Stupid idea or great idea about handicapped parking?

[ajk912]

My grandfather is completely senile and paralyzed on one complete side of his body. You could have your daughter wait on the sidewalk...At 8 years old she should be able to comprehend "do not move from this spot".

Geez, all this fuss over a frickin' parking spot. So, what you are saying...with all the ideas offered, your 25 minutes of wasted time is more important than your daughter? I imagine you think even the very thought is offensive.

Suck it up, wait the 25 minutes extra and get on with it!

What sidewalk? Unless I get a HC or close parking spot there IS no sidewalk. You are walking and waiting in the main parking lot. And it's a cheap wheelchair, the brakes are in front so she can reach them, she could bump off the brakes easily. She's 8.

Do you take your grandfather out by yourself on a daily basis, twice a day? Unless you do, you can't possibly understand. So please don't judge. It wouldn't bother me either if it was an isolated event or something I dealt with just once a week for doctor's appointments.

And please don't imply that my daughter isn't worth 25 minutes. I don't know how much you help care for your grandfather, but on a private level I compare her needs to that of a newborn. It's all consuming and it takes most of the day. I have to help her move, go to the bathroom, bathe, dress, get her pencils and help her with her homework and schoolwork because she has fallen behind, get her in and out of the wheelchair to dress and eat, and I also still have two other kids and the house to take care of, and still try to work (I quit one of my jobs, but still work from home part time). Trust me, I stay busy.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Actually, I am still interpreting the law the same way. The placard is in the car, and I am parking the car and putting the placard up, and when the car leaves the parking lot the disabled person will be in it

Oh, I know that! I posted it because (a) leaving the car there and walking home wouldn't be following the law - but leaving the car there and going into the school to do something, or just sitting in the car waiting, wouldn't be any type of violation and (b) it's possible some of those other drivers aren't following the law - especially if the placard/plate is theirs, not the child's, and they remain in the car the entire time.

 

[palmtreegirl]

I think you should talk to the school office and see if they can help you out.

Hope it works out and your DD's leg heals quickly.

 

[LadyZolt]

I didn't read the entire thread so maybe someone suggested this: But what if you just have your DD take her time leaving the school and you arrive twenty minutes or a half hour after school is out? People will be mostly gone then, the spaces will be open, and you won't feel as rushed.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

Ask the Principal for help.
Won't it be too cold soon to wait in the car?
Here students are forbidden to be dropped off too early or left after the school day in the classroom.

At my school the Principal gave me permission to use the handicap spaces when i felt it necessary because of asthma flare ups.

 

[Jennasis]

What sidewalk? Unless I get a HC or close parking spot there IS no sidewalk. You are walking and waiting in the main parking lot. And it's a cheap wheelchair, the brakes are in front so she can reach them, she could bump off the brakes easily. She's 8.

Do you take your grandfather out by yourself on a daily basis, twice a day? Unless you do, you can't possibly understand. So please don't judge. It wouldn't bother me either if it was an isolated event or something I dealt with just once a week for doctor's appointments.

And please don't imply that my daughter isn't worth 25 minutes. I don't know how much you help care for your grandfather, but on a private level I compare her needs to that of a newborn. It's all consuming and it takes most of the day. I have to help her move, go to the bathroom, bathe, dress, get her pencils and help her with her homework and schoolwork because she has fallen behind, get her in and out of the wheelchair to dress and eat, and I also still have two other kids and the house to take care of, and still try to work (I quit one of my jobs, but still work from home part time). Trust me, I stay busy.

You have your hands full no doubt. The extra 25 minutes won't kill you. Your daughters HC status is (God wiling) temporary while she heals, if I've read your posts right. My MIL (who cares for my DGFIL on a daily 24 hour basis) will be in caretaker mode for the rest of his life. From feeding, dressing, showering him, to wiping his butt after he relieves himself. We are well versed in the rigors of daily care of a handicapped individual.

I don't know what you want to hear. Your idea is less than ideal. The system is flawed and imperfect as well. 25 minutes is a small price to pay for peace of mind that you'll get the space you need to safely transport your daughter. My advice is the same.

Suck up the 25 minutes.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Oh, and for those who said they would just get there late: The school has only asked two things of me, so of course I will do them! They asked that I get there at 3:25 (before the official dismissal) and to physically walk her to and from her class each day. Neither is a problem, if that's what they want me to do, ok.

OK, they cannot ask that of you if you have no place to park. I would speak with the principal directly and tell them they need to address the situation.

If indeed they do not have enough HC spots for the amount of kids that are HC or adults that are HC & picking up kids, then it needs to be dealt with.

They tripled our HC spaces at dd's middle school this yr and expanded parking because it was inadequate.

We do have police on premises so if someone was using a space illegally the police would correct the situation on the spot.

 

[KirstenB]

You have your hands full no doubt. The extra 25 minutes won't kill you. Your daughters HC status is (God wiling) temporary while she heals, if I've read your posts right. My MIL (who cares for my DGFIL on a daily 24 hour basis) will be in caretaker mode for the rest of his life. From feeding, dressing, showering him, to wiping his butt after he relieves himself. We are well versed in the rigors of daily care of a handicapped individual.

I don't know what you want to hear. Your idea is less than ideal. The system is flawed and imperfect as well. 25 minutes is a small price to pay for peace of mind that you'll get the space you need to safely transport your daughter. My advice is the same.

Suck up the 25 minutes.

I'm sure the OP knows that someone is always going to have it worse. There are people worse off than your grandfather. Your anger is apparent in every word of your post. Would a little tact kill you?

 

[Jennasis]

I'm sure the OP knows that someone is always going to have it worse. There are people worse off than your grandfather. Your anger is apparent in every word of your post. Would a little tact kill you?

It's quite possible. I'm in a tact-free mode lately. Feel free to ignore my posts. You too OP.

 

[toocherie]

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?

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

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.

My mother, prior to replacing both her knees, was quite unable to walk very far or very fast and what walking she did was painful and unsteady. .

II really think there should be a special parking permit for people who NEED the "van accessible" spaces.

Well, I've had both of my knees replaced too, and although I no longer have the pain usually, I still have arthritis and some days cannot bend my knees completely--and if I end up in a parking place where someone has parked right next to me it is very difficult (and often painful) to get in and out of the car. So I have a handicapped placard because I need the extra space to get in and out of the car (the car door needs to be completely open). No, I do not use a wheelchair. If there is an alternative (like a regular space that is on an end that cannot get blocked) I will use that--but I've been "caught" too many times by an oversized SUV parked too close to me making it next to impossible to get in the car. OTOH, I would not object to there being a limitation so that if there is a van accessible space it is only usable by someone in a wheelchair--as long as there are "regular" HC spaces that have extra space. and for the PP, I still can't do a lot of walking--I rarely go to the mall for example, because in addition to the arthritis that caused the knee problems I still have arthritis in my back, ankles and elsewhere that make a lot of walking very painful and I have fibromyalgia that limits endurance. Tell you what--I'll give you my ailments and you can have my HC placard--ok?

 

[disykat]

No one should have to be at school 25 minutes prior to pickup to get their child, handicapped or not. IMO, the people that are causing this problem are the people who are showing up that early trying to claim spots. It's like a rolling snowball - just like saving pool chairs or seats at the Costco food court, it'd be a lot less of an issue if people only used them for the period of time they needed them.

Because the OP actually has a reason to be there prior to dismissal time, she should be able to get first dibs. OP - talk to the office! I'm guessing they'll tell you parking there early would be just fine! If they have other parents that also need to be there early in the handicapped spots, they'll probably work to have more designated as such. The office will probably know who has the spots and if they are legal because the need will either be for handicapped students or for handicapped parents who need to leave their vehicles to get their children. I'm guessing people may be using their handicapped placards for the convenience of the spot despite not having to leave their vehicles.

I think the best idea offered here is letting the school know you can't get a spot and asking them to keep your dd for five extra minutes so you are able to park and come in to get her. As a teacher I'd be happy to do this - especially if it got me out of bus duty!

 

[toocherie]

actually OP--I think you should talk to your insurance company about getting your DD a wheelchair that is "bus-compliant"--it makes no sense to me that they would have given you something that wasn't safe for this purpose. At the very least they should be able to rent a wheelchair for the few months you would need it. Then your DD would be able to use the HC bus.

I'm also curious--she will be in a wheelchair for 6 months or more? My Mom (who is 79) broke her femur in February and was up walking around by May--of couse she had surgery and a rod placed so maybe that makes the difference.

 

[ajk912]

actually OP--I think you should talk to your insurance company about getting your DD a wheelchair that is "bus-compliant"--it makes no sense to me that they would have given you something that wasn't safe for this purpose. At the very least they should be able to rent a wheelchair for the few months you would need it. Then your DD would be able to use the HC bus.

I'm also curious--she will be in a wheelchair for 6 months or more? My Mom (who is 79) broke her femur in February and was up walking around by May--of couse she had surgery and a rod placed so maybe that makes the difference.

OH,that would make my YEAR if she was able to get out of the wheelchair in 2 months! She can definitely walk around with her walker even now, but we were told she needed to use the wheelchair for school for 6 months, that kids her age don't have the upper body tone to use the walker for long periods of time. So currently she just uses it to get to the bathroom and back within the house. The nurse even highlighted and underlined on the school release form that ONLY a wheelchair is permitted at school. Got it. But obviously you knowfrom your grandmother but I am just explaining it for anyone else reading just because she can use a walker doesn't really help much for getting in and out of the car and such. She can still only use one of her legs, and the other one is in an immobilizer so I am still doing all of that for her.

This could be overparanoia but I hate to call up and start complaining to the insurance company. My 100% main concern with them is making sure they pay her 4 day hospital stay and surgery. Once that's good and paid, I may look into an upgraded wheelchair. Till then, I am lying low with the insurance company!

 

[ajk912]

No one should have to be at school 25 minutes prior to pickup to get their child, handicapped or not. IMO, the people that are causing this problem are the people who are showing up that early trying to claim spots. It's like a rolling snowball - just like saving pool chairs or seats at the Costco food court, it'd be a lot less of an issue if people only used them for the period of time they needed them.

Because the OP actually has a reason to be there prior to dismissal time, she should be able to get first dibs. OP - talk to the office! I'm guessing they'll tell you parking there early would be just fine! If they have other parents that also need to be there early in the handicapped spots, they'll probably work to have more designated as such. The office will probably know who has the spots and if they are legal because the need will either be for handicapped students or for handicapped parents who need to leave their vehicles to get their children. I'm guessing people may be using their handicapped placards for the convenience of the spot despite not having to leave their vehicles.

I think the best idea offered here is letting the school know you can't get a spot and asking them to keep your dd for five extra minutes so you are able to park and come in to get her. As a teacher I'd be happy to do this - especially if it got me out of bus duty!

I am really not even sure how it would work to keep her late. I know it's been suggested several times, but how do other schools handle it to keep students late? Because as it is the teachers either send the students to the office/cafeteria for parent pickup or they walk the class out to the bus loop for bus pickup. Would they allow my daughter to stay unattended in a classroom to pick her up later? How does this work in ohter schools?

Right now I pick her up at 3:25 so she is gone and out of the teacher's hair (not their words, but I am able to read between the lines) so that when she takes the others where they need to go, my daughter has already left.

 

[disneymarie]

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, 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?

I absolutly think it is a school district problem to have enough wheel chair access parking, and H/C vehicle parking.
Allow the van spots for wheel chair pick up, van or car, and then address a few other nearby parking for H/C cars. Those also should have some wider area too.
All it takes is some paint and few signs.

But direct it to the transportation dept at the school. THey do bus handicap children and use this parking near the side exit doors. I would fume that non handicap plac's would pull in and block the Van pick up, because they feel they are just running in.....
In the mean time, they need someone out there prior to dismisal and direct some nonwheel chair, to narrow slots they are reserving with cones.....
That would be my suggestion...

I do get confused though why all the grandparents and parents have to pick up the kids when we pay for busing?
When I picked my kiddo up for dance class days, there is a line of about 40-50 people there on the grass, behind each other, by the dumpster, etc trying to find spaces.

 

[Lisa_M]

How about asking the school to designate one or two of the spots, wheelchair lift only spots?

Can your school provide transportation? That would solve your problem.

ETA: I just saw your daughter's chair is not bus compliant. How about sending her up on the bus on the lift, getting her in the seat on the bus, fold the chair and the reverse to get her out at school? Perhaps the PT can help you make headway with the insurance company or some organizations in the area that could help.

In the meantime, I think you either have to get there super early or get the school to designate a few spots wheelchair only.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Because the OP actually has a reason to be there prior to dismissal time, she should be able to get first dibs. OP - talk to the office! I'm guessing they'll tell you parking there early would be just fine!

Parking early and staying in the car or going into the school and staying there - fine. But parking early and then walking home, and back, would be a violation of the handicapped parking regulations and subject to the $250 fine.

 

[golfgal]

I am really not even sure how it would work to keep her late. I know it's been suggested several times, but how do other schools handle it to keep students late? Because as it is the teachers either send the students to the office/cafeteria for parent pickup or they walk the class out to the bus loop for bus pickup. Would they allow my daughter to stay unattended in a classroom to pick her up later? How does this work in ohter schools?

Right now I pick her up at 3:25 so she is gone and out of the teacher's hair (not their words, but I am able to read between the lines) so that when she takes the others where they need to go, my daughter has already left.

When I had to pick the kids up at school I would come toward the END of the pick up time-not that there was a 'set' time but if school gets out at 3:25, get there at 3:35. By then most of the kids will be gone, not all but most. Chances are there will be a parking spot open by then too. This way you are still there "on time".

I would also ask about the signing out procedure. I think that is just silly-especially in your situation. In every school our kids have attended the parents fill out a form at the beginning of the year as to how they normally go home. If something differs from that you sent a note in with your child--say they were going home with a friend or they normally rode the bus and you were going to pick them up that day--you sent in a note to the teacher so they were aware of the change. The school is causing their own difficulty by requiring parents to come in and sign kids out at the end of the school day.

 

[Schmeck]

Ask the Principal for help.
Won't it be too cold soon to wait in the car?
Here students are forbidden to be dropped off too early or left after the school day in the classroom.

At my school the Principal gave me permission to use the handicap spaces when i felt it necessary because of asthma flare ups.

The Principal really doesn't have the authority to allow this - and you could get a ticket for illegally parking in a HP spot.

 

[ChristmasElf]

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!

I would ask the principal about about an earlier dismissal time for your child. Maybe 10-15 minutes earlier and explain the situation with the parking lot.
Maybe they could even put up a sign that would ask people to leave the wider spot open for wheelchair accessabilty.