disable parking - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Thai GI · #1 08-26-2002, 05:26 PM

1. I finally know what it would be like to be in a wheel chair.

2. We just recently got a new baby and doing the “pushing the stroller” thing. It’s takes a little effort to look for an elevator or a ramp, what a hassle man! This past weekend we went into London for the annual Nottinghill Carnival and took the tubes in (our first for this city). I don’t know what was the planed or we just missed it but no elevators anywhere.

3. This experience really put new light into my mind; have any of youall experienced the same thing? So now next time I’ll think twice about being envy about those disable parking spots…

Thai GI sends…

JCE · #2 08-26-2002, 10:31 PM

As you observed, disabled parking isn't worth anywhere near the price they have to pay to get it, and I don't mean money. Life is tougher for them - maybe a just a little bit, maybe a whole lot. The parking slots and ramps are useful tools for people who often feel bruised and rejected by society, and are sometimes ignored as embarrassing or ridiculed by others. Sometimes they are even glared at or receive rude remarks for having 'special' parking, or resented by storekeepers who 'had to spend all that money on a ramp and wider door'.

The spots and ramps are a great help, but even then it is no picnic. The ramps are few and far between, and often are too narrow for a wheelchair and service dog at the same time. And even a ramp can be a major effort to haul yourself up with your arms, and roll back down while holding your shopping bag. In parking, there are often too few parking spots for the number of people needing them (especially when someone without a tag takes the spot 'just for a minute or so'). It doesn't even give them a wide spot for easy entry to their cars, as a lot of the time people just shove their shopping carts in the direction of the disabled spots because it is closer than the cart slot. This means that they have a dinged door, and 3 or more shopping carts to move before they can get into their car. And if the disabled person has a service dog, the parking and ramps are especially important.

Visit the site http://members.cox.net/dogpartners/ServiceDogs.htm for an overview of service dogs, and the photo button at left for pics of the dogs in action. Imagine the years of training it takes to become a service dog trainer, including spending several weeks in a wheelchair yourself. There are 8,000 people in wheelchairs in Orange county alone, not counting people who need walkers, canes, or have other, non-wheelchair but very limiting disabilities. (One young mother of twins became a quadrapeligic in a car accident - forget about just shopping or working, imagine raising kids when you can't walk or move your arms!) They would all appreciate your courtesy and understanding.

Thanks for posting this thread and giving me a soapbox, Thai GI.

hill · #3 08-26-2002, 11:05 PM

Where I work there is a four story garage. It was built in the 70's so it was designed for more compact cars. After the SUV craze began they created special permit areas for larger vehicles in the lower area by displacing the handicap spots. The ridiculous part is that it is a government entity.

The Warden · #4 08-27-2002, 03:51 AM

Unfortunately, I have a pretty good idea of what it's like in a wheelchair. Fortnately, it's only been for short periods of time (a couple hours), but I've spent much more time on crutches (in fact, I think I was pushed out of my last job due to being on 'em; had to use them for nearly 6 months once). The worst thing is that, half the time, I feel well enough to not need either one. As a result, people who see this think I'm faking it.

I've got two inflamed discs in my lower back. It puts so much pain in my hip (usually either one side or the other, but occasionally both) that walking is nearly impossible at some times. But, again, at other times the inflamation is such as to make me feel almost normal (some back pain's always there, though).

I don't believe I qualify for a DMV disabled parking placard, but I do qualify for a disabled parking placard at the school I was going to. Worst thing was, last spring, they were doing construction on campus and thus reduced the number of disabled and staff parking (the placard basically let me park in any spot on campus) to the point that they were all taken up by the time I got to school. There's a 25° climb for everyone who isn't staff or disabled, and even with this placard, I had to climb that hill last spring...almost put me back on the crutches.

Worst thing is, I'm only 21...I hope this condition doesn't exist the rest of my life.

JCE · #5 08-28-2002, 01:29 AM

Latest Picture of Robert, a service dog who is graduating from training in November, and the first one from this program! The pic of him riding in my 300E didn't turn out, so this one shows him on a boat being acclimatized to yet another new experience so that any fear responses or problems can be worked with before placement. (Car rides, plane flights, jury duty, shopping trips, bus rides, Doctors offices, school rooms: all kinds of experience training for the dogs in addition to their 90 special commands and the conventional obedience training).

They are currently evaluating potential disabled recipients to match personalities for an easy transition - just one of the many details that needs to be considered in the 2 year training program for these special animals.

hill · #6 08-29-2002, 02:07 AM

DP placard. Your doctor can probably agree to the following condition. "A significant limitation of the lower extremities which substantially impairs or interferes with mobility, or requires the aid of an assistant device" This is just one of the seven conditions that can qualify you for a DP placard.

#7 08-29-2002, 03:15 PM

More states should have "disability" parking for expectant and new mothers with babies. I hate to see these women and their babies have to walk have way across a busy parking lot to get to the store when onsies or twosies get a spot right in front.

Thai GI · #8 08-31-2002, 11:12 AM

1. Tank, Funny you mention the mother and baby situation.

2. Before we had our kid I use to get irritated with those people leaving shopping carts in the parking lot and not even putting them in the cart slots. I always take the effort to put mine back where it should be.

3. Now with the baby I can see why some people might leave it there. Do you leave your baby in the car to put the cart back? NOT If alone just with the kid and me, I still make the effort to put it where it’s easy for other cars and not just right in the middle of the parking space. When the family is together we take turns and put it back like the good old days.

Thai GI sends…