I was reminded of this NOT COOL experience TWICE this weekend. I am aware that this world is NOT fully handicapped accessible. I get around the best I can in spite of these obstacles and/or barriers. The NOT COOL part comes when able-bodied people take advantage of the accommodations made for disabled people.
There is a reason restroom stalls are larger to accommodate wheelchairs or parking spaces are wider to allow for the extra room needed to get in and out of a car and into a wheelchair. Or even dressing rooms. They are bigger because wheelchairs need the extra room, not so multiple people can try on clothes together. If I didn’t need the extra room; I wouldn’t use it. If I didn’t need to park closer because it is SO hard to get in and out of my car/chair; I wouldn’t. But I DO. But I CAN’T when someone who doesn’t NEED TO does. I don’t like it when there are 9 empty stalls in the restroom and I cannot fit in to any of them but the 1 stall I can fit into is being used by an able-bodied person. So I have to wait.
The reason these accommodations are made, is so disabled people can use the parking space, the restroom, or the dressing room. If you are ABLE to use a smaller one, PLEASE do. I wish I didn’t need the extra space and I am working on NOT needing it. In the meantime, PLEASE leave the spot available for anyone who does NEED it.
I have RRMS, so to most people I do not look as though I have a disability. Sometimes I like it that way, well actually most of the time. Unfortunately MS doesn’t care what I think, and I have bad days and full on flares. I also have left side weakness, balance issues and mild foot-drop and wear (well I’m supposed to wear) an AFO. I do have a handicapped parking placard which I don’t always use but do on bad days/during flares/pseudo flares. It was hard to do at first, but I just kind of had to learn to suck it up. I have gotten mean-mugged, people shaking heads their heads at me, and a few rude mumbled comments. I also have used the handicap stall for the grab bars when I was having really bad balance issues because one of the last places I want to do a face-plant is a dirty public bathroom floor – Eww! However the school that I worked at this year, I can’t tell you how many parents parked in the disabled parking spots, and on the hash marks next to them, “just for a minute”. We have parents with actual disabilities who are never able to use them! It’s kind of maddening. The same thing would happen at the school were my son went to for 5th and 6th grade. My mobility was compromised due to an injury partially caused by my MS when he was in 6th grade. It was also during the winter, the bad one when we had 11 snow days. So sometimes I was kind of stuck in my van when I got there, due to people parking in those spots without the proper plates or placard.