Re: OT placards, was Re: ideas/?

[Guest guest]

RH

I don't know about all countries having placecards, but do know the

symbol is international.

I know several people who use a placecard that they have for a child

when the child isn't with them, etc. This is not fair to those who

need them.

You might want to check with the college special needs department

(often just one person). At our community college and the college my

sons went to, they require that anyone with a placecard register their

vechical and placecard. The campus police then get to recognize the

cars and don't even have to check on them. They can then concentrate

on checking those they are unfamiliar with. My younger son was having

trouble finding a parking place near one of his buildings that was

accessible, so they had him pull his car right up next to the

building. Again, the campus police knew not to bother with his car. He

had to notify them when he was driving a different vehical.

Just some ideas.

laurie

>

>

> This brings up a question. My college has a lot of foreign students

> (for example, I am the only American citizen in my program out of

> maybe 20 students). Do they have handicapped parking placards in

> most other (big) countries? I guess I'm thinking specifically of the

> Far East, China, India, etc., because most of the foreign students

> hail from that region. We have many students that speak English

> okay, but can't read it too well, and write it even worse.

>

> I honestly think if that student was misusing her placard, she

> probably bought it and didn't know it was anything other than

> a " special parking permit " (not all signs clarify that it is disabled

> parking). Maybe selling them and " bequeathing " them is less common

> in other states, but I've heard of cases of that from friends in NJ

> and NY (who don't think it is an issue - not them, but their mom for

> example) (and U.S. citizens should know better I think). All this is

> NOMB (none of my business) I suppose, but it seems that when they

> added 10 handicapped spots at the school, suddenly all 20 end up

> filled when there were 1 or 2 empty when there were only 10.

>

> I'm assuming most of Europe has a parking permit program like the

> U.S., and Canada too, but really have no idea about other countries.

> Sorry if I sound a bit peeved, but I think parking at a college is

> heck, and I know that several people on this list have debated

> whether or not to get a parking permit, because of the intermittent

> nature of their symptoms (read - some people abuse them, so get it if

> you might need it).

>

> BTW, one time I forgot my placard, so I put my Disabled Person's ID

> from my wallet (NJ requires that as well, but only to give to an

> officer, not to display generally) on the dashboard, and wrote the

> placard number (on the ID card) on a napkin in large letters. I

> didn't get a ticket luckily. Note that I often have to carry about

> 20 lbs. (more than my hockey stuff, lol) to school between books and

> my computer, so walking more than 75 feet gets difficult. I have

> significant hand weakness, so can't maneuver a cart very well,

> especially on destroyed asphalt like in Newark (any alternatives to a

> luggage cart?). I know people in wheelchairs on campus, and they

> have to really travel out of the way to get around because of the

> destroyed road beds etc.

>

> Take care,

> RH

>

>

>

> > > >

> > > > I have hand rails in my shower and on the front steps. They

> were

> > > > actually there when we bought the house. The gentleman that

> owned

> > > > it before us had parkinsons. It worked out really nice.

> > > Especially

> > > > the one in the shower. I hold on to it a lot when I am in a

> crash.

> > > > I also use the furniture and walls to get around at times. I

> have

> > > > been known to crawl up the stairs and slide down them. )

> quite a

> > > > sight. I also have learned how to fall without hurting myself.

> I do

> > > > it like the sky divers do. I just relax and slump to the

> ground. I

> > > > have a cane that I use quite often and a wheel chair that I use

> out

> > > > of the house when I need to. I really would like a power

> chair,

> > > but

> > > > need a diagnosis for that. It was hard enough getting the wheel

> > > > chair. I do use the ones provided in stores. They make

> shopping

> > > > somewhat possible. I use a handicapped sticker. It has helped

> a

> > > > lot. I do get a lot of dirty looks when I get out of the car.

> I

> > > > look too normal I guess. LOL! I even had trouble at the DMV.

> She

> > > > challenged me about needing a sticker, and accused me of using

> > > undue

> > > > influence to get my dr to fill out the paper. I was so mad!

> > > > I have a little 'nest' by my recliner. It has the phone, food,

> > > etc.

> > > > Everything that I need close at hand so I don't have to move

> very

> > > > much. I have set up a network of friends at my church that are

> > > > willing to come and help me if I need it. I even had a friend

> who

> > > is

> > > > a nurse who was out on disability last year sit with me and

> take

> > > > care of me when I was really bad. My son is home right now so I

> > > > haven't had to call them recently, but it is nice to know they

> are

> > > > there. I am in the process of doing some remodeling in my

> kitchen

> > > to

> > > > make it more easily accessible. Building pantry shelves that

> are

> > > > closer and I don't have to go down stairs to get to. That is

> all

> > > > that I can think of right now. I guess I have adapted in my

> > > > attitude too. I used to spend a lot of time being frustrated.

> I

> > > > still do get frustrated, but not as bad as I used to. I

> decided

> > > > that this is the life I have and I will just enjoy the parts

> that I

> > > > can. " I do what I can, when I can " and try not to let it get to

> me.

> > > > Any way I have gone on long enough.

> > > > Joanne

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

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> > > responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and

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> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

bug

That is great that they have told you that. I think that hooking up

with the special needs counselor is extremely important if attending

college. They will sometimes hire and pay for another student to

attend class with you if you are unable to take notes or carry items.

I also just remembered that the college gave him reserved seating in

lecture halls where he could plug in his computer for taking notes.

This was a big help for him.

laurie