[SuzBerg]

Lylac's post on the other thread got me thinking about this. E has been eligible for one all along but we just got one a few months ago (same time we ordered her wheelchair). I never needed it when she was in the stroller but when she is walking she defintley needs me to use it because she will be out of breath before we even get into the store etc. We also need to park in those spots when we use the wheelchair. I have been very reluctant to use it.

When she has on shorts and braces on her legs I don't get too many looks wondering why we are in a handicap parking spot but other times well ya know....I know lot's of times people look at me and think "why is that lady parking in a handicap spot". I don't really care what they think - I'm actually prepared if someone says something to me.

I NEVER use it when E is not with me unless I'm picking her up from somewher for example school. One day I parked in the handicapspot walked her into school but felt really weird when I walked out without her and got into my car that was in the close spot. I also heard a few comments.

So does anyone else have experience, advice, funny stories they want to share about this issue? I think hearing from y'all is making me feel much better about E's new situation

[bajj]

Once again, I don't have one for my child, but I did have one when my sil lived with us. It was temporary. Her living with us was supposedly just for a couple of weeks, but that is another whole story!

Anyway, she was in a horrible accident and proke her pelvic bone in 4 places. She couldn't place weight on that side for 4 months. We had an old wheel chair we borrowed because we couldn't buy her one and she didn't have insurance. We did get the placard and I only used it when she was with me.

Yes, I got a few looks one time when I left her in the store and ran, literally ran, out to the van for some much needed wipes for my then 5 month old son. People would say things like, "Look at her, she doesn't need that spot."

I sometimes felt guilty and then I had to realize that I couldn't bring that chair around to her side of the van in a normal spot. Those spots are there for people who need them.

I had a professor in college who had to use one because she had had bone cancer in her leg and was still quite week. People wondered why she would park in one when she didn't have a wheel chair or cain or anything. She used it because she had to.

Let people think what they want. The only time it bothers me is if someone is on one when they don't have the right tag or placard. Of course, they could be like my grandmother and forgot to hang it up. She had to pay a huge fine because she forgot to hang hers.

Don't feel guilty about using it! Just because she may look "normal" (whatever that means) doesn't mean she doesn't need it. Her health and condition is the most important!

[BrandyHagz]

My step mom has a degenerative bone disease which makes it very difficult to walk – however, she’s strong willed and will do anything to stay out of a wheel chair/scooter.

In order for her to get out, she HAS to use the spots – otherwise, she’d have to use a wheelchair.

Christmas, about ten years ago, we had parked in a HCP spot in front in Dillards and were getting out of the car when this man rushed us and started to verbally accost my step mom who was standing beside the car. He was VERY rude and ended up calling the police from his cell phone and wouldn’t let us leave the area (go inside).

The mall security and police came and this man kept demanding that no one was handicapped and that we were using a stolen or illegal placard – it was really embarrassing! He wouldn’t let anyone speak or reason with him, he was determined that he was right.

It was quite a scene.

She was embarrassed to use the spots for a while after that, so she wouldn’t go anywhere – or she would make someone go with her, drop her off at the door then come back for her.

Finally, a year or so later, she had to have surgery and started using them again…but it really shook her up – and it’s sad, so many people abuse them, that those who really need them are often accused of not needing them…sometimes to the extreme!

[Lylac]

I never gave getting a placard a thought. Until one day I had to take the kids to their Ped. And it just so happens their doc saw me trying to get the kids out of the truck. We were parked way-------------------------------------> over there. When they called the kids back to be seen, she handed me a paper filled out, to take to the courthouse. I asked her what and why I needed it. She told me "Honey you never know when you'll need to get the kids in & out in a hurry". What if it's raining or snowing. Them babies don't need to be out in the weather.

I thanked her and stopped by and picked it up. It was weird at first, cuz I was so used to parking way out there. And afterall I'm not handicapped, but according to their doc, my kids are and that entitles me to have the right to park there.

I agree that some folks do abuse it though. I was also warned at the court house to ALWAYS lock my doors, cuz people will steal them.

[momraine]

I have had one for P for a while now. I don't use it without her or M with me. Now, I don't have one for M and he is the one full time in the chair, LOL, Just haven't gotten around to it since I have the one for P. Though last time I was in the lady suggested to me that next time, I get the kids in to get a state ID card and then the placard can be issued in thier name and number and that way if they are with grandma or aunt or someone it's legal for that person to use it as long as the child is with them. I hadn't thought of it, the one we have is tied to my drivers liscence.

We have had a few comments. One person did stop and was cussing me as I got out of the car, I just didn't say a word, just walked around to the back and got P's chair out and he walked away. (no apology mind you) Now with the big wheelchair van that has a big sticker on the side I don't usually get questioned. The one question I got though surprised me. I was putting groceries in the van one day when the kids were all in school and a guy from church pulled up behind me and demanded to know why I wasn't parked in the handicapped. I told him that the kids were not with me they were in school. He told me that everyone else did it, and that he knew lots of guys who did it and used thier parents plackards to park in the handicapped and so if they were doing it I should too. (which explaines why I can never, ever, ever find a spot at wal mart!). This is an older man, his grandson is a good friend of my kids and lives with him but is with us a lot. I explained carefully that just because everyone does it, does not make it right. To make it even funnier, this guy was a retired police officer! It just killed me that he thought that since I adopted this kid in a wheelchair I had a right to park in the place and was shocked I would not. I do know it's a pain sometimes when we can't find a place. At our family reunion this past weekend we decided to go to the mall. Now the thing is, we have a power lift that comes out the side of the van, the chair is 300lbs no other way it's getting in the van! (though we now have a ramp for backup, it still has to stick out the side). So we have to park in a van spot, other wise if someone parks beside us we can't get the lift out. Even in the van spot sometimes people think the stripes are another spot and park there. Then we can't get him back in! We have to back out and load him in the middle of the parking lot and block traffic. So This weekend it was raining and it's a power chair so we did not want to unload it in the rain, as it can get shorted out. Well, there was a parking garage, but every handicapped spot was taken! When I am out shopping, usually what I do in that situation is if we are at a store I just carry him and put him a shopping cart (not an option at a big mall) or I park way out where no one is parked and use two parking spaces to try to keep someone from parking beside me, I park right on the line. Some people use cones beside the the van to keep people from parking there, but sometimes the cones get stolen. I do wonder what we will do when he is too big for the cart or too heavy for me to carry. We also carry him in at crowded restaraunts because there is not enough room in many for him to manuever. His chair is big.

[fiveofsams]

I have a placard for my daughter C. I have gotten many comments from people when I park in the handicap spot because I use a special needs stroller more than her chair. I did have 1 man say something to me as I got out of the van. When he asked if I was handicapped I said no. Walked to the back, got out the stroller and then my daughter. He said, oh so you are just lazy. When he saw C, I mummbled sorry and walked away.

[Withay]

Sometimes the 'handicap' is invisible. My mom has a placard because she has a pretty bad heart condition that makes it very difficult for her to walk very far.

[SuzBerg]

Withay - That's exactly the same reason Em has the placard (and why she has the wheelchair too). Thanks for posting!

[athikers]

I've debated trying to get one because of Teeter. Its not so much him but all his STUFF that would make it so much easier (o2 tank, monitor, diaper bag with 24 meds and his tube feeding equipment, etc.)