Handicapped parking

[Guest guest]

Dear Semalee: You have to decide for yourself, are you handicapped or not.

Once you know the answer to this question it doesn't matter what other people

think. If they can see your handicap or not doesn't matter, you have to know

you are or are not.

I have RA and several other bone disorders but my main problem is my

breathing disorder. Whether people can see that or not, I don't care. I can't

walk

far because I can't breathe well when I do and my back hurts too which also

makes my breathing worse.

Don't yet these crazy people drive you crazy. If you have something like RA

you have a disability which causes you to be handicapped. Whether one day you

feel better or worse shouldn't be the question, you have it and that is it.

Don't let these people intimidate you.

Sincerely, Colletti

Anjillah@...

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone, hoope you are all OK?

Today something weird scary happened. I parked in handicapped parking and an

older man began honking at me, screaming at me and chasing me down in his car.

He was screaming all kinds of horrible things at me and I was afraid he was

going to accidentally hit one of my kids. Store security came out and got me

and the kids safe.

I have some scary things happen to me a lot over my handicapped parking placard.

My car gets keyed. People follow me thru stores taunting me. Once someone

followed me home, honking at me and tailgating me. People glare at me.

I need handicapped parking because my feet are affected, msostly, sometimes my

knees ankles or hips act up, bot often it is my toes and or feet themself. I

have a scooter on the back of my car, but do not always use it, nor do I always

use the in store scooters - for similar reasons- people glare- and stare and

make rude comments.

People often say I am too young to be handicapped. I wear bell bottom jeans

quite often and funky hats- sometimes little bitty braids, if my girls want to

braid my waist length hair. I am 45. Other times people say I do not LOOK

handicapped. Do they mean I have 2 legs?

The parking issue is complicated becuz my husband is a 100% service connected

disabled Nam vet, and we have license plates for him. But I DO have a blue

state issue handicapped placard, and if I forget to bring that, I do not even

try to park in handicapped parking. I also have my Medicare card and a RTA-CTA

handicapped riders pass. (for reduced fares and priority seating)

When I go to the laundromat, my husband follows me in HIS car and brings the

laundry in and comes back when I am done to carry the laundry back out. On

laundry day I cannot schedule any other physical chore for that day. On grocery

shopping day, I cannot cook that nite nor plan anything else for THAT day. I

have been having to make a 3 hour each way commute to chicago for my kids to see

their doctors quite often the last 3 weeks, and the next day I am immobile.

(lots of walking in UIC and SHriners hospitals, and in Chicago, etc and I do not

have an electric lift for my scooter, so it is hard for me to use it when I am

alone- besides, when people see me walk around to get the scooter, they glare

and wonder why I use it at all if I can walk at all)

I do not know why people do not understand many disabilities are ones that are

not obvious to the casual observer. ALl they really need do is follow me for 2

minutes, watch how I walk, I kind of waddle sort of - watch how I close my car

door- (with my butt, it hurts my fingers) watch how fast I grab a shopping cart

to lean on, but how careufl I am in how I push it with my hands. Watch how I

open doors to places of business, gosh they hurt my writsts and fingers

terribly. Notice, I do not buy gallons of milk or any pop or jugs of juicce,

they are too heavy. I do not buy cat litter or large bags of pet food, they are

also too heavy. Nor do i buy bags of potatos or fruit. If I want to buy those

things, I bring the kids with me..they put those things in the cart, up on the

checker line and into the car. Watch when I write my check to pay. I do not

hold my pen the same as most people, and watch me try to tear my check out of

the checkbook.

I am starting to be scared of these people who get so nasty becuz they do not

know what a " handicapped " person " looks " like. Truth is many people with no

legs are so incredibly strong they can wheel a wheelchair for miles and not get

worn out, they only need the extra space the handicapped parking gives them.

Others of us need that closeness to the store.

[Guest guest]

You bring up a topic I was just thinking about the other day! I was having a

particularly bad day, (which after working all week is not all that uncommon),

and had to get some groceries for dinner. I thought, I wonder if my rheumy

could get me a temporary handicap card for my car so I don't have to walk as

far, but that I could take down if I was having a good day and could walk. Then

I almost asked for one of those carts, but hesitated afraid they would make me

embarrassed and think I just wanted to ride it! I was wondering how many other

people deal with this and what they do about it. I am planning on talking to my

rheumy about the handicap card when I go in in October. I am probably going to

give the go ahead to find out how much Remicade will cost with my insurance and

start that process too, so I may not even need it for long, but there are days

that are real bad for me, ya know?

Semalee

[ ] Handicapped parking

Hi everyone, hoope you are all OK?

Today something weird scary happened. I parked in handicapped parking and an

older man began honking at me, screaming at me and chasing me down in his car.

He was screaming all kinds of horrible things at me and I was afraid he was

going to accidentally hit one of my kids. Store security came out and got me

and the kids safe.

I have some scary things happen to me a lot over my handicapped parking

placard. My car gets keyed. People follow me thru stores taunting me. Once

someone followed me home, honking at me and tailgating me. People glare at me.

I need handicapped parking because my feet are affected, msostly, sometimes my

knees ankles or hips act up, bot often it is my toes and or feet themself. I

have a scooter on the back of my car, but do not always use it, nor do I always

use the in store scooters - for similar reasons- people glare- and stare and

make rude comments.

People often say I am too young to be handicapped. I wear bell bottom jeans

quite often and funky hats- sometimes little bitty braids, if my girls want to

braid my waist length hair. I am 45. Other times people say I do not LOOK

handicapped. Do they mean I have 2 legs?

The parking issue is complicated becuz my husband is a 100% service connected

disabled Nam vet, and we have license plates for him. But I DO have a blue

state issue handicapped placard, and if I forget to bring that, I do not even

try to park in handicapped parking. I also have my Medicare card and a RTA-CTA

handicapped riders pass. (for reduced fares and priority seating)

When I go to the laundromat, my husband follows me in HIS car and brings the

laundry in and comes back when I am done to carry the laundry back out. On

laundry day I cannot schedule any other physical chore for that day. On grocery

shopping day, I cannot cook that nite nor plan anything else for THAT day. I

have been having to make a 3 hour each way commute to chicago for my kids to see

their doctors quite often the last 3 weeks, and the next day I am immobile.

(lots of walking in UIC and SHriners hospitals, and in Chicago, etc and I do not

have an electric lift for my scooter, so it is hard for me to use it when I am

alone- besides, when people see me walk around to get the scooter, they glare

and wonder why I use it at all if I can walk at all)

I do not know why people do not understand many disabilities are ones that are

not obvious to the casual observer. ALl they really need do is follow me for 2

minutes, watch how I walk, I kind of waddle sort of - watch how I close my car

door- (with my butt, it hurts my fingers) watch how fast I grab a shopping cart

to lean on, but how careufl I am in how I push it with my hands. Watch how I

open doors to places of business, gosh they hurt my writsts and fingers

terribly. Notice, I do not buy gallons of milk or any pop or jugs of juicce,

they are too heavy. I do not buy cat litter or large bags of pet food, they are

also too heavy. Nor do i buy bags of potatos or fruit. If I want to buy those

things, I bring the kids with me..they put those things in the cart, up on the

checker line and into the car. Watch when I write my check to pay. I do not

hold my pen the same as most people, and watch me try to tear my check out of

the checkbook.

I am starting to be scared of these people who get so nasty becuz they do not

know what a " handicapped " person " looks " like. Truth is many people with no

legs are so incredibly strong they can wheel a wheelchair for miles and not get

worn out, they only need the extra space the handicapped parking gives them.

Others of us need that closeness to the store.

[Guest guest]

That's a terrible story, dreamer. You don't have to explain to us why

you need a handicapped space. We understand.

I think you should have called 911 on the fool. He has no right to

verbally abuse you, and menacing you and your kids with his car is

downright dangerous.

I know here in Illinois there are large fines for illegally using

handicapped spaces, but perhaps there should be even bigger fines

slapped on people who harass legitimate users of the spaces. I've heard

enough of these maddening accounts!

Sorry you had to experience that.

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] Handicapped parking

> Hi everyone, hoope you are all OK?

> Today something weird scary happened. I parked in handicapped parking

and an older man began honking at me, screaming at me and chasing me

down in his car. He was screaming all kinds of horrible things at me

and I was afraid he was going to accidentally hit one of my kids. Store

security came out and got me and the kids safe.

>

> I have some scary things happen to me a lot over my handicapped

parking placard. My car gets keyed. People follow me thru stores

taunting me. Once someone followed me home, honking at me and

tailgating me. People glare at me.

> I need handicapped parking because my feet are affected, msostly,

sometimes my knees ankles or hips act up, bot often it is my toes and or

feet themself. I have a scooter on the back of my car, but do not

always use it, nor do I always use the in store scooters - for similar

reasons- people glare- and stare and make rude comments.

> People often say I am too young to be handicapped. I wear bell

bottom jeans quite often and funky hats- sometimes little bitty braids,

if my girls want to braid my waist length hair. I am 45. Other times

people say I do not LOOK handicapped. Do they mean I have 2 legs?

> The parking issue is complicated becuz my husband is a 100% service

connected disabled Nam vet, and we have license plates for him. But I

DO have a blue state issue handicapped placard, and if I forget to bring

that, I do not even try to park in handicapped parking. I also have my

Medicare card and a RTA-CTA handicapped riders pass. (for reduced fares

and priority seating)

> When I go to the laundromat, my husband follows me in HIS car and

brings the laundry in and comes back when I am done to carry the laundry

back out. On laundry day I cannot schedule any other physical chore for

that day. On grocery shopping day, I cannot cook that nite nor plan

anything else for THAT day. I have been having to make a 3 hour each

way commute to chicago for my kids to see their doctors quite often the

last 3 weeks, and the next day I am immobile. (lots of walking in UIC

and SHriners hospitals, and in Chicago, etc and I do not have an

electric lift for my scooter, so it is hard for me to use it when I am

alone- besides, when people see me walk around to get the scooter, they

glare and wonder why I use it at all if I can walk at all)

>

> I do not know why people do not understand many disabilities are ones

that are not obvious to the casual observer. ALl they really need do is

follow me for 2 minutes, watch how I walk, I kind of waddle sort of -

watch how I close my car door- (with my butt, it hurts my fingers) watch

how fast I grab a shopping cart to lean on, but how careufl I am in how

I push it with my hands. Watch how I open doors to places of business,

gosh they hurt my writsts and fingers terribly. Notice, I do not buy

gallons of milk or any pop or jugs of juicce, they are too heavy. I do

not buy cat litter or large bags of pet food, they are also too heavy.

Nor do i buy bags of potatos or fruit. If I want to buy those things, I

bring the kids with me..they put those things in the cart, up on the

checker line and into the car. Watch when I write my check to pay. I

do not hold my pen the same as most people, and watch me try to tear my

check out of the checkbook.

> I am starting to be scared of these people who get so nasty becuz they

do not know what a " handicapped " person " looks " like. Truth is many

people with no legs are so incredibly strong they can wheel a wheelchair

for miles and not get worn out, they only need the extra space the

handicapped parking gives them. Others of us need that closeness to the

store.

[Guest guest]

The placard is nice cuz you can take it with you if you ride a lot in other

peoples cars. If you get the license plates- you have to remind anyone who

might use your car that if questioned- the handicap privelege is only valid if

you are present.

There are lots of days I do not use the handicap privelege. If it is a tiny

store, a good day etc, I park in regular parking. It just depends on the day

etc.

I do not know about all the states, I do know supposedly my state just made the

rules more strict for getting handicapped placards and plates. You can - in IL-

pick up an application at the driver testing places (maybe the have them online)

and then your doc has to fill out a section on it and you send it in to the

state.

- In , " Semalee " <Semalee@s...> wrote:

> You bring up a topic I was just thinking about the other day! I was having a

particularly bad day, (which after working all week is not all that uncommon),

and had to get some groceries for dinner. I thought, I wonder if my rheumy

could get me a temporary handicap card for my car so I don't have to walk as

far, but that I could take down if I was having a good day and could walk. Then

I almost asked for one of those carts, but hesitated afraid they would make me

embarrassed and think I just wanted to ride it! I was wondering how many other

people deal with this and what they do about it. I am planning on talking to my

rheumy about the handicap card when I go in in October. I am probably going to

give the go ahead to find out how much Remicade will cost with my insurance and

start that process too, so I may not even need it for long, but there are days

that are real bad for me, ya know?

> Semalee

> [ ] Handicapped parking

>

>

> Hi everyone, hoope you are all OK?

> Today something weird scary happened. I parked in handicapped parking and

an older man began honking at me, screaming at me and chasing me down in his

car. He was screaming all kinds of horrible things at me and I was afraid he

was going to accidentally hit one of my kids. Store security came out and got

me and the kids safe.

>

> I have some scary things happen to me a lot over my handicapped parking

placard. My car gets keyed. People follow me thru stores taunting me. Once

someone followed me home, honking at me and tailgating me. People glare at me.

> I need handicapped parking because my feet are affected, msostly, sometimes

my knees ankles or hips act up, bot often it is my toes and or feet themself. I

have a scooter on the back of my car, but do not always use it, nor do I always

use the in store scooters - for similar reasons- people glare- and stare and

make rude comments.

> People often say I am too young to be handicapped. I wear bell bottom

jeans quite often and funky hats- sometimes little bitty braids, if my girls

want to braid my waist length hair. I am 45. Other times people say I do not

LOOK handicapped. Do they mean I have 2 legs?

> The parking issue is complicated becuz my husband is a 100% service

connected disabled Nam vet, and we have license plates for him. But I DO have a

blue state issue handicapped placard, and if I forget to bring that, I do not

even try to park in handicapped parking. I also have my Medicare card and a

RTA-CTA handicapped riders pass. (for reduced fares and priority seating)

> When I go to the laundromat, my husband follows me in HIS car and brings the

laundry in and comes back when I am done to carry the laundry back out. On

laundry day I cannot schedule any other physical chore for that day. On grocery

shopping day, I cannot cook that nite nor plan anything else for THAT day. I

have been having to make a 3 hour each way commute to chicago for my kids to see

their doctors quite often the last 3 weeks, and the next day I am immobile.

(lots of walking in UIC and SHriners hospitals, and in Chicago, etc and I do not

have an electric lift for my scooter, so it is hard for me to use it when I am

alone- besides, when people see me walk around to get the scooter, they glare

and wonder why I use it at all if I can walk at all)

>

> I do not know why people do not understand many disabilities are ones that

are not obvious to the casual observer. ALl they really need do is follow me for

2 minutes, watch how I walk, I kind of waddle sort of - watch how I close my car

door- (with my butt, it hurts my fingers) watch how fast I grab a shopping cart

to lean on, but how careufl I am in how I push it with my hands. Watch how I

open doors to places of business, gosh they hurt my writsts and fingers

terribly. Notice, I do not buy gallons of milk or any pop or jugs of juicce,

they are too heavy. I do not buy cat litter or large bags of pet food, they are

also too heavy. Nor do i buy bags of potatos or fruit. If I want to buy those

things, I bring the kids with me..they put those things in the cart, up on the

checker line and into the car. Watch when I write my check to pay. I do not

hold my pen the same as most people, and watch me try to tear my check out of

the checkbook.

> I am starting to be scared of these people who get so nasty becuz they do

not know what a " handicapped " person " looks " like. Truth is many people with no

legs are so incredibly strong they can wheel a wheelchair for miles and not get

worn out, they only need the extra space the handicapped parking gives them.

Others of us need that closeness to the store.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

, I know the fines are huge- and I do understand the abuse is terrible.

Yesterday there was a man - yes he has a placard- but, well, he was wearing

construction clothing, and he was driving a construction crew truck and it was

just too obvious he had been working all day in construction, so even I wondered

what kind of disability he could have where he could also remain employeed in

construction, and he bounced right out of that truck and bounced happily into

the store.

I also know here by us enforcement is not easy. We were told that on private

property such as grocery store or restaurant or hotel- the place of business

must press formal charges or tickets will not be issued. We were at one of the

school oone day and there were people all over parking in handicapped without

placards or plates- and a cop right there- we asked him if he was going to do

something about it, he said no- too much trouble. The other thing that happens

a lot is people block the ramps to the sidewalks with their cars---- one day I

had to drive my scooter 3 blocks to get to a ramp spot in the sidewalk becuz all

the nearer ramps were blocked by parked cars. A cop was there and we asked him

about it and he said it is not illegal to block the handicapped access ramps.

This is a REALLY good one- one day my neighbor, who was running for STates

Attorney cut me off, whipped past me and prked in handicapped. I know him, I

know he is not handicapped and no, he had no plates or placard. I rolled down

my window and screamed out hey (his name) how about you let ME park there and

you park over here where you belong? He gave me the finger and dashed into the

store. <sigh> No matter what, I could not consider voting for him. I waited

to see how long he might be in the store- sometimes people justify using

handicapped spaces by saying they will just be a moment? I waited 15 mins,

parked elsewhere, went in, shopped, came out- he was STILL there. Grrrr.

I have also noticed more and more often there are no open handicapped spaces to

use. They are all full.

- In , " " <Matsumura_Clan@m...> wrote:

> That's a terrible story, dreamer. You don't have to explain to us why

> you need a handicapped space. We understand.

>

> I think you should have called 911 on the fool. He has no right to

> verbally abuse you, and menacing you and your kids with his car is

> downright dangerous.

>

> I know here in Illinois there are large fines for illegally using

> handicapped spaces, but perhaps there should be even bigger fines

> slapped on people who harass legitimate users of the spaces. I've heard

> enough of these maddening accounts!

>

> Sorry you had to experience that.

>

>

>

>

> I'll tell you where to go!

>

> Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

>

> s Hopkins Medicine

> http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

>

>

> [ ] Handicapped parking

>

>

> > Hi everyone, hoope you are all OK?

> > Today something weird scary happened. I parked in handicapped parking

> and an older man began honking at me, screaming at me and chasing me

> down in his car. He was screaming all kinds of horrible things at me

> and I was afraid he was going to accidentally hit one of my kids. Store

> security came out and got me and the kids safe.

> >

> > I have some scary things happen to me a lot over my handicapped

> parking placard. My car gets keyed. People follow me thru stores

> taunting me. Once someone followed me home, honking at me and

> tailgating me. People glare at me.

> > I need handicapped parking because my feet are affected, msostly,

> sometimes my knees ankles or hips act up, bot often it is my toes and or

> feet themself. I have a scooter on the back of my car, but do not

> always use it, nor do I always use the in store scooters - for similar

> reasons- people glare- and stare and make rude comments.

> > People often say I am too young to be handicapped. I wear bell

> bottom jeans quite often and funky hats- sometimes little bitty braids,

> if my girls want to braid my waist length hair. I am 45. Other times

> people say I do not LOOK handicapped. Do they mean I have 2 legs?

> > The parking issue is complicated becuz my husband is a 100% service

> connected disabled Nam vet, and we have license plates for him. But I

> DO have a blue state issue handicapped placard, and if I forget to bring

> that, I do not even try to park in handicapped parking. I also have my

> Medicare card and a RTA-CTA handicapped riders pass. (for reduced fares

> and priority seating)

> > When I go to the laundromat, my husband follows me in HIS car and

> brings the laundry in and comes back when I am done to carry the laundry

> back out. On laundry day I cannot schedule any other physical chore for

> that day. On grocery shopping day, I cannot cook that nite nor plan

> anything else for THAT day. I have been having to make a 3 hour each

> way commute to chicago for my kids to see their doctors quite often the

> last 3 weeks, and the next day I am immobile. (lots of walking in UIC

> and SHriners hospitals, and in Chicago, etc and I do not have an

> electric lift for my scooter, so it is hard for me to use it when I am

> alone- besides, when people see me walk around to get the scooter, they

> glare and wonder why I use it at all if I can walk at all)

> >

> > I do not know why people do not understand many disabilities are ones

> that are not obvious to the casual observer. ALl they really need do is

> follow me for 2 minutes, watch how I walk, I kind of waddle sort of -

> watch how I close my car door- (with my butt, it hurts my fingers) watch

> how fast I grab a shopping cart to lean on, but how careufl I am in how

> I push it with my hands. Watch how I open doors to places of business,

> gosh they hurt my writsts and fingers terribly. Notice, I do not buy

> gallons of milk or any pop or jugs of juicce, they are too heavy. I do

> not buy cat litter or large bags of pet food, they are also too heavy.

> Nor do i buy bags of potatos or fruit. If I want to buy those things, I

> bring the kids with me..they put those things in the cart, up on the

> checker line and into the car. Watch when I write my check to pay. I

> do not hold my pen the same as most people, and watch me try to tear my

> check out of the checkbook.

> > I am starting to be scared of these people who get so nasty becuz they

> do not know what a " handicapped " person " looks " like. Truth is many

> people with no legs are so incredibly strong they can wheel a wheelchair

> for miles and not get worn out, they only need the extra space the

> handicapped parking gives them. Others of us need that closeness to the

> store.

[Guest guest]

that goes not just for the parking but also for the scooters. If you need them-

use them, thats what they are there for. :-)

Many stores will also offer you assistnace with shopping. All you need do is

ask. My grocery store does. Sadly the one time I DID ask, it was a very young

smarty at the register and I asked him to put my pop up for me to check out-

someone - another customer had put it into my cart for me----the young man

refused, so I told him calmly then I could not purchase it, I left it in the

cart---told the bagger to load my bags into a different cart- and I went to the

service desk and complained. Of course they told me they would take care of it,

but by then I was tired of standing and could not wait for them to check me out

with the pop and write a 2nd check.... but usually people are very helpful and

kind, if you can find it in you to ask. I do seldom ask, but I have been more

and more- stores take my money- they can help me that tiny bit. If you need

parking, apply, if you need a scooter, go use it, thats why they have them, and

if you need help- ask.

- In , ANJILLAH@a... wrote:

> Dear Semalee: You have to decide for yourself, are you handicapped or not.

> Once you know the answer to this question it doesn't matter what other people

> think. If they can see your handicap or not doesn't matter, you have to know

> you are or are not.

> I have RA and several other bone disorders but my main problem is my

> breathing disorder. Whether people can see that or not, I don't care. I

can't walk

> far because I can't breathe well when I do and my back hurts too which also

> makes my breathing worse.

> Don't yet these crazy people drive you crazy. If you have something like RA

> you have a disability which causes you to be handicapped. Whether one day you

> feel better or worse shouldn't be the question, you have it and that is it.

> Don't let these people intimidate you.

> Sincerely, Colletti

> Anjillah@A...

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

You are absolutely right!! In fact, as a kid, I used to be one of

those people, the kind that if you couldn't SEE the disability there

must not be one! As an adult I realize how ignorant that was. As a

RA patient, I can totally get it. I fought long and hard with my

ortho doc. He filled out the papers for me and said to go get get a

placard when I come to my senses. I didn't think I was disabled

enough for one. I learned hard and fast that I was. There are many

disorders that do not show physical signs of disability. Heart/Lung

disorders, MS (on good days), and other physical disorders that the

uneducated just don't get. I can feel for you and others who go

through this......Marina in Ohio

> Hi everyone, hoope you are all OK?

> Today something weird scary happened. I parked in handicapped

parking and an older man began honking at me, screaming at me and

chasing me down in his car. He was screaming all kinds of horrible

things at me and I was afraid he was going to accidentally hit one

of my kids. Store security came out and got me and the kids safe.

>

> I have some scary things happen to me a lot over my handicapped

parking placard. My car gets keyed. People follow me thru stores

taunting me. Once someone followed me home, honking at me and

tailgating me. People glare at me.

> I need handicapped parking because my feet are affected, msostly,

sometimes my knees ankles or hips act up, bot often it is my toes

and or feet themself. I have a scooter on the back of my car, but

do not always use it, nor do I always use the in store scooters -

for similar reasons- people glare- and stare and make rude

comments.

> People often say I am too young to be handicapped. I wear bell

bottom jeans quite often and funky hats- sometimes little bitty

braids, if my girls want to braid my waist length hair. I am 45.

Other times people say I do not LOOK handicapped. Do they mean I

have 2 legs?

> The parking issue is complicated becuz my husband is a 100%

service connected disabled Nam vet, and we have license plates for

him. But I DO have a blue state issue handicapped placard, and if I

forget to bring that, I do not even try to park in handicapped

parking. I also have my Medicare card and a RTA-CTA handicapped

riders pass. (for reduced fares and priority seating)

> When I go to the laundromat, my husband follows me in HIS car and

brings the laundry in and comes back when I am done to carry the

laundry back out. On laundry day I cannot schedule any other

physical chore for that day. On grocery shopping day, I cannot cook

that nite nor plan anything else for THAT day. I have been having

to make a 3 hour each way commute to chicago for my kids to see

their doctors quite often the last 3 weeks, and the next day I am

immobile. (lots of walking in UIC and SHriners hospitals, and in

Chicago, etc and I do not have an electric lift for my scooter, so

it is hard for me to use it when I am alone- besides, when people

see me walk around to get the scooter, they glare and wonder why I

use it at all if I can walk at all)

>

> I do not know why people do not understand many disabilities are

ones that are not obvious to the casual observer. ALl they really

need do is follow me for 2 minutes, watch how I walk, I kind of

waddle sort of - watch how I close my car door- (with my butt, it

hurts my fingers) watch how fast I grab a shopping cart to lean on,

but how careufl I am in how I push it with my hands. Watch how I

open doors to places of business, gosh they hurt my writsts and

fingers terribly. Notice, I do not buy gallons of milk or any pop

or jugs of juicce, they are too heavy. I do not buy cat litter or

large bags of pet food, they are also too heavy. Nor do i buy bags

of potatos or fruit. If I want to buy those things, I bring the

kids with me..they put those things in the cart, up on the checker

line and into the car. Watch when I write my check to pay. I do

not hold my pen the same as most people, and watch me try to tear my

check out of the checkbook.

> I am starting to be scared of these people who get so nasty becuz

they do not know what a " handicapped " person " looks " like. Truth is

many people with no legs are so incredibly strong they can wheel a

wheelchair for miles and not get worn out, they only need the extra

space the handicapped parking gives them. Others of us need that

closeness to the store.

[Guest guest]

That was a big problem here in Ohio as well. In some cases it still

is. Now, however, the police have juricdiction (sp?) in private

lots. I have seen them go around and ticket cars in the larger

shopping centers, malls, wal-marts, ect. I am glad too. There have

been too many times where I needed to park in one because of a flare

or just not feeling well with this retched disease, and they are all

full. I only use them when I feel like that. I never really cared

if I had to park in BF Egypt, before the RA came to settle here. I

have gotten looks from people, too. I think the hardest part is

swallowing my pride and admitting that I need to park there and

that I do have a disability. That is a hard one to swallow....Marina

> > That's a terrible story, dreamer. You don't have to explain to

us why

> > you need a handicapped space. We understand.

> >

> > I think you should have called 911 on the fool. He has no right

to

> > verbally abuse you, and menacing you and your kids with his car

is

> > downright dangerous.

> >

> > I know here in Illinois there are large fines for illegally using

> > handicapped spaces, but perhaps there should be even bigger fines

> > slapped on people who harass legitimate users of the spaces.

I've heard

> > enough of these maddening accounts!

> >

> > Sorry you had to experience that.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > I'll tell you where to go!

> >

> > Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> > http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

> >

> > s Hopkins Medicine

> > http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

> >

> >

> > [ ] Handicapped parking

> >

> >

> > > Hi everyone, hoope you are all OK?

> > > Today something weird scary happened. I parked in handicapped

parking

> > and an older man began honking at me, screaming at me and

chasing me

> > down in his car. He was screaming all kinds of horrible things

at me

> > and I was afraid he was going to accidentally hit one of my

kids. Store

> > security came out and got me and the kids safe.

> > >

> > > I have some scary things happen to me a lot over my handicapped

> > parking placard. My car gets keyed. People follow me thru

stores

> > taunting me. Once someone followed me home, honking at me and

> > tailgating me. People glare at me.

> > > I need handicapped parking because my feet are affected,

msostly,

> > sometimes my knees ankles or hips act up, bot often it is my

toes and or

> > feet themself. I have a scooter on the back of my car, but do

not

> > always use it, nor do I always use the in store scooters - for

similar

> > reasons- people glare- and stare and make rude comments.

> > > People often say I am too young to be handicapped. I wear

bell

> > bottom jeans quite often and funky hats- sometimes little bitty

braids,

> > if my girls want to braid my waist length hair. I am 45. Other

times

> > people say I do not LOOK handicapped. Do they mean I have 2

legs?

> > > The parking issue is complicated becuz my husband is a 100%

service

> > connected disabled Nam vet, and we have license plates for him.

But I

> > DO have a blue state issue handicapped placard, and if I forget

to bring

> > that, I do not even try to park in handicapped parking. I also

have my

> > Medicare card and a RTA-CTA handicapped riders pass. (for

reduced fares

> > and priority seating)

> > > When I go to the laundromat, my husband follows me in HIS car

and

> > brings the laundry in and comes back when I am done to carry the

laundry

> > back out. On laundry day I cannot schedule any other physical

chore for

> > that day. On grocery shopping day, I cannot cook that nite nor

plan

> > anything else for THAT day. I have been having to make a 3 hour

each

> > way commute to chicago for my kids to see their doctors quite

often the

> > last 3 weeks, and the next day I am immobile. (lots of walking

in UIC

> > and SHriners hospitals, and in Chicago, etc and I do not have an

> > electric lift for my scooter, so it is hard for me to use it

when I am

> > alone- besides, when people see me walk around to get the

scooter, they

> > glare and wonder why I use it at all if I can walk at all)

> > >

> > > I do not know why people do not understand many disabilities

are ones

> > that are not obvious to the casual observer. ALl they really

need do is

> > follow me for 2 minutes, watch how I walk, I kind of waddle sort

of -

> > watch how I close my car door- (with my butt, it hurts my

fingers) watch

> > how fast I grab a shopping cart to lean on, but how careufl I am

in how

> > I push it with my hands. Watch how I open doors to places of

business,

> > gosh they hurt my writsts and fingers terribly. Notice, I do

not buy

> > gallons of milk or any pop or jugs of juicce, they are too

heavy. I do

> > not buy cat litter or large bags of pet food, they are also too

heavy.

> > Nor do i buy bags of potatos or fruit. If I want to buy those

things, I

> > bring the kids with me..they put those things in the cart, up on

the

> > checker line and into the car. Watch when I write my check to

pay. I

> > do not hold my pen the same as most people, and watch me try to

tear my

> > check out of the checkbook.

> > > I am starting to be scared of these people who get so nasty

becuz they

> > do not know what a " handicapped " person " looks " like. Truth is

many

> > people with no legs are so incredibly strong they can wheel a

wheelchair

> > for miles and not get worn out, they only need the extra space

the

> > handicapped parking gives them. Others of us need that

closeness to the

> > store.

[Guest guest]

I'll add my 2 cents here too--I got my placard a few months ago and

heard nasty remarks in the Motor Vehicles office when I got it! I

don't use it all the time, partly because I think there are other

people who need to use that space more than I do, and partly because

it seems like the space is never available. But when I do need it,

on the days when my legs just don't work right and my arms and hands

are too painful to use the cane, that's when I park there if it's

open, and even in this small town people make rude remarks.

Do you carry a cell phone? I think the suggestion to call 9-1-1 is a

good one, and if anyone ever harasses me that way, that's what I'll

do. I pray you never get that kind of treatment again. There's a

gentleman here in town who has a guide dog, and people were treating

him badly until he wrote a letter to the editor--now he gets the

utmost respect!

I bowl Wed. nights with my husband, and some people have said

that " if you're handicapped, how come you bowl? " (obviously they

haven't watched me too closely!) But I told the last person who

asked me that " I refuse to crawl into a hole and die just because I

have a disabling condition. " Disabled people have rights too.

Sorry this happened to you,

Judi