OT placards, was Re: ideas/?

[Guest guest]

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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