Sunday, October 25, 2015

Accessible Parking: The harassment those with Hidden Disabilities face

Through out the years growing up as a young with a hidden disability I have faced many challenges, but there is one I just can’t seem to over come. This has to be some peoples ignorance when it comes to the use of accessible parking spaces. To say I’ve had it rough would be an under statement, you could ask my friends and family members about the stories I could tell you about being harassed by total strangers. Some will go out of there way to see if I have a accessible parking permit, some just start cursing me out, some even threaten me with violence, or say their going to call the police, there’s even been times when I have found notes attached to my windshield saying “You need to save these spots for the people who really need it. To be honest I am truly amazed at the ignorance some people have in society concerning these accessible parking spaces, but whose to blame?
Accessible Parking Sign
 When I really start to think about it I do understand where these people are coming from, you see part of the problem is most of us grow up thinking that people who have a disability are either people in wheelchairs or seniors who use walkers or canes. But for me growing up with Becker’s Muscular Dystrophy I found out pretty quick that these accessible parking spaces are for people who suffer from any number of disabilities out there. Sadly some people never realize this and that is where the whole problem begins. You see a large majority of people in society believe that if they don’t see a wheel chair or a cane or some sort of obvious sign of a disability, that you must be perfectly fine. They jump to the conclusion that you would then have no legitimate reason for parking in an accessible parking space. Thankfully though, I have met a few people over the years who understand that this way of thinking is wrong, but I do wonder how can we change people's attitudes towards those of us with less recognizable disabilities? Hopefully through "The Truth about Accessible Parking" webpage - I don't know.

And sure there might be those out there who would believe that part of the problem is the international symbol for those of us with disabilities being someone sitting in a wheelchair. Sure I agree it isn’t helping but I myself don’t believe that needs to change. I believe that people need to be better educated concerning those of us with less recognizable disabilities parking in accessible parking spaces. To me it is truly sad that some people have no clue about what a disability is or what it looks like, what people need to learn is that a disability can affect anyone, even those who still have the ability to walk.


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