Issue #47 of "What's Her Problem?": The ADA codified parameters for accessible parking in 1990 and revised them in 2010. Is it time to update the rules again?
How awful Debra that you were afraid because you were young to get the placard you needed because of how it might be viewed. I'm glad you've learned not to care.
I definitely feel for you Debra in how rarely you get the space you need with your placard. I didn't realize the availability gap was that big in FL but it makes complete sense and you also have to compete with snowbirds and tourists potentially as well.
Next time cut off one finger Dad. Or maybe cut his finger off LOL.
I remember my late FIL was super protective of his placard whenever we drove him anywhere he would always check as he was getting into or out of the car that it was there in the glove compartment. I don't blame him as one of my BILs was known to borrow it from time to time.
They say the late Steve Jobs used to park in a handicap spot at Apple. Enough said.
I would think with the aging of our population, while that doesn't necessarily mean they need more spaces solely due to age, and there are plenty of younger people who need them too. It does seem like it might inform some changes in the proportion available.
I really enjoying the stories about your FIL, Melanie! As for your BIL, however, oh no! Don’t be a placard borrower! And the Steve Jobs story is no surprise, sadly.
Yeah, I think the proportions just need to be updated because the population who needs it has changed. Just common sense, but I’m sure politics and red tape will prevent this from happening any time soon.
I remember when I needed a handicap placard after I plunged into heart failure at the age of 36. I could barely walk 100 feet. But I did have one of those encounters you feared. One time I parked in a handicap spot, with my sign on the mirror, and went inside the store to get my prescription. When I came out, a man in a pickup truck parked behind me, blocking my exit, and yelled that he had called the police to come give me a ticket and he wasn't going to let me drive away.
I have my own issues about being trapped and went into flight or fight mode, and flight was blocked.
I had a small oxygen tank that I carried in an old purse to disguise it. He must not have seen the cannula. I pulled the tank out of the purse and began screaming at him, "Does this look like I'm faking?" Then I slammed the tank into his driver's door, leaving a dent. Terror swept over his face and he sped away.
I sat in my car sobbing and shaking and hyperventilating until I was finally able to drive home.
I ended up having a heart transplant a few months later.
Giving this story a “like” doesn’t quite feel right because it’s awful, but I appreciate you sharing it, Dawn. That must have been really scary. It’s emotionally draining to have to validate our health needs to people who don’t really care anyway, isn’t it?
To this day, I cannot understand why that man felt the need to insert himself into the issue of where I parked. But I hope he looked at that dent every time he got into his car and felt embarrassed, or maybe even enlightened that sometimes people can have invisible disabilities.
How awful Debra that you were afraid because you were young to get the placard you needed because of how it might be viewed. I'm glad you've learned not to care.
I definitely feel for you Debra in how rarely you get the space you need with your placard. I didn't realize the availability gap was that big in FL but it makes complete sense and you also have to compete with snowbirds and tourists potentially as well.
Next time cut off one finger Dad. Or maybe cut his finger off LOL.
I remember my late FIL was super protective of his placard whenever we drove him anywhere he would always check as he was getting into or out of the car that it was there in the glove compartment. I don't blame him as one of my BILs was known to borrow it from time to time.
They say the late Steve Jobs used to park in a handicap spot at Apple. Enough said.
I would think with the aging of our population, while that doesn't necessarily mean they need more spaces solely due to age, and there are plenty of younger people who need them too. It does seem like it might inform some changes in the proportion available.
I really enjoying the stories about your FIL, Melanie! As for your BIL, however, oh no! Don’t be a placard borrower! And the Steve Jobs story is no surprise, sadly.
Yeah, I think the proportions just need to be updated because the population who needs it has changed. Just common sense, but I’m sure politics and red tape will prevent this from happening any time soon.
I’m glad you enjoyed my FIL story Debra. As I was writing it I could see him checking out the glove compartment :)
I know on my BIL…
Maybe if the politicians or their families start needing the spaces themselves it can happen. I hope so.
It’s sad that they don’t have enough empathy to do it unless it affects them personally, but you’re probably right.
I remember when I needed a handicap placard after I plunged into heart failure at the age of 36. I could barely walk 100 feet. But I did have one of those encounters you feared. One time I parked in a handicap spot, with my sign on the mirror, and went inside the store to get my prescription. When I came out, a man in a pickup truck parked behind me, blocking my exit, and yelled that he had called the police to come give me a ticket and he wasn't going to let me drive away.
I have my own issues about being trapped and went into flight or fight mode, and flight was blocked.
I had a small oxygen tank that I carried in an old purse to disguise it. He must not have seen the cannula. I pulled the tank out of the purse and began screaming at him, "Does this look like I'm faking?" Then I slammed the tank into his driver's door, leaving a dent. Terror swept over his face and he sped away.
I sat in my car sobbing and shaking and hyperventilating until I was finally able to drive home.
I ended up having a heart transplant a few months later.
Giving this story a “like” doesn’t quite feel right because it’s awful, but I appreciate you sharing it, Dawn. That must have been really scary. It’s emotionally draining to have to validate our health needs to people who don’t really care anyway, isn’t it?
To this day, I cannot understand why that man felt the need to insert himself into the issue of where I parked. But I hope he looked at that dent every time he got into his car and felt embarrassed, or maybe even enlightened that sometimes people can have invisible disabilities.
I hope so too.
Accessibility will be the next thing this administration takes away.
I wish I could disagree with you about this :-(
I find the statistics concerning, and I believe that society has a long way to go when it comes to accessible spaces.
I agree. The policy isn’t keeping pace with the realities of how many people need and use the spaces. Thanks for reading!