Should Disability Parking permits be issued to those NOT in wheelchairs?
#1 People do not live in wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are mobility devices. Some people spend all of their waking hours in one, but no one lives in one. #2 The wheelchair symbol is used for disability access and is not specific to people who only use chairs. #3 Disabled access to parking has a multitude of reasons for existing, including: • access for wheelchair lifts • access for people who need to open their doors wide in order to use mobility devices such as walkers and canes • Short distance for people who can only walk in pain • Short distance for people who get shortness of breath, have bad asthma, heart arrythmia, & other medical conditions • Short distance for people who have severe sun sensitivity I do use a wheelchair and often all the ACESSIBLE spots are filled – and often it is by people who do not have any disability of any kind and no right to park there. Depression is not a legitimate reason for a disability placard. So this person has a disability you don’t know about, or o
Being in a wheelchair is only one of many ways to quantify disability. While i understand the point that you’re making, I also appreciate the fact that legitimate disability claims can be made for cases other than the wheelchair-bound. I personally have experienced problems with the handicapped seating on public transit. I make use of the handicapped seats on the bus when going to or coming from my dialysis treatments. I have a catheter in my chest and just had surgery on my forearm to provide access for dialysis. Because my condition isn’t apparent, I get frowned upon and people have made comments about me being rude. I often don’t feel well and don’t really want to argue with people about whether or not I should be entitled to use the handicapped seating. All I know is that damage to either access would cause a bloodbath that would in all probability be fatal, and that if i pass out because of my condition i would rather be in the eyesight of the bus driver and close to the door so g
Your information is extremely incorrect. The symbol is used on accessible parking permits is the international symbol for disability access. The fact that it represents a person using a wheelchair is incidental. There are a myriad of reasons that someone who is not using a wheelchair might have a permit. Fraud is rampant and should be addressed, but judgment doesn’t do anyone any good. That person you know who does not use a wheelchair might have a heart condition or an extreme sensitivity to sunlight brought on by his medication for depression. I have many friends with legitimate permits whose disabilities are not readily apparent to someone across the parking lot. I don’t have to imagine being in a wheelchair and finding all the spaces filled. It happens quite regularly. When it does, I checked to make sure all the cars have the required permits. Invariably, I find one or two cars without permits parked in the accessible spaces. Those people are the ones you need to be worried about.
I mis-read your question. I thought you were talking about people who have disabled parking permits, abusing them, so let me tell you about the parking permit part of it. The wheelchair card/sign is only a “disabled” sign, covers all who are disabled, not just wheelchair patients, and they can’t put a picture of every disability on one card. A doctor has to sign a disabled parking permit. Doctors are very cautious about signing their name on ANYTHING, and don’t sign for just anyone. Some are disabled temporarily, like after surgery, and some are permanently disabled from a very bad back, or arthritis; can only walk a short distance. Some need a cane, or crutches, or a walker, and need to be closer, not only because they are disabled, but to keep them safe in parking lots, where they could accidentally get hit, because they could not get out of the way quickly enough. Some people have had a stroke, or heart attack, or have a respiratory ailment like emphasema, COPD, and get very out of
A disability permit does not solely mean for the use of those in a wheel chair, the system is designed for those who have a impairment that makes walking any distance impossible or difficult, these conditions can be: Visual impairments Paralysis, Lung disease, Cardiac deficiency, Arthritis, Foot disorder, or other medical condition causing a person to use a brace, cane crutch or other assistive device. And parents or carers of those with a cogitative or mental impairment e.g Autism. However this may vary a little from state to state. The above are very similar to Australia’s disability parking permit criteria. If you check with your state or local laws you can get more information on what their criteria for a permit is. http://www.dot.state.tx.us/services/vehi… http://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistrat
