Stupid idea or great idea about handicapped parking?

[ajk912]

So I am trying to decide if this is really stupid or smart- what I just did.

At my kids' elementary school, there are only 5 handicapped parking spots. My daughter is in a wheelchair, and I really NEED one of those spots because they are wider and otherwise, if I get someone parked close to me in a normal parking spot it may be physically impossible to get her in the car. In the afternoons before school lets out, those parking spots are all gone at least 15 minutes before dismissal. There appears to be quite a few people who have a placard, and not saying their issues are not as important as mine..ok, maybe I am. Don't hate me, I just need that wide spot.

Anyway..it was getting old getting there at least 25 minutes early before the other people get there to make sure I have a spot. That's 2.5 hours a week I am just chilling in the parking lot. I COULD go back to that if I need to, but I just had a brilliant idea- I live within walking distance of the school (as an able bodied person), how about going over and parking my car about an hour early, then go home till dismissal?

But I did feel kind of like an idiot putting up my daughter's handicapped placard in my car and then walking out of the school parking lot. But I really feel that as a wheelchair family, we really need a spot. Again, I could go back to getting there 25 minutes early if it's going to cause a huge backlash, it's just an extreme waste of my time.

Soooo..what do you think? Great idea or stupid idea? I suppose I could get a ticket for misuse of a placard? But I would love to go to court to explain my story, and the car technically does not leave the parking lot without my handicapped daughter, and I am only there an extra 40 minutes or so.

Midday, the spots are usually empty, it's not like I am taking a spot from someone else, it's just a battle to get a spot for end-of-day pickup.

Thoughts?

[ZuZugal]

I would personally not feel right taking the parking spot early and leaving. You said yourself you do not know the issues of the others utilizing the handicapped parking spots.

If it were me I would see about getting an early dismissal, or working with the admin. to find another pickup spot. Are there any side-entrance drives or "back parking lots" that can be used instead? I understand you might have to go a bit out of your way for these options but it might be better in the long run.

[Jenvenza]

Oh, I dont know. I see where you are coming from, but it also seems like it should be on a first come first basis. Maybe talk to the school and tell them they need more handicapped parking spots.

This is a tough one.

[dismom2]

I don't see anything wrong with that, unless you are hogging the space for many other people who will be in and out during that hour, but how many people really need that spot during the hour before school gets out? Also---how close do you live to the school exaclty? Can you push your child home--is it that close? I'm not offended by you suggesting that some people with handicapped plates/tags need them more than others--it's true. And befoe everyone starts talking about 'hidden' issues that other people can't see, let me point out that some of these people park in the front (are not in a wheelchair, for example) then proceed to walk around the mall/store/grocery for two hours. If they are that capable of walking around for a couple of hours, surely they can walk a few extra feet from the parking lot. I think a person with a wheelchair does need the extra space---especially with the ridiculously small parking spots they have at a lot of places now. It can be impossible for a person in a wheelchair to even get out of the car.
OP--I think your suggestion is fine, but maybe just leave it a half hour before school gets out. And as a bonus, I think it will give you good exercise, too.

[DrCavin]

Sorry stupid idea, seems like a big hassle... I would park behind or beside the other handicap spots & wait for one of the others to leave or you DD to show up.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'd get there 25 minutes early.

You have no idea why those folks are in those spots and if they are legally, they are.

I think you may get in trouble for leaving school grounds with your car parked in the lot, though. So I wouldn't do what you plan unless you expressly had the schools permission to do it.

Your intent is to pick up your daughter who is wheelchair bound, so I'm not sure if that is misuse. If you were coming to volunteer for an hour and then leave, that would be misuse.

Your best option is to suck it up and bring a good book to read or some task that you can do in the car.

Your time is what you make of it.

I often have to get to places early and not due to any disabilities. So I bring something to do if I really need that time to not be wasted.

ETA: I see nothing wrong with your suggestion, just offering up options.

[HeatherH]

If you live within walking distance of the school, is there a reason why you can't just WALK to pick up your daughter and then wheel her home?
I understand on bad weather days not wanting to do that, but when it's nice out, is that an option?

I don't know if the school would have a problem with you "pre-parking" your car there or not. I'm guessing someone will notice it and you may get some grief about it, either from the school or another parent.

Good luck, I hope you are able to figure out a good solution. I know how bad school parking lots can be for drop-off and pick-up just for able-bodied students, so I do understand your frustration.

[eeyoremum]

In Ontario if I use our permit without my husband (he is disabled) with me I risk a ticket. Are the laws the same where you are? If the police saw or someone reported me it would be a large fine and a possible tow.

[shrubber]

bad idea,
you'll have to wait in the lot.
Perhaps petition the school to provide more handicap spots based on those the demand......

[ckay87]

Unless you're really, really close to the school, wouldn't it take up almost 25 minutes to drop your car there, walk home, then walk back? The upside is you'd be getting more exercise! I would actually talk to the school, this sounds like an important enough issue. I'm certain that they would at least attempt to accomodate you.

[merryweather20]

Alright, you are preaching to the choir here. I don't have any advice, but it is a constant amazement to me, that people don't understand that the spaces are wider because people need the room to get in and out with a wheel-chair, or other mobility aid.

We have a number of accessible spaces that a "regular width" but are placed on an end. It never fails that a UPS truck blocks my accessible door. I always expain why this space was on an end with NO PARKING next to it, but its like talking to a wall.

I say whatever it takes! If your explanation doesn't work, I'll vouch for temporary insanity.

Just once I'd love to go grocery shopping without having to make three trips to see if I could actually park at the store that day

[ajk912]

I have seriously thought about just walking her to school instead of playing the parking merry-go-round game. Obviously, I am doing this as an almost last resort.

The terrain to even get to the back school parking lot isn't wheelchair accessible because of the cement berms and grass, and then to walk along the road, no sidewalks to push the wheelchair, so I am walking ON the road and then it's uphill one way, and downill the other. Either way sucks..pushing up the hill is harder (it's not a great wheelchair, a manual push one and it gets stuck on EVERYTHING) and then downhill..I would be afraid of losing control. Plus, I have my other two kids to watch while walking.

As a person with two working legs, walking myself...these obstacles don't exist. It's just a 1/4 mile walk, look out for cars. But the world is a million times different when you are dealing with a wheelchair!

[fergibabies]

Originally Posted by merryweather20

Alright, you are preaching to the choir here. I don't have any advice, but it is a constant amazement to me, that people don't understand that the spaces are wider because people need the room to get in and out with a wheel-chair, or other mobility aid.

We have a number of accessible spaces that a "regular width" but are placed on an end. It never fails that a UPS truck blocks my accessible door. I always expain why this space was on an end with NO PARKING next to it, but its like talking to a wall.

I say whatever it takes! If your explanation doesn't work, I'll vouch for temporary insanity.

Just once I'd love to go grocery shopping without having to make three trips to see if I could actually park at the store that day

OP I fully understand your issue! I am a nurse for disabled children. We are constatly having to back out in order to load a patient of mine becuase depots the fact that there is a huge sticker stating please do not park with in 6 feet of this side of the van people do anyway! I also dot get why some people don't understand that the blue striped area next to a space is NOT a parking space!! it is a loading and unloading zone.
I think agree with the quoted poster as well do what you have to do. I would at least give your idea a trial run. If the school complains then other options can be discussed. From your tone you don't seen to think you deserve specila treatment. It does imply that you are the only one loading or unloading a wheelchair if this is true then you should be given the spot you need. If you aren't then I would talk to other parents maybe you all could work out a system taking turns arriving early then holding he spot for the others. Just my two cents.

[ajk912]

Originally Posted by ckay87

Unless you're really, really close to the school, wouldn't it take up almost 25 minutes to drop your car there, walk home, then walk back? The upside is you'd be getting more exercise! I would actually talk to the school, this sounds like an important enough issue. I'm certain that they would at least attempt to accomodate you.

I can do it under 10 minutes, and like the others said, great exercise!

Not sure if I want to fight that battle with the school. I am not trying to get a desigated parking spot or anything. And I don't really want her dismissed early, because then she'll be cutting out science/social studies class (one of her harder subjects). Not a big deal for every now and then, but daily? That could hurt her grades to leave early. Plus, I hate to single her out even more, you know?

[hrh_disney_queen]

What if you went in the 25 minutes early, got out of your car and walked around the parking lot (or somewhere else) for some exercise? It seems like you would take that long to park your car, walk home, then walk back later. I would definitely be getting my car in one of those spaces 25 minutes early, but I would just use it as reading time, which I never seem to have enough of. You should see our carpool pickup line. There are people parked at the gate at 2:00 and school doesn't even get out until 3:30! These are not handicapped people, just ones who want to be first in line, I guess.