OT placards, was Re: ideas/?

[Guest guest]

There are three colleges in the immediate area, with over 20,000

students. Our campus police are Newark (NJ) police, and state

troopers to a lesser extent. So it might be a consideration for

others who attend college to look for a smaller school where there

would be more personal attention.

The head of parking did know me for a while, I complained so much

about lack of parking and people using spots without placards/license

plates (and delivery trucks blocking spots). I did have a strong

relationship with the disability services department - they send out

a form every year for registered disabled students to request

accommodations. I requested an accommodation to have a class changed

to a different room because there were 50 students in a 30 desk

classroom, and the heat and having to stand or lean against the wall

for a 3-hour class was unacceptable. The professor ended up

switching to a large seminar room on the other side of the campus for

most of the classes.

I am hoping if I get a job at a medical school, there will be less

misuse of the spots there. I know from my visits to that campus, at

least they don't have to double park like they do at my current

school.

Certainly the parking issue was a significant concern for my decision

to request 95% telecommuting for my research while at school.

I haven't had the same parking issues at workplaces - in fact, when I

first got sick and had severe symptoms but didn't have a placard, I

talked to the HR person about how to get a temporary placard, and she

said " Since this is a private company, we police the spots, so we can

allow you to use our handicapped spots without a regular placard " .

They gave me a note to display - essentially " authorized disabled

parking - please call HR with any questions " . Without having a

diagnosis or prognosis at the time, that helped me out tremendously.

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

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements

> > contained herein

> > > > are not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author

of

> > this e mail

> > > > is entirely responsible for its content. List members are

> > reminded of their

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

> > consult with

> > > > their physicians regarding changes in their own treatment.

> > > >

> > > > Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who

> > sends one is

> > > > automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity

of

> > the attack.

> > > >

> > > >