Stupid idea or great idea about handicapped parking?

[ajk912]

Solution:

Arrive and park in a handicapped spot. If one is not available, park your car in a regular spot and go in and sign out your daughter. When you come out, Have DD wait in chair off to the side while you back your car halfway out of the spot. Then load up DD and pull back in while you wait for the other kiddos.

Been here, done it (with grandfather-in-law).

Ummm..yeah, I don't trust the locks on the wheelchair that much with my child. All I need is for her to bump the locks off, (or goofing around, as kids do) or some other person speeding around the elementary school parking lot (we have ALL seen that!) and I would be in the car and she would be alone on the street. She's 8, I can't think of many parents who would be comfortable leaving their 8 year old alone next to the car while they are moving it. That is a HUGE HUGE HUGE safety risk on SO many levels.

Your grandfather in law is an adult, I am talking about a child.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I wish that they would do away with handicapped parking spots for all except those in wheelchairs and/or who have specialized vans and need the extra space.

How did oversized handicapped spots morph into spots for anyone who can scam a doctor?

Here in NJ it is a real joke. Everyone has one, whether they really need them or not. In some cities they actually have permits for parking spots on the street. There are some blocks where all the available parking spots have handicapped parking by permit only. Is this even legal I wonder? It's amazing how they came up with a new way to secure your very own parking spot on a public street!

Can you explain to me why they exist at a mall? A person can't walk an extra 200 or so feet in the parking lot but can walk around a mall all day.
And then you have the a-holes who use the family handicapped placard to park...need I say more?

And before anyone goes off on me, I have a parent who uses a wheelchair, so I understand the frustration of the OP.

Because my children need to be clothed (and also fed, so this would apply for the handicap spots at the grocery store) just like everyone else's. And I can assure you I DO NOT walk the mall for hours. My trips are strategically planned and if you were to look at me you would never know that I was handicapped.

OP, I would speak with the office and work it out. It is always better to go to the source to fix a problem. Good Luck.

 

[minkydog]

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.

I agree. You would be taking up a spot for 1 hour that someone else could use. and I think you might get some pushback about parking and leaving the premises. That's akin to parking at the mall, then leaving, coming back later to run in and buy a few things.

I do understand your dilemma. My son is not in a wheelchair but he is mentally handicapped and has great mobility problems. If I try to get him out of the car in a regular space I risk hitting somebody's car when I swing wide the door. Therefore, I take a handicapped space if it's available.

If you need a Handicapped space,then you have to get there early like everybody else. Bring a book, return phone calls, balance your checkbook, make out your Christmas list. Twenty-five minutes out of your day really isn't that much. It would probably take you that long to walk home and walk back an hour later.

 

[ajk912]

While I may not completely join in your opinion, I will say that for years we had a real problem in downtown Fort Worth around the Federal building: every morning every single parking meter spot within a one or two block radius of the Federal building was taken by cars with the handicapped parking sticker. If you had business in fhe Federal building tough luck: you had to park blocks away or pay to park in one of those "$5.00 per hour, $8.00 all day" lots.

The strange part is: these spaces were all taken by Federal employees, and they had their own free parking in the Federal parking garage one block from the building. However, since parking was 'free and unlimited' if you had a handicapped parking card, they would take those parking meter spots closer to the Federal building. By 8 o' clock every morning each parking spot was taken.

The city finally got fed up with never getting one thin dime of parking out of these dozens of parking meters and so they changed the rules so that everyone, even handicapped, had to pay.

Yeah, that does kind of make you wonder!

One of the 5 handicapped parking spots is taken up by the "martial arts world" transportation car. The car does have a placard. Bought on ebay? JUST KIDDING, JUST KIDDING! It does make you think. I suppose it could be the transportation driver that is handicapped, because it would make you wonder from a student standpoint if they are handicapped enough they can't walk without a mobility device or 200 ft (or whatever it is) how do they do martial arts? Not flaming, but it just makes you wonder!!!

 

[Ciao Mickey]

Because my children need to be clothed (and also fed, so this would apply for the handicap spots at the grocery store) just like everyone else's. And I can assure you I DO NOT walk the mall for hours. My trips are strategically planned and if you were to look at me you would never know that I was handicapped.

OP, I would speak with the office and work it out. It is always better to go to the source to fix a problem. Good Luck.

The point I am trying to make is handicapped spots should be for people who need the extra width and have wheelchairs. They are the ones who truly need the spots because of the extra width.

Sorry, I don't understand the mentality of "I can walk around a mall/grocery store, or wherever, but it's too much for me to walk from my car to the entrance because it's too far..."

 

[minkydog]

The point I am trying to make is handicapped spots should be for people who need the extra width and have wheelchairs. They are the ones who truly need the spots because of the extra width.

Sorry, I don't understand the mentality of "I can walk around a mall/grocery store, or wherever, but it's too much for me to walk from my car to the entrance because it's too far..."

I'll let you go with me to the mall next time and try to wrangle DS14 out of the back seat while parked in a regular space. Better yet, meet me there and pull in beside me. If you can get DS out of the car without scratching your paint, I'll give you a puppy!

 

[TnTsParty]

I wish that they would do away with handicapped parking spots for all except those in wheelchairs and/or who have specialized vans and need the extra space.

How did oversized handicapped spots morph into spots for anyone who can scam a doctor?

Here in NJ it is a real joke. Everyone has one, whether they really need them or not. In some cities they actually have permits for parking spots on the street. There are some blocks where all the available parking spots have handicapped parking by permit only. Is this even legal I wonder? It's amazing how they came up with a new way to secure your very own parking spot on a public street!

Can you explain to me why they exist at a mall? A person can't walk an extra 200 or so feet in the parking lot but can walk around a mall all day.

And then you have the a-holes who use the family handicapped placard to park...need I say more?

And before anyone goes off on me, I have a parent who uses a wheelchair, so I understand the frustration of the OP.

In response to the bolded - How about those that use the handicap spaces at the mall or grocery store that ARE handicap and DON'T walk around the store but use a wheelchair or other mobilty device (scooter etc)

To the OP I would think it ends up being the same amount of time spent if you are sitting there 25 mins waiting for her or going an hour early and dropping the car off - since it would take approx. 20 mins to walk back and forth. Unfortuately I think your best bet would be to sit there 25 mins early. Like other's suggested use the time to do things you dont have a chance to do otherwise - like read a book or balance your checkbook etc. Hope your daughter's leg heals like it should. Hugs and pixie dust to her.

 

[Mermaid02]

The point I am trying to make is handicapped spots should be for people who need the extra width and have wheelchairs. They are the ones who truly need the spots because of the extra width.

Sorry, I don't understand the mentality of "I can walk around a mall/grocery store, or wherever, but it's too much for me to walk from my car to the entrance because it's too far..."

I have avascular necrosis and it's VERY painful. By the time I am done doing my grocery shopping I am in so much pain I could sit and cry- sometimes I do. Having my car close by is an absolute blessing.

OP- I would go early, and take a book or something. Use it for "me" time!

I go to pick up my son 20 minutes early because he has an anxiety disorder and likes our car to be in the same place every day.

 

[MushyMushy]

Would it be possible for you to leave a little later so you can miss the rush of cars?

I started doing this when my DD got to middle school. When I picked up my son from the middle school, I'd get there a half hour early (2:30 for a 3:00 dismissal) to be near the front of the line in the pick up lane. After my DD got to the middle school, I got there at 3:01 and most of the cars had been through the line and I zipped right through! Just that 1 minute of her waiting for me saved me a half hour. Could you do something similar since you live so close?

FTR, I really don't like the idea of taking the spot and walking back home. A lot goes on in an hour at a school -- people coming in an out for meetings, early dismissals and whatnot. I just wouldn't think it's a great idea to take ANY space by doing that, let alone a handicapped spot.

 

[happygirl]

I haven't read all the response. I wouldn't park there early. I would maybe go a few minutes later and wait for the traffic to clear out. Then I would go the school board and request more handicap spaces

 

[minniecarousel]

I would just bring along a book or other paperwork to occupy my time.

I know about the wheelchair thing too. My Mom is wheelchair dependant most of the time (she sure was earlier this week during her run-in with gout!) I need the extra space on the right side of the car to get her in & out. Ironically, the lab I have to take her to has only two handicapped spots for the entire medical building! I usually have to pull up & get her out and settled safely, then I park - then repeat in reverse!

 

[Nik's Mom]

I'd ask the principal. At our school, there are kids who have more severe forms of autism. They aren't able to ride the bus. So there are 3 cars (provided by the school's transportation dept) that arrive about 15 minutes before school lets out to pick them up. They do park in the handicap spaces. I know that's an unusual situation, but you might want to make sure that it isn't something like that.

I fall into a similar situation that you described. I have 2 autistic sons. We don't have a handicap placard for them, so I don't park in those spaces. But I do arrive 30 minutes early to be sure that I get a parking spot close to the front of the school. I'd be crazy to walk 2 autistic kids through the parking lot the way some parents drive in that lot.

The principal also allows our sons to get out 15 minutes before the rest of the school. She knows I have my hands full. Children in wheelchairs are also given this option. While I'm killing time, I usually read. But op, you should ask about the possibility of early dismissal.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

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?

In answer to your thread title: I vote stupid idea.

You post comes across sounding very entitled. You think you are more deserving of that space and that your time is more valuable than other parents.

Now, whether or not that is the case, that is what it will look like to all the other parents.

And if your school is anything like all the schools I have ever been associated with, there is a certain etiquette about parking, pick up, etc. And parents get very anal and possessive about the parking "rules."

Already one person has commented on this threat that everybody knows "that parent" who breaks the pick up rules.

If you do this, the news will spread like fire. Nothing like a rogue parent to get the mommy tongues wagging.

You will quickly become "that parent" who thinks they are better than all other, the one who hogs the handicap parking spot everyday and then leaves.

It doesn't matter if you really do need it or not more than others, it is the behavior with acquiring the spot that will be looked at.

You have to ask yourself: Do you want your daughter teased about your behavior?

Better to follow the etiquette and just show up early and wait in the car like everybody else does if they want certain spaces, ie: the front of the pick up line, a specific parking space, etc. It is 6 months. I think you can suck it up to "waste" 25 minutes for 6 months.

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?

It's the school the requested I get there at 3:25 (dismissal is technically 3:40) to get her out fo the main halls before the other kids are dismissed. I then wait for my other kids to get out at 3:40.

For those who asked, I do take her to her classroom everyday and pick her up in the classroom everyday. It's no big deal to sign in and walk her down to her class!

I don't understand. In one post you say that you do not want her pulled early from the classroom, yet in another post you say that you pick her 15 minutes early, load her in the car and then wait for your other children to be dismissed.

So, do you pick her up early or not? Do you continue to utilize the handicap spot after your daughter is loaded or do you move your car to a regular space?

 

[ajk912]

In answer to your thread title: I vote stupid idea.

You post comes across sounding very entitled. You think you are more deserving of that space and that your time is more valuable than other parents.

Now, whether or not that is the case, that is what it will look like to all the other parents.

And if your school is anything like all the schools I have ever been associated with, there is a certain etiquette about parking, pick up, etc. And parents get very anal and possessive about the parking "rules."

Already one person has commented on this threat that everybody knows "that parent" who breaks the pick up rules.

If you do this, the news will spread like fire. Nothing like a rogue parent to get the mommy tongues wagging.

You will quickly become "that parent" who thinks they are better than all other, the one who hogs the handicap parking spot everyday and then leaves.

It doesn't matter if you really do need it or not more than others, it is the behavior with acquiring the spot that will be looked at.

You have to ask yourself: Do you want your daughter teased about your behavior?

Better to follow the etiquette and just show up early and wait in the car like everybody else does if they want certain spaces, ie: the front of the pick up line, a specific parking space, etc. It is 6 months. I think you can suck it up to "waste" 25 minutes for 6 months.





I don't understand. In one post you say that you do not want her pulled early from the classroom, yet in another post you say that you pick her 15 minutes early, load her in the car and then wait for your other children to be dismissed.

So, do you pick her up early or not? Do you continue to utilize the handicap spot after your daughter is loaded or do you move your car to a regular space?

The kids are rarely working up to the final bell, so it's no big deal for me to pick her up 15 minutes "early". School is officially out at 3:40 but I get my WC kid at 3:25. That's about when the busses come in from the middle school run, and the WC busses leave about 15 minutes before THAT..it seems that they leave about 3:10 everyday from what I witnessed. They also get there early everyday but that doesn't do us a lot of good, in the special needs classrooms it works out because they adjust their school day accordingly but my daughter is in regular ed so in the afternoon she would be leaving about 30 minutes "officiallly" early but get there about 15 minutes before her 3rd grade class starts.

No, I do not go out and move my car after the dismissal of one kid before the dismissal of my other kids. Only on the dis are you expected to do this. It's only 15 minutes. It takes nearly 15 minutes to get her out of the school and load her, and even if I did "leave" for those 15 minutes I am legally entitled to park in that HC parking spot because she is in the car, so I guess I COULD load her up and then unload her for 15 minutes. We usually just chill in the cafeteria till the other kids come. That's where the parent pickup (non bus riders) are dismissed to at the end of each school day..to the cafeteria. They normally dismiss the K kids early, so my K kid is normally out around 3:35 anyway.

Not sure what to say about the rest of your post..I think it falls under "until you walk a mile in their shoes...". Most people see me struggling and offer to help open doors, or hold a umbrella over me while I fight with her wheelchair trying to unfold it, etc. The more I think about it I think people will just think I am an overwhelmed mom doing what I need to do to make it through the day. Not sure what I will do yet though!

 

[Schmeck]

Another option--I have seen wheelchair access vehicles, when all the handicap spots are taken, they will take two regular spots and park on the diagonal and utilizing two spaces.

There is a van at our church that does this if they get to the churhc at the wrong time. We have no van specific spots, and all the properly used handicap spots are occupied. I don't fault him for this and think it is a great solution.

Again--not sure on the legality though.

Parking diagonally is a very bad idea, for 3 reasons:

1. You're going to have to do a lot of jockeying to get into the spots if there are other cars on either side.

2. you can get pinned in very tightly if someone pulls in next to you after you park.

3. you could get ticketed for taking up two spots, and for being over a parking line.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I'd just go early if it were me. I carry a reading bag with me. In addition to books, I also bring papers I need to review (for kids), crossword puzzles, my dayrunner, etc.. I just grab it whenever I know I'll likely have a wait. I don't mind the wait when I'm somewhat productive.

I'm thinking about taking up crocheting and I'll just stick that in my reading bag too. But I'll need a bigger bag.

 

[terri01p]

I have not read all the response here, but I kind of wish you wouldn't have asked this question on the community board, maybe it would have been better on the disabilities board where there are more people that understand where you are coming from.

I have a dd totally disabled and I get where you are coming from, you don't know how many times I have seen someone take a handicapped space and there is a parking spot right next to it available and someone gets out and walks into the store, I know they need to be as close as possible but...

If I don't get a handicapped spot, the ramp on my van can't be lowered and I end up having to park in the far end of the mall or store parking lot.

I too use to stress out on getting a spot at school etc...just so I could get her in quickly and safely. My dd is 27 now so I have since decided to just forgo the stress and park where ever I can, I no longer look for a close handicapped spot, I look over the parking lot once and if I don't see a spot I go to the far end of the parking lot...such is life for us, I'm just glad she's still alive.

Do what you feel you need to do to make your life less stressful, no one knows what it's like to carry or lift or walk a wheelchair daily, three, four times a day until they have it in their life so you can't really judge someone until you have been there. You will get all kinds of suggestions that look great on paper but until you have to do it well that's another story.

Like people that say well "just walk the wheelchair home", see they don't get that once you do that you have to lift, undress, feed, bath and lift again that person. Try it sometime people and then you won't be so fast to say hey have fun just walk the chair.

Godspeed to you do what you need to do.

 

[yoopermom]

Yeah, that does kind of make you wonder!

One of the 5 handicapped parking spots is taken up by the "martial arts world" transportation car. The car does have a placard. Bought on ebay? JUST KIDDING, JUST KIDDING! It does make you think. I suppose it could be the transportation driver that is handicapped, because it would make you wonder from a student standpoint if they are handicapped enough they can't walk without a mobility device or 200 ft (or whatever it is) how do they do martial arts? Not flaming, but it just makes you wonder!!!

Um, I have a handicapped placard due to mobility issues, but still do karate at my son's dojo, so it's not impossible. Just saying...

And OP, be proactive, rally the parents who use the spots, and petition the school board to have more added. I'm saying this as a special ed. teacher, parent, and person with disabilities myself.

Terri

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The point I am trying to make is handicapped spots should be for people who need the extra width and have wheelchairs. They are the ones who truly need the spots because of the extra width.

Sorry, I don't understand the mentality of "I can walk around a mall/grocery store, or wherever, but it's too much for me to walk from my car to the entrance because it's too far..."

My mom is disabled--mobility related and the only place she gets a wheelchair is at Disney b/c the rest of the family refuses to watch her suffer all day and be detained when she full well knows she can't keep pace with a turtle.

She will avoid using her placard when she can (it embarrasses her--100% disabled vet and she gets embarassed using it.)

Handicap spots are not just for those in wheelchairs. You may want that changed, but she shouldn't have to buy a wheelchair to keep you happy.

She'll go to a mall when she "travels to the big city" if she needs to. And she will stop and sit down every chance she can get. Likely upon entering the mall as even the walk from the car is a pain to her from even that close of proximity.

If she were to park in a regular spot--even then, if your okay with your car door getting smashed as she used the door for support to exit the vehicle, then by all means--campaign to ban folks like her from handicap spots.

One needn't to have a walker or a wheelchair to necessitate the use of a handicap spot. But folks like you continue to shame her which is why she is resisting sitting in a wheelchair for as long as possible even if it is poor judgement.

 

[MiniGirl]

OP, is there some reason you couldn't just go in a little early and volunteer for that last 30 minutes of school? You know.... running off papers, cutting things out, reshelving library books. You'd be there in plenty of time to get the spot you need and also, perhaps, get to know some of the teachers and staff a little better.

Anyway, it is just an idea.