Handicap Parking Wierd Looks

[Mickrzy]

My husband is 48 and looks fine, but he has had back surgery and as two rods and 4 screws in his lower back and we get wierd look from people when we use the handicap parking, but he can only walk short distances and either needs to sit or just stand and take break.
I wish people would not judge.
Anyway for all who need it park and enjoy the benifit

 

[JohnnySharp2]

You have a handicap parking permit because you need one - do not care or worry what other people think, it's their problem not yours.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

We have a handicapped tag too and we get looks too if we don't have DS's stroller with us (Sometimes he has great days and does not use it) One day DD was with us and we parked in handicapped access parking with DS. We didnt take out the stroller and we walked into TARGET. While we were walking a man said something under his breath about taking advantage of parking etc...DD (15) didnt miss a beat she just said, "Sorry but we have The Plague and we can't walk far distances we are too weak" and continued walking. I almost died and when I asked where the heck The Plague came from and came from she said she had seen it on HOUSE and figured it would shut the guy up!!! Oh my..........
If you need the tag and you have the tag don't feel bad about using the tag. I used tofeel bad but I just don't care anymore. I don't even let the stares get to me. They don't see DS when he is having a bad day and can't even take a step, they dont see him having seizures and shaking. Let them wonder if they have that much time on their hands then let them worry about it.

 

[LindaDVC]

My husband is a quadraplegic with bilateral lower ext. amputations as well.
Occasionally when my sons friends are along and I start to park in the handicapped spots they yell at me! A few laugh and say I guess you guys can park here and some other kids have had to have an explanation of why we can !

We love the fact that the kids don't consider Danny "handicapped" and are defending the proper use of the space!!!

Linda

 

[rbuzzotta]

My Dad has one as he has kidney failure and has dialysis 3 times per week!! He looks perfectly fine!! However, walking longer distances, especailly after dialysis drains him!! He feels he should not use the sticker because he 'looks' fine!! I say the heck with what others think!! It just shows how shallow some people are.

 

[Mickrzy]

Thanks everyone , We just park and don't worry about what people think, but the looks still get to me.
We leave in just 5 days to drive and will be there is 6 can't wait. The driving is what gets to both of us, DH with back and me with DDD and RA, so we do alot of stopping, about every 2 or 3 hours and walk around rest areas and do streching for about 20-30 minutes. So 18 hour drive usually takes us 24 hours or so. But DH don't like to fly. So thank for everything. I wish everyone A Merry Disney Christmas.

 

[Destination Disney]

My adopted brother had heart surgery when he was first born as well as when he was 4yrs. He gets shortness of breath sometimes and can not walk long distances. We have a handicap parking permit for him. He looks like a perfectly heathly 18yr. old boy too! I hear you about the looks! We get them, and shrug them off. Although one time I just HAD to respond and I don't think that person will ever question another handicap person again! I wasn't mean, but I got my point across in an overly sarcastic manner!
What can I say...I love my bro!

 

[Haley Whippet]

Mickrzy,
Hi Fellow Texan!
I also have a parking permit, and don't look like I need it. I just smile at the rude people and go on my way...
Enjoy your trip, Take it easy on that long drive and enjoy the sights along the road.. We always drive too.
Deb

 

[shovan]

My husband is a quadraplegic with bilateral lower ext. amputations as well.
Occasionally when my sons friends are along and I start to park in the handicapped spots they yell at me! A few laugh and say I guess you guys can park here and some other kids have had to have an explanation of why we can !

We love the fact that the kids don't consider Danny "handicapped" and are defending the proper use of the space!!!

Linda

That's a really neat story! My DH has MD, is now in a WC all the time. He continues to work fulltime . His office was planning a Christmas Party looking at different local restaurants to book it. The office manager booked without checking if it was upstairs/HA or not. DH was worried it might not be, because of the area of town it is in (French Quarter N.O.). When he asked her to check on that she said "Oh! We always forget that your in a wheelchair!" Isn't that cool! BTW there was an elevator, party is this week!

Since it's shopping season, We are having a hard time dealing with not having any parking available. Of course, because it's always filled with cars that don't have HA plates or decals!!! It's really difficult to find parking especially with our new van with the side ramp!

 

[desiab]

I read this thread with a smile on my face because I can relate.

After a car accident in 2000 for me and a broken back for DH I was given a handicap tag. I have gotten some pretty dirty looks from people when I use a tag. So much so that for a while I wouldn't use it and just suffered. My husband would be furious at me!

One time I even had a kind gentleman stand behind my truck and start to write down my tag number. I got out of the vehicle and asked him if I could help him. He didn't respond, so I asked him if he was looking for something. He said yes! I told him that if he was looking for my handicap tag it was hanging up on my rearview mirror. When he looked through the back window and saw it there his face turned red and he stormed off to his car. He shot out of the parking lot so fast that I thought someone was after him.

People shouldn't judge another person's condition based on looks. My husband and I don't "look" like we have issues, but trust me we do!

OT: shovan is your user name the phonetic way to say your name? Every time I see a post by you I want to ask, but didn't want to seem stalkerish. I am asking because that is how my married name is pronounced and my hubby is originally from Kenner.

 

[Mickrzy]

Thanks everyone, we are off tomorrow morning for WDW and will enjoy every minute, I just won't look around while parking!!!Ha ha.

Hey haley whippet were is Texas?

 

[seashoreCM]

My husband is a quadraplegic with bilateral lower ext. amputations as well.
Occasionally when my sons friends are along and I start to park in the handicapped spots they yell at me!

Don't look now but the handicapped space (and/or meter nonpayment) may be used only when a handicapped person is in the car. Or is it ... driving the car?

The idea being that if a non-handicapped driver can drop off non-handicapped passengers off and then go park the car, a non-handicapped person can drop handicapped passengers off and then go park the car.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[shovan]

OT: shovan is your user name the phonetic way to say your name? Every time I see a post by you I want to ask, but didn't want to seem stalkerish. I am asking because that is how my married name is pronounced and my hubby is originally from Kenner.

You guessed it! French name right!? My DH has some family in Metairie & Kenner!

 

[VolleyballQt07]

I don't have a problem with anyone having a handicap tag. What I don't like though is when you get some person who has to wait for the handicap spot and they hog the whole isle just because they want that spot and the car isn't even leaving. I do like seeing people with tags park in normal spots though! I say don't worry about. Who cares what people think. Heck, you wouldn't have it if you didn't need it....right?

 

[minkydog]

While we were walking a man said something under his breath about taking advantage of parking etc...DD (15) didnt miss a beat she just said, "Sorry but we have The Plague and we can't walk far distances we are too weak" and continued walking. I almost died and when I asked where the heck The Plague came from and came from she said she had seen it on HOUSE and figured it would shut the guy up!!! Oh my..........

Don't you just love teenagers? I'll have to remember this snappy comback. We have two handicapped hang-tags, one for DH(severe lung disease) and one for DS11(severely mentally handicapped.) Neither one uses a w/c most of the time and DH actually doesn't even look sick. He tries to not take a handicapped spot,unless he's real short of breath that day, because of the dirty looks he gets. They don't see him sitting on the bench catching his breath or taking 40 medications a day, including 3 different inhalers. They don't know he has to take at least 1 or 2 naps a day to function.

DS, on the other hand, looks obviously mentally impaired. However, because he walks we sometimes get "the look". What is not obvious is that Christian has low vision--he trips over curbs because he doesn't see them and he walks into cars because has no field of depth. We have taght him a modified arm hold so we can help him manuever in public places. Sometimes he'll drop our arm and take off running through the parking lot(he has the mental acuity of a 1yo). That's when you want to be parked near the store! He's a big boy and I like parking in the handicapped space because it gives me extra room to get him out and keep him safe.

 

[bellarella]

It's definitely not anyone's business.

My favorite line for anyone who is giving "looks" is "trade you -- I'll take your space if you take my disability." Said with a smile it tends to keep you on the high road and others in their place.

 

[tacomaranch]

Right there with everyone, from the placard to the GAC. DS is a very active 3 yr old and now we have language and can use it well. So he looks great and can talk! He can also run so fast that he will be gone in a second, in front of a car before the driver could see him. We use his placard so that the distance to the store is less and should he break away from me, he won't get run over.

Autism is a spectrum disorder. Each child is different and wonderful.

 

[Haley Whippet]

Thanks everyone, we are off tomorrow morning for WDW and will enjoy every minute, I just won't look around while parking!!!Ha ha.

Hey haley whippet were in Texas?

We are in Keller Next to Fort Worth..
Enjoy your trip,
Deb

 

[KPeveler]

Don't look now but the handicapped space (and/or meter nonpayment) may be used only when a handicapped person is in the car. Or is it ... driving the car?

The idea being that if a non-handicapped driver can drop off non-handicapped passengers off and then go park the car, a non-handicapped person can drop handicapped passengers off and then go park the car.

I agree a tag should not used if the person who needs it is nit with you. But, as you can obiovusly see from some other posts, you cannot simply "drop off" a handicapped person always. What about the woman who's DS has the mental acuity of a 1-yr-old (sorry to use you as an example!) but she cannot simply leave her son standing there, hoping he will still be there when she gets back! And there are often times when a handicapped person needs assistance getting out of the car. I think it is far wiser to park than to block the fire lane for 5+ minutes to unload a passenger with special needs.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

My adopted brother had heart surgery

What on earth does the fact your brother is adopted have to do with this?