Hidden Disabilities: We are NOT Lazy!
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- windy
- Rosee
- TvBabe
- Rocksy
- TvBabe
- Lizzys
- Charmie45
- thefrogdancer
- CoolKathee
- Suzi59
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» windy - Unseen Disabilities
Regarding 'Parking in the Disabled Spot'. It has been some time since I visited and read some of the articles. But today, I stopped by and began reading this article. Here, in Canada, it is against the law to park in these areas unless you have a Disability Card obtained, from the Dept. of Transport, displayed in your windshield. There are days that I appears 'healthy', and get some funny looks, but believe me with arthritis and fibromyalgia most of the time, these days are few and far between!I have had one knee replaced and waiting to be called for the other knee to be replaced. Now, my right hand begins to tingle which cuts back my time on the computer to about 20-30 minutes a day.
The card you mentioned in your article is very good and I shall make a few of these for myself (if I may)! Thanks again for your writings and bounties of information which help us all in some way, shape, or form.
Windy from Canada.
-- posted by windy
» Rosee - Hi!
A little late I know but I am just getting caught up on all your articles and discussions. This one really got me as I have a Handicap Parking card as I have Fibromyalgia and Arthritis. But I see people looking at me with disgust sometimes and it darn well hurts. Love your articles!-- posted by Rosee
» TvBabe - Better late than never :)
Welcome to Suite101 Disabilities Rosee
I find it amazing that this particular article seems to touch people in such a way that they feel they must comment
It's nice to hear you are enjoying my articles, by the looks of things you have a bit of catching up to do!
-- posted by TvBabe
-- posted by TvBabe
» Lizzys - Re: Re: Hi., parking places and other invisible disability
Hi , I'm new to the board and catching up but I enjoyed your articles on hidden disabilities and parking places.I am legally blind, but with low vision. I don't use a guide dog yet or a white cane, so to most people unless you see the thickness of my lenses you'd have no clue I was blind. I've been blind since birth and after forty seven years it's no big deal anymore.
However about sixteen years ago my father and I were at our local shopping mall, he pulled into a handicapped parking place, my mum had MS so we shared a sticker between the two of us. I get out of the car and so does my dad when this older lady comes barrelling over to us and starts to yell at us about two perfectly healthy individuals parking those poor handicapped people's parking spots. My dad reaches over takes off my glasses and dangles them in front of this lady's face and said " you trying seeing outta these lady and then tell me if you don't think my daughter deserves to have a sticker" and park in the disabled spot. She said "well I never to which my father said , maybe you should once in awhile. I laughed all the way into the store.
Another incident I was alone in a Sears store and was going to pick up my mum who was at the Sears Portrait studio and since they'd rennovated the store it wasn't where I thought it was . So I asked a clerk excuse me where is your photostudio?
She and another man were standing at the checkout and she said to me what are you blind? To which I sweetly said yes ma"am could you just tell me where to find it.
The man standing with her went white as a sheet and came bustling over apologizing the whole time and brought me to the studio which had just moved over from one side of the store to the other.
I kind of felt sorry for that clerk because I have a feeling she got a tongue lashing from her manager when he came back to the desk.
I've learned never to assume someone isn't disabled because as we all age, we develop some kind of disability visible and or invisible. In these times of supposed political correctness I 've found people are less tolerant and make more ignorant remarks than they did many years ago.
To the woman who was using the scooter and the lady told her son that the aforementioned woman on the scooter was lazy, I say that mother's life isn't over yet and she one day may have to use a scooter or walker or cane and I wonder if she'll remember and think maybe I shouldn't have been quite so hasty with my judgement. Probably not , but it might be nice to walk or ride a mile in someone else's shoes before one's mouth goes in gear.
-- posted by Lizzys
» Charmie45 - Handicapped parking........
Hi. I host a forum on fibromyalgia and learned of this place through Michelle some while ago (Hi Michelle !) I have fibromyalgia, as well as osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. At this point the fibromyalgia is my main problem. It would be relatively easy for me to get a handicapped parking sticker, but I have been reluctant to apply for it. The reason being that I know I would get not only dirty looks but probably some nasty stuff said to me. I appear to be a well person on the outside, so people don't realize that every step across that parking lot is extremely painful for me. Because of the fibromyalgia I can not drive so my husband has to chauffer me everywhere. I just get him to drop me off in front of the doors, which is fine on arriving, but of course he can't park there, so upon leaving I usually end up walking the parking lot. My husband always tries to get a parking spot close to the doors but it's not always possible. It would be nice if some associations, like the Arthritis Society would develop some little television vignettes designed to educate the public to the fact that not all "handicapped" people look handicapped.-- posted by Charmie45
» thefrogdancer - Re: Handicapped parking........
In response to message posted by Charmie45:Don't be shy about applying for that handicapped parking sticker. You have a right to it. Your husband will feel lots better if he knows you're not wandering the parking lot looking for him. Just don't worry about what anyone will say. My husband has MS and due to a fever infebb of this year, I am also disabled. We have his and her parking permits. It's really nice, because if I go shopping with a friend, she can park in a handicapped spot and we go in together. This being dropped off isn't always the best way. Keep your chin up and smile- - -let them wonder what's wrong with you!
-- posted by thefrogdancer
» CoolKathee - Re: Unseen Disabilities
In response to message posted by windy:I live in Los Angeles, CA, where the law for parking in the Disabled Spot is the same. You must display you Disability Care. As a sufferer of Degenerative Disc Disease, having undergone 3 spinal surgeries in 18 months, I use my disabled card to park. Some days I feel better than others and some days I can hardly get out of the car. It is amazing how may people stare at me because I look healthy. I am doing a paper on this subject. If you have any horror stories about Hidden Disabilities and how you were treated pleasemailil them to me.
Thanks
-- posted by CoolKathee
» Suzi59 - Re: Re: Unseen Disabilities
In response to message posted by CoolKathee:I have only just discovered this site! I wish I'd found it sooner. I have lived with a hidden disability for 10 years, since I was 36. People look at me and say "you look fine, why have you got a badge?" I don't want to get into a whole gynaecological discussion with them in a car park, so I usually end up saying "Sorry"! I suffer from chronic pelvic pain as a result of a butchered hysterectomy, and some days my pelvis is so painful and unstable I can barely walk, but someone needs to feed the children. If not me, Who? It helps to know that I am not alone by reading all your postings. I wish you all well, and keep on smiling! It's something we all still manage to do even in the face of adversity, which makes us stronger than we think!
-- posted by Suzi59
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