minded me standing there (I wasn't touching her chair, but I didn't want to invade their space) and they told me to go right ahead. The woman was glad she could be of service (truly she said that!!) I don't think I managed to wander into a handicapped seating area, but in any event, I was permitted to stand there for the whole parade.

But, no, I would never purposely cut off someone in a wheelchair or an ECV. In fact, after reading these past few posts I am sitting here shaking my head wondering how rude people can possibly be. If my mother caught me doing this stuff, she'd throttle me (yes, I'm 40, but she still keeps me in line!)

But then again, I live in New York City, so why am I even surprised????

Donna

[SueM in MN]

sha_lynn and FergieTCat, you are welcome here anytime. You both sound considerate and would be welcome to take pictures by us any time.

Most people (wheeled or unwheeled) just want to be treated with respect. People need to realize that a wheelchair or ecv is part of the wheelchair user's personal space.
My DD has had her wheelchair invaded several times. Once, someone sat their child on her footrests (while she was sitting in the wheelchair) while we were in a line that had stopped for a few minutes. Waiting for a parade at MK, DD was out of her wheelchair sitting on the curb. Someone sat their child in her wheelchair. At Fantasmic and the Indiana Jones show, people who were "standing room only" have leaned against her wheelchair and one family sat their toddler on her headrest (she was in the wheelchair at the time).
We've also experienced the "fill in the line" situation where we were trying to maintain a safe following distance or saving room to turn.
That's the type of rude behavior that happens all the time. Some of it is from people not realizing how much room a wheelchair needs, but some is just plain rude. People would not sit their child on another family's stroller (or maybe they would), but a wheelchair is fair game.

[sha_lyn]

I can not imagind someone sitting their child in your DD's chair or on a part of it while she is in it. Probably the same type of person that sat at our table the other day at Mcdonalds. If she had asked I probably wouldn't haveminded but she sat her son at atable for 2 (there was another table of 2 next to it). I was sitting a table for 4. My 2 kids food was still there but they were playing. Next thing I know this woman sits on my pocketbook rght next to me an puts her daughter in front of my sons food on the ohter side. I asked her did she not see me sitting there and she just ignorred me and kept eating. This was in the indoor playground area. the kids never did play, and there were empty tables in the main part of the resturant. It still makes no sence to me at all.

[FergieTCat]

Sue --

Thank you. :D

As I've mentioned, I like it over here because there's so much positive energy. I am also learning alot about being gracious.

I will continue to be forever amazed at how inconsiderate people can be, because it takes just as much energy to use manners.

Donna

[desianne]

I know exactly what you mean! It's so annoying especially when you are trying to leave
the parks at closing. I have little patience I must confess and by the end of the day, I'm
fed up. If I'm going along at a normal, even pace and someone cuts in front of me, I don't
even try to stop. If they get run into it's their problem. Unless it's a child and then I do
stop. It's so frustrating though and hard. I did accidently run into a kid once. He jumped in
front of me and I stopped immediately but sometimes you get an ECV that doesn't stop
immediately and keeps rolling for a foot or two. It wasn't my fault but you still feel bad.
Once, at Universal, there was a big rainfall. After when the park was closing and we were
leaving, all of a sudden my ECV started picking up speed. I couldn't slow it down or stop
it. I took my hands off and it still kept going, I tried putting it in reverse and it just sped up
in reverse. Finally I pulled the keys out and the thing stopped. The people at Universal
said it must have got a short from the rain. That was scary!

[s&k'smom]

Just read all the threads, holy moly. I like the cattle prod that can catapult. It's amazing I really don't think most people have a clue how rude they really are. Too bad we could'nt video tape, how embaressed would they be to see how they are acting. It's like someone committing a crime and they are not sorry until they are caught. Sorry about the bad experiences, have had a few of my own with my PDD son. People have given us the look, or whispered like we can't tell what they are saying. It's nice we have a place to go on this board to vent, thanks for sharing everyone, I feel better knowing I'm not alone.

[momejay]

How about a towel to pop 'em in the can?
Better yet a squirt gun that shoots ice water (Buzz Lightyear style) on the front of the ECV?

My mom had some kid try to hurdle her in a ECV.
I have had people try to sit on or lean on my son's specialized stroller.
People have accidentally sat in his lap, (while waiting in line) & then yelled at us for having the stroller in the line. I didn't even have time to say anything & they were looking for a CM to throw me out of line.

[Michigan]

On our last trip a man fell over and landed in my Megan's lap stood himself up and started walking off. I grabbed his arm and made him stop then I told him the least he could do was tell her he was sorry for landing in her lap and ask if she was ok. He did and then a woman that had seen the fall started walking behind him telling him he was the rudest person she had ever seen. It was pretty funny.

[TIGGERSMOM]

I love the suggestions!!

We are a family that had a child with a disabiliy that was not apparent. He had to use the HP stall for the space. The remarks he got when he would come out were unbelievable. I hate to say some where from people with disabilities themselves. He was very good about it and just say that sometimes thngs aren't what they seem and problems aren't always obvious.
We were lucky his problem was surgically correctable when he reached puberty.

And it is not only the guests, the CM's should realize just because you are in a wheelchair/ECV your brain is not atrophied. It got to be a standing joke how many times my DF would ask a question and the CM would direct the answer to me or my DM. We are thinking about a sign for the convention:

My lungs don't work - the rest is fine!!

I have forgotten how great this board is.

[LindaDVC]

When we are in restaurants I often am asked what DH wants to eat?

I smile:D and say I have no idea.
When this happens DH takes over the ordering and I become mute. He orders my meal including things like she would like extra sweet and low for her coffee, etc etc

They usually get the point and give him the bill at the end of the meal! The tip reflects whether how the service ends up!!

Linda

:rolleyes:

[itscc2u]

I've been MIA for a bit due to my health and just had to share an experience I had last week in a grocery store.

I suffer from Lupus,Fibromyalgia, asthma, kindey problems , IBS just to name a few. I have good days, so-so days, bad days and horribly bad days.

Well this was a horribly bad day. First off I cant find a handicapped parking space and I notice that in one of them is a car with no plates or placard indicating handicapped. I write down the plate and as I circle around one more time a spot opens up. I hobble or as my DH likes to call it I do the "old lady shuffle"( my lupus/fibro tend to affect my legs the worst)

So I shuffle in go to customer service give them the tag # and ask them to please page the person to remove their vehicle from handicapped parking because they have no tag. I then get the key to one of the ECV's they have and start rolling through the store to get the few things I need.

The aisles are wide and you can easily get 2 carts down the aisles with lots of room to spare. Well I get to the cereal aisle and I cant get through because this lady has her cart parked in the middle of the aisle and I asked her politely if she could move her cart so I get around. I cannot type what she said but the obscenities that came out of this womens mouth were horrid and she ranted and raved about how handicapped people think they are special and own the world and deserve special priveleges.

Ladies and gents I am not usually a confrontational person but i lost it right then and there. I told her off cant remember exactly what I said to her, but it didnt exactly make things better.I know I said to her if it were you who had to suffer with the pain i have everyday you would think differently and appreciate the little things the world offers to people who have disabilities and such. She never did move out of my way, she stood her ground and sweared at me more and I just backed the ECV up and turned around and came up the next aisle and back down the cereal one she was still there.

Well they announced the third time the tag# of the car to move and I was shocked although I really shouldnt have been when the lady I had the confrontation with said outloud to herself. "I am not going to move my car" and i cleaned up what she said. Then the devil got into me and I positioned the ECV so that it blocked the whole aisle and as she was coming up I started examining the ECV closely and acting like it had broken down. She asked me to move not politely either and I with the sweetest voice said "I would be more than happy to move if the battery on this thing hadnt just ran out" all alie but none the less I got my point across and got IMHO not only revenge, but a victory she had to turn around go back down the aisle to get where she was going.

I see people look at me strangely when I am in the ECV, I only use it when I need it not as a crutch and ahve had some comments made by people who see me on good days and then on a bad day and they arent nice or sympathetic. I was brought up to respect everyone and I find it said that people now have no respect for anyone.

Well my story told I will sign off...

[olena]

That's right, Christine! Make her walk! She deserves more than that, but you managed it very well. The perfect ending to this story would've been a big, fat parking ticket. There's just no getting through to some people and I think she was one of them. So sorry for what she put you through though.

[SueM in MN]

very sorry about your horrible, bad day, itscc2u.
It's too bad people can't just all get along.:confused:
The world would be a much nicer place if everyone could see thru the eyes of other people sometimes and realize that a little give and take benefits everyone in the long run.

[Andrew Bichard]

Originally posted by itscc2u

Similar thing happened to me a few years back.

However I had my wife get out of my car to check the entire row of handicap spaces and find me two cars without stickers parked next to each other. I then parked in the isle hard up to their fenders so that neither could get out.

I then went shopping, and sure enough my own tag # came upp on the PA. I told the manager I would move as soon as I had finished shopping.

Over the next hour (I had a lot of shopping to do), I was paged on the PA another three times!!!

Silly thing was, I reckon I could have manouvered the other car out, without moving my own!!

Andrew

[TIGGERSMOM]

Good for you guys!! I never really appreciated HP parking until my DF got sick. In the humidity even walking 20 feet is a chore.

I must say the police around here are very good, they will ticket any car in a HP spot in a heartbeat. Don't know about where you guys are but here it is a $100.00 dollar hit and points on your insurance.

[Wheelsie]

well obviously the cops in my town don't know how to ticket LOL Everywhere I go (even at Wal-Mart w their hundred and 1 handi spaces) it takes FOREVER to find a space...

I won't even go into telling you what Ive know some people to do to cars (esp if their are newer cars) that are in handi spots that DONT have a sticker or plate ;)

but lets just say.....umm.. UH OH BETTER GET MAACO!! :)

LOL

OH and DH reminded me of a story that happened to us! :) (your gonna laff)

In an apt building where we used to live they had put up a handi sign because we lived there...not necessarily for us...but... :)

Anyhoo...when we came home one night there was a car in the handi spot..

We thought not much of it and parked up the hill a ways as we sometimes had to do...Well the next morning (DH B day) He goes out to move the car because a closer (not the handi) spot had opened up...

So he brings down the car...I walk out...and we look (in disgust) at the car still parked in the handi spot (no way to know it was handi)

We notice that the driver window (in daylight now) the lock was torn out of the door and the ignition was torn out. So we realize ITS A STOLEN CAR!!!

We immediately call 911...they send out a squad car...and when the cop arrives...we are asked "did you call me down here just because the car was in a handi spot???" As if to she the officer was peeved that we would call....not LIKE ITS A CRIME TO PARK IN A HANDI SPOT W/O SOME PROOF YOU ARE HANDI!!! ITS NOT LIKE ITS SOMETHING YOU'D GET A FINE FOR DOING!!!
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Well anyhoo...We said NO! this car has been stolen (as if it wasn't COMPLETELY obvious!!!) We called so the car could be retrieved to its rightful owner...

Cop's like "OH! well then...." SHEESH!!! :(

So cop calls to find out that it was stolen from WAY on the other side of town...and wasn't even a car from this state (family from out of town)

I said all that to say this... We couldn't BELIEVE a cop would practically get angry that way may be calling for a HANDI OFFENSE!!! :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

God forbid we would do something so heinous!:mad: :mad: :mad:

[LindaDVC]

I don't mind parking a good distance away since DH has a power chair just get very tired of moving the van when either the space is not wide enough for the lift or too wide and an ambulatory handicapped sticker holder decides to "share" the space!!!

Linda

[D,L and K's Mom]

After a particular bad day of people staring and cutting off DS's wheelchair/stroller at a parade I let out a nice string of curse words along with a wish that people would just watch where they were walking etc. My DD who was 9 at the time asked to "Take over" pushing the stroller, I let her and the next time someone walked into the chair and was bumped she politley and in a sweet voice with a sweet smile on her face said, "Excuse me, but when I walk into someone my Mom makes me say excuse me". The man who had just cut in front of the chair and was bumped in the ankles also smiled and said, "Now little lady that is very polite of you" and he sort of waited for her to say she was sorry and then she said, "Well, didn't your mother teach you the same thing?.. We're waiting." The man was very taken aback and he mumbled "Excuse me? "(I don;'t think he really believed what he was hearing) and DD said, "Thank you we'll take that as an apology , We except" and pushed on. I stood there with my mouth wide open and couldn't move. On one hand I was sort of surprised at the sarcasim I heard coming out of her mouth and I was a little angry at her because that is not how she is supposed to talk to adults but then as I stood there I felt this overwelming sense of pride come over me. I, a grown woman was not saying anything to these rude people and she a little child had the nerve and the wits about her to do it for her brother. When I caught up to her she was grinning ear to ear and said "No one messes with David" I just loved that. To this day she is very protective of her brother and his chair. When we go to Disney this week she will be the designated driver!!!:bounce:

[lisapooh]

Give your daughter a big hug from me. She is terrific.
I hate it when someone uses the space between handicapped spots as a parking place. While I have a rear lift, I sometimes do need to bring the wheelchair to the side of my car to place purchases in the car. Without that space there is no way I can do this. If I have family with me no problem, but if I am out on my own, big problem.
I can't imagine how angry I'd feel if I had a side lift and had to wait for a person to remove his car so I could leave.
At school I rarely use the handicapped spot in the teacher's lot as it is blocked by the buses at the end of the day, but when I do the drivers try to leave space for me to load my chair and then will make a break for me to leave. They are the best but then they deal with handicapped kids everyday.

[MrKlixx]

I sometimes wish we had a van with a lift on it. Because I would have absolutely no problem whatsoever with lowering the lift on top of a car parked in the striped zone. And when they came out and started freaking out that I had mutilated their car, I would say "why don't you go ahead and call the police and when they get here we can have a discussion about why you were illegally parked in the first place."

MrKlixx


(mutilated car in a handi parking spot clipart)

[SueM in MN]

I love what your DD said, D and L's mom. That was just right. Very polite and put him in his place!
Mr Klixx, to really mutilate a car well, I'd suggest a ramp van, rather than a lift. The door glides open along the side of the van and the ramp lowers, bopping the car next to you. The you can put the ramp back up and drive away.
Not that I would ever do it, but it certainly is satisfying to think about it sometimes.........

[Andrew Bichard]

Tiggersmom,

I am from the United Kingdom, and parking rules are in some respects different, the main one being that the police/parking wardens can only ticket on the highway or certain city owned parking lots.

Parking lots at malls and supermarkets are private property, and normal traffic laws do not apply. 'disabled' spaces are usually provided, but it is a civil, not a criminal offence to abuse them. Mall and Supermarket owners rarely 'police' these spaces, so abuse is common. (that is why I couldn't get a ticket for parking in the isle).

Even on the public highway, you are unlikely to get a ticket if you don't stay too long, because there are not enough wardens to be everywhere at once. Police have too much else to do (chasing criminals?) that they generally ignore parking offences.

Andrew

[TIGGERSMOM]

Wheels - I would definitely complain to the community laison officer about her attitude. There is no call for it. She would not have been dispatched to a low priority call if there was something bigger going on. Low as in not a violent crime.

Andrew - It was that way here years ago until Mass wrote legislation - now it is still a civil offense(most tickets are) but they added the extra bonus of insurance points - which can cost you $50 to $100 a year for 6 years. Guess that's why you don't see toomany people parking where there not supposed to around here.

On the 4th I noticed 2 cars being towed from the esplanade in our town, for what? You guessed parked in HP without stickers/plates - the business owner complained. And off they went. Life can be very good at times!!

[SueM in MN]

In Minnesota, the fine is $200 and you can get towed. The signs at all the handicapped parking spots say that, which I do think makes people think about it before they park. I don't know if there are any points involved.

Wheelsie, I wonder just what the police officer you had the experience with would think is a crime that IS worth her time.
And you do wonder sometimes what the crooks are thinking...:confused: ??? abandoning a stolen car in a handicapped spot???
There was a lift van with a wheelchair inside stolen in Minneapolis not too long ago. It turned out it was taken by some teens for a joy ride! What kind of people steal a lift ven for a joyride?????????

[s&k'smom]

Hi itscctu, just one word BRAVO!!!

[faeflora]

D and Ls Mom.....I love the way your DD handled the rude grown up that was great.....way to go....


Handicap Parking....here in Raleigh the fine for parking without a handicap permit was just recently raised from $100.00 to $250.00 and in I believe it is Greensboro disabled people using a polaroid camera and a ticket book are trained to issue violations for individuals who illegally park in the handicap places. I would love to hand out some tickets would definitely relieve my stress level....:D

As for rude people at WDW, in 2000 we visited the parks for my birthday. We were in Epcot and were trying to make our way to a seating area for Tapestry of Nations. The first performance had let out and the CM's were trying to keep two distinct traffic patterns one for people heading out of World Showcase and one for people heading into World Showcase. Well a teenager decided he would just cut into my lane of course my powerchair had no room to stop so the young man bounced from my lap to the floor where my chair hit him. This young man stood up and gave me a look like he was waiting for me to apologize before I could do anything the CM who witnessed this started scolding the young man for not following their directions. I only wish I had gotten this CM's name.




17 days till we head out for WDW....:bounce: :bounce:

[Amgrease]

My mom is in a wheelchair and we go to Disney about twice a month so we hear lots of stories. One time my mom asked to be parked to watch the parade while a friend and I went to ride Space Mountain. We parked her where she asked(not in a handicapped viewing area) and we went to SM. When we came back we pushed our way through the crowd to my mother. Just as we reached there we saw a lady in an EVC come through the crowd and hook the corner of my mom's chair and pull her half way down the sidewalk without stopping. I ran for my mom and my friend went after the lady to yell at her. The worst part is that later we saw her playing at our hotel (Coronado) with children running after them on the grassy area and picking them up etc. I also had an experience when I was at Disneyland this summer. I have a bad knee and wasn't able to walk on the last day so I had to rent a wheelchair. We were at California Adventure, in line for California Screamin' (the rollercoaster). We had just gotten in line as a pair of adults with two small boys squeezed around me and my friend and just stood there. The boys were rowdy and started bumping into me immediatly. So I tapped the woman and asked if they were with the people in front of them and she said no. I then told her that the line was behind me, not in front of me. She made a rude comment about rides being wasted on handicapped people and pulled her family behind me. People like that make me sick and I am glad that it was me and not my mom that was exposed to that.

[sha_lyn]

I once accidentally lokc DS in the car when he was still in a booster seat. I saw an officer a few rows away ticketing car that were parked in HC spaces. I flagged him down. The pollice around here are not allowed to carry slim jims anymore (because they were taking business away from the lock smiths) but we were able to encourage DS to unfasten his seat belt and unlock the door. I had a great conversation with hte offier and found out he took the time to check the parking lots because he has a brother in a wheel chair.
I also have a friend that works at Walmart that is particially paralized(and deaf and blind on that side). He does't want a HC permit becasue he feels very storng about leavign the spaces for those who need them more. He and some of his friends create a few macco moments for the cars they find parked in HC spots without permits also.
What really ticks me is the people who borrow a realitives car or permit so they can park in a HC space. I made sure my grandmothers permit was destroyed so no one would use it.

[Wheelsie]

Tig-this happened so loing ago I doubt this woman is even on the force anymore...but it really burned our butts!! LOL

Sue- likely she would have thought a busted headlight was more worth her time that a handi spot LOL
And yes I agree this world is going to pot when you either decide to joyride in a lift van or dump your stolen vehicle in a handi spot! LOL

[DiSnEyGuRl276]

I dont have any disabilities but I go on this board to see what people have to go through when they are in Disney!! I cant beleive what people do to people with disabilities the problem nobody has any respect at all!! How could sombody be so rude to someone who has a disability?? I couldnt imagine being so rude to someone! If someone got in my way to try to see if I could stop #1 I would keep going and run them over I wouldnt careee and #2 One of my family members would do somthing about it! I dont understand why some people have to be soooooooo rude and not have any RESPECT!!!
:mad:

[BuckeyeBelle]

I may be in the minority, but it disturbs me to read about cars being vandalized for being parked where they shouldn't. To me that's just as judgmental and wrong as when other people sneer and make comments about people using wheelchairs when their disability isn't obvious. Sure, it is wrong to park in a handi spot without a permit, and abuse burns me as much as the next person. But you never know for sure what the story is with the driver of that car. Maybe they were just injured, or they misplaced thier tag, or maybe it fell under the seat without them knowing it (that's happened to my parents), or maybe they didn't know a permit was required (believe it or not, there are some people who fall into that category), or maybe they had a handicapped passenger who forgot their tag. You can't just assume the driver is an able-bodied abusing jerk who deserves to have their car ruined.

My Grandmother was in her late 80s and could hardly walk when she began using the handi spots. For some reason (don't ask me why) she didn't get herself a permit. Eventually she got ticketed, and when whe went in to pay the ticket, they took one look at her and reduced her fine to $1, then told her to go get a placard, which she did at that point. Now, I don't condone or agree with what she did, but I think it would have been ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE if someone had slashed her tires or damaged her paint while she was in the store because of it!

Leave a note or confront the person if you must, but be prepared to be embarrassed if you are wrong. (This has also happened to people I know.) But no matter how tempting, please please do not go around destroying property - you never know who you are hurting!!! :(

P.S. I LOVE the idea of giving tickets with a Polariod. Haha -- Now there's a real solution!!!

[lisapooh]

I do not condone vandalizing cars in retaliation for parking improperly in a handicapped space. That is wrong. I do advocate calling the police and having them ticketed. Your grandmother was lucky. What she was doing was wrong. She didn't have a placard and should not have parked in a handicapped spot period. It was her choice not to get that placard. Actually IMHO she should have been hit with the full cost of the ticket.
Simply if you do not have the handicapped permit you should not be parking there. If you have forgotten it or it is misplaced you should not be parking there. Place it where it cannot be forgotten or misplaced. I know this sounds mean but the only way the police can enforce handicapped parking is to ticket those without it and have a no excuses policy. And the fine needs to be substantial enough that it is not worth it to park in a handicapped spot without a permit. I can't tell you how often my husband ends up dropping me and then parking the car and later picking up the car and then picking me up because there is someone using the handicapped spots without a permit at the grocery store.

[LindaDVC]

Yesterday we went to Mcdonalds.

After not parking in the handicapped spaces
1.) since they were full and 2.) not big enough anyway

We proceeded to the one ramped door.
It was locked so I went in to get it unlocked.
While I was trying to get the manager to unlock it several nice people tried to open the door for Dan assuming he just couldn't open it. Each time he explained it was locked and his wife was inside requesting that they unlock it.
Finally the manager tells me that they keep that door locked for security reasons.
I of course ask how is someone in a wheelchair suppose to come in---
They offer to unlock it and assured us they will be happy to unlock it for us anytime we come!
Eating at McDoanlds is definetly not worth the hastle!!!

Linda

[lisapooh]

So someone in a wheelchair unaccompanied would have to get to the regular door and bang on it to get attention for them to open the accessible door then go back to the accessible door to get in. Definately not worth the trouble and I would write them and let them know why you will no longer be patronizing their business.:mad: :mad: :mad:

[Wheelsie]

You want another "funny" McDonalds story?

Back a few yrs...DH and I were driving round town....went into a McD that we usually drive thru but this day it was like in the 90's and so we decided to go in...

We stand in line....order our food..

While waiting for our food...we turn around and see THERE IS NO PLACE FOR ME TOL STEP DOWN TO THE EATTING AREA So we ask to speak w the Manager...he tells us there is no access... We were like "so what are we supposed to do we're handi and we're hungry? HE SUGGESTS WE EAT AT THE COUNTER OR GET IT TO GO

So,sweating,thirsty, and hungry we decide to go.....He says "Dont forget your food" We said well if we can't eat it here we are going somewhere that will make it accessible for us to eat INSIDE and with that....We left.

[faeflora]

Regarding McDonalds I have had boycotted them since the 1996 paralympic games in Atlanta where they chose not to sponsor the paralympic games but also refused to be released from the endorsement list so that the International Paralympic Organization could court other food chain sponsors such as Chick Fil A or Burger King......



9 days till WDW....and the Disney Institute:bounce:

[sha_lyn]

I don't condone the valdalism. I just that there is agroup that does (or did ) do it. I am guilty of doing it once with taco sauce at a taoc bell when I was 15. The guy we we double dating drives a van with a wheel chair lift and the only HC space was taken with a car with no permit. We were able to park but had to double park so he could get out. We squirted taco sauce all over the tires of the car in the space.

[lisapooh]

While I wouldn't condone that at least it did no permanent damage. Actually the thought of it is a bit funny.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Wheelsie]

The concept of the taco sauce makes me want to carry around some honey....or maybe maple syrup?? :tongue: :sunny: :crazy: :earseek: :wave:

[LindaDVC]

Recently we were in one of those narrow handicapped spaces so I had to pull out to use the lift. While loading a man who I admit was temprarily blocked started beeping. He just got on the horn and blared it for being momentarily delayed.
I was afraid of road rage he was so mad so didn't say anything -- infact the way he passed me later made he glad I hadn't gotten involved with him! He was ANGRY!!

However I assume he has no idea how much extra time we spend each and every time we go somewhere or how oftern the handicapped spots are not accessible.

When we lived in Philadelphia(pre-ADA) they used to have gates so people couldn't take the grocery carts to the parking lot! As you all know a wheelchair can't hop over gates either. So we would have to find the manager with the key! Sometimes after letting us in he would go to lunch and we couldn't leave. One employee told me accept life! I have to admit I blaster her and said we accespt the disability and the chair and we do the best we can BUT LEAVING A GROCERY STORE SHOULD BE A RIGHT NOT A PRIVLEDGE!!
Same thing happened at a public llibrary - you could only use the elevator when the guard assisted you! Well- he too went to lunch and we had to wait for his return!

I am sure we have all had these moments!

[BuckeyeBelle]

That bit about the taco sauce was kind of funny! :earseek:

I still think a big fat ticket would be better, but at least taco sauce is realtively harmless (and it doesn't prevent the car from being moved the way tire damage does.) :)

[Andrew Bichard]

Here in the UK, handicap parking spaces are often separated with a wide zone of striped yellow paint, indicating the no parking zone between cars that is necessary to det a wheelchair down the side of the car to the door.

Someone drives up and spots such a gap between two cars, just wide enough to squeeze into, which she does. She puts her handicap sticker in the windshield then opens her door just a crack and just manages to squeeze out, then starts to walk off on crutches.

As I approach in my chair, I shout to her, and ask how she expects me to get into my own car, next to her.

Its not just the fit and able that don't think!!

Another off topic (non Disney) point of irritation. I live close to a subway station, and all the streets fill up with commuters going into central London. I am riding along the sidewalk and find the way ahead blocked by a car that is parked at the junction of a side road, right across the drop kerb. I have no choice but turn left and head up the block to the nexxt junction which is similarly blocked. I turn left again, and now backtracking, eventually find a gap between two cars big enough to get into the highway. I complete the remainder of my trip, riding along the highway, not the sidewalk, not the safest thing to do in London!!!

Andrew

[Wheelsie]

Adam we in the US have those lines (not always but somet places) and you have NO IDEA how many times I park in a spot and when I come out someone is parked IN THE LINED AREA!! It just irks me!! :(

[FergieTCat]

According to my parents, there is a stiff fine in Florida if you are caught parking in a handicapped spot without identification. They live in Delray Beach and are fanatical about making sure theirs is displayed whenever they park in a handicapped spot.

Also, and strangely enough, sometimes the handicapped spots aren't the closest ones. My parents just aim for the closest spot possible and only use the handicapped spots if they absolutely have to.

Just a thought if you are parking outside of Disney ...

Donna

[s&k'smom]

I can't tell you how fasinated I am with this posting. As for the Mcdonald's did they really say they keep it locked for security reasons? Isn't that illegal according to the ADA? Funny is the front door kept locked for the same reason? Not that this is even close to what others have gone through but I took my PDD diagnosed son to a birthday party last year. I was the only parent who actually kept an eye on their kid. All the others dropped them off at the party and proceeded to socialize not even looking at their kids at times, kids were wondering all over the place and some of them were very young. Of course one kid had an outburst and I had to reply that wasn't my kid (they assumed it was him). He was the best behaved! Silly but it made me a little sad.

[SueM in MN]

The McDonalds with the locked door is probably breaking some fire rules too.
I also hate it when people park in the access space. We did try to get someone ticketed for parking there once, but the policeman said he could not ticket her because she had a handicapped parking permit. I think most people would not condone vandalism. It sounds satisfying to think about it, but the vandlizer could possibly get a ticket too, so it is not a good reason for many reasons.

[MrKlixx]

Originally posted by SueM in MN
I think most people would not condone vandalism. It sounds satisfying to think about it, but the vandlizer could possibly get a ticket too, so it is not a good reason for many reasons.

Ay yes, but who's to say the damage isn't "accidental"? It's not my fault I have to get a wheelchair out. It's not my fault that you parked in a space that is designed for that purpose, and if you truly were handicapped you would have the common decency not to park there. And it's not my fault that said wheelchair horribly maimed your vehicle.

MrKlixx

(vengeance clipart)

[nancycels]

ok, now i'm going to share w/u my family's secret for getting a parking space close to the door, or getting your handicapped space right where u want it.....about 5 minutes before u arrive at your destination, start visualizing the space u need...over and over...see it, imagine how wide and spacious it is with no blockages, right near that ramp up to the sidewalk...without any puddles to traverse, or melting ice cream to roll thru...keep the picture in your mind as u come into the lot... imagine how happy u'll be as you come up to the spot, and easily park and exit your vehicle....90% of the time, I get my space! What u don't believe me??? I'm devastated!

OK, so that's a little bit of an exaggeration...<g> but try it! I think its the power of positive thinking! LOL It always works for the rest of my family even w/regular spaces... especially at xmas time! GO FOR IT!

[SueM in MN]

I like that visualizing! Sure can't do any harm to dream!

[hilside]

Once my DM (CDoobee), DSis (CDoobeeJr.) and I went to a local department store. Mom let me out (I use a motorized wheelchair), then began to get little sis out of her carseat. I went ahead into the store. Just then, a woman pulled in next to our minivan onto the striped space. My mom confronted her and asked her if she realized that she was parked illegaly. She replied (and I hear this excuse so much it makes me want to retch), "I'm just running in for a minute." My mom said, "Still, that isn't a space. It's for letting down a wheelchair lift. If you park there, I can't get my daughter back in the car." The lady sighed loudly, rolled her eyes, and got back in her car. She backed up, and then just sat there. Apparently, she planned to wait for my mom to put me in the car, then to pull right back in. I had just gone in the store.. I wasn't even around! So my mom calmly got back in the car, backed up, and pulled over, half in the space and half on the lines, so there was enough room to get me in, but not enough for the lady's car! hehe The lady pulled away. My mom decided to wait a bit to get out of the car, because the woman was a bit, er, larger than my mom, and she had no desire to be pummeled in the parking lot that day (or any other, for that matter :D ). The woman parked (a few spaces down, I might add.. ooh, what a difference! :smooth: ), and as she walked past our minivan, she spit on it.

Some people have the maturity of a green banana. :crazy:

[VelvetGloves]

I don't have a disabilitie, but I read these boards when I have the chance. It seems that there are usually posts that are very hope-filled, and everyone on these boards seems to be very level-headed and down to earth. I was upset by this post; I can't believe the way some people act. I think it's terrible that someone would spit on a van or cuss someone out for having a disablitie. While reading the post, I kept thinking that I was glad I didn't do any of the bad things. Well, it dawned on me that I may be guilty of one crime. Often, late at night, when everyone is trying to leave the parks, I tend to walk quickly and dart around people. As far as I know, I have never cut off anyone in a wheelchair or ecv. If I have, I'm very sorry. I usually never stop moving, so I don't cause other people to have to stop. If I cut through a space between people, I make sure it is wide enough that I don't inconvenience anyone. I've apoligized for stopping in front of people when it has happened. Now, I know to leave space for ecvs and wheelchairs to stop. Once again, to anyone I may have cut off, I'm very sorry.

VelvetGloves

[Gordon]

When I posted the original message I would have never thought it would have over 65 responses and 1700 views. I guess what this tells me is that the treatment of handicap people at WDW is a problem and that Disney management should take some kind of action. While most of the problems come down to good manors ( it seems like alot of visitors are lacking in this department)......
Perhaps an area of the public walkway that is sectioned or striped off for wheelchairs or ECV's to travel away from the crowd (much like the painted bike paths along roads) could solve many of these problems.

What do you think?

Gordon

[Wheelsie]

Gordon hunny I'm behinf ya on that idea!!!:bounce: :bounce: (or maybe I shoud say beside ya so I dont run ya over accidentally LOL)

[SueM in MN]

Thanks, velvetgloves. If everyone thought that way, it would be much easier to travel at WDW.
Gordon, I think that the designated walkway area is a good idea in theory, but I don't hink it would work well in practice. One evening in March, we watched the TON parades. Even thought there were roped off areas on each side of the parade route, CMs had a lot of trouble keeping people out of the path of the parade. Now if they won't move out of the way for that big 15 foot tall drum, I don't think there is a lot of hope for people in ecvs and wheelchairs.

[cakathy]

It all goes back to training. My parents would not have allowed "BAD" behavior toward anyone.

[cakathy]

It all goes back to training. My parents would not have allowed "BAD" treatment toward anyone. And we don't allow our son to to be rude. Why should children behave any different at WDW then they do at home. Just go to a movie or park near home.

[nancycels]

hi velvet, thanks for your kind thoughts... we know most people don't intentionally cut us off, or realize just how difficult it is to navigate around sometimes, and we(see, when u r handicapped u get to use the royal we<g?lol) but the main worry i have is that i'll bump into/run over or into a small child, or any other park guest or worker. so, thanks for thinking of us!

a note to those regarding vandals,
i was going to work one morning, and insisted on using the appropriate space, even tho a truck w/o plates in front of me was going to back into the space and he didn't have a placard or handicapped plates, and he's already driven by the space, so i figured, what the heck, it was mine. when i came out that afternoon, someone, (i don't know who, can't imagine) had taken acid from one of the labs in the hospital and thrown it all over my car, stripping off paint everywhere! what a mess! so, i no longer challenge any idiot who wants the spot! god knows what the next one will do! but the points is, no way was that man handicapped, he didn't miss one spot on my car, high or low! and he did it quickly enough that the cameras didn't catch him! so... let them have the darn spot! there's always or almost always another one and if there isn't, well i guess i'll just go somewhere else!

[SueM in MN]

nancy, I am horrified to hear what happened to your car. You were lucky thought. Someone who did that to your car could easily have done it to you (and probably would, too). I am very sad to hear that anyone would do anything like that.

[nancycels]

yes i know it cd have... i lucked out that the closest acid was in his lab, not his truck! makes u wonder what kind of nuts are out there tho!