This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

....and just need to vent to my friends on this website.

I was just approached (or should I say confronted) at the grocery store by this woman who asked "are you REALLY handicapped?" (because I parked in the handicapped parking)

My response was "well yes, I have multiple sclerosis...and what is your problem, are you just rude?" She responded..."really?" and my response was "REALLY!"

WTF, where do these people get off?

Thanks for listening.

For the most part, these people are trying to be helpful as many people abuse the parking spaces and someone needs to call the abusers on it.

You must be one of the lucky ones that "look so good". Count your blessings.

gwa

get one of these stickers that will really piss her off

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Had ms for over 19 years now.

ah haaa good one robbie

Love the sticker!

Some people are just thoughtless and rude - she was probably jealous cos you beat her to the space!

I've seen (maybe on thisisms ? can't remember) another version of this sticker, to be stuck on parking-space abusers. It was written "Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere." Maybe I'll print a dozen of those for when I go shopping.

[quote"Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere." Maybe I'll print a dozen of those for when I go shopping.[/quote]

You need to be careful about making your own assumptions as to who is handicapped and who needs the parking space.

Some people have heart problems, high blood pressure, breathing problems and other ailments that make it necessary for them to not walk far and they need the handicap slots.

I would feel really bad if I returned to my car and found such a sticker, knowing that I full well needed to park close.

gwa

I agree. Quite often at my university I see kids park in the handicapped spots and I have seen those who actually needed the spots have to pass by and I'm not sure where they end up going.

I'm sorry that this had to happen to you, if someone was going to say something to you the least they could have done was check to see if there was a handicap tag or not. To not look and still confront is extremely stupid.

I don't want to seem insensitive, but I'm thankful that there are folks who are brave enough to be vigilant about this despite their own lack of handicap (like me).

Kim and I have driven into many parking lots and Kim's always scanning to see if folks have the tags. It's just a disrespectful thing to do; parking in the handicap space when you don't have a tag.

So I'll begin with a sincere thank you for folks who are assertive enough to care.

Now, on the flip side, when engaging in a conflict with someone you don't know, you're always entering into a potential risk. You just can't know for sure. I'd hope that folks with handicaps could be strong enough to take the high road and thank the seemingly offensive ill advised, but trying to do the right thing type person. They are doing the best they can, and unlike folks who spend a lot of time here thinking and typing, many other people are not so articulate or PC (not that you need to be PC here).

I understand the annoyance. But, I'd take it as an inconvenience when compared to the potential good this person is likely to bring in the long run. One solid tactic is to not ever be defensive, thank the person for caring and encourage them to keep it up.

Robbie, I love the sticker.

Ken

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My Starting Point
Understanding MS 101: Doctor Talk and People Talk<br /><br />

I need one of those stickers - HA

I have often seen people looking at me cross eyed when I park in a H-spot. They can not tell that one minute I am ok and then next I am falling down. That said some people are not being allturistic or humanitarian (spelling?) when they ask. They just are stirring the pot and possibly mad that they parked a little further than you. . the good intentioned ones are doing what they think is right, but they need to reealize that someone dealing with disability does not need to get grief from a stranger. I can fully relate why you were upset by the confrontation.

It would be a big help if city workers really watched the handicapped slots and big fines were given out.

The only places I have ever encountered police workers trolling through the handicap slots were in England and Hawaii. Hawaii even has specially designated little trucks with cops that go around parking areas and write tickets for offenders.

gwa

Vicki,

Don't be to bent out of shape. Ignorance is its own reward, and that person was just ignorant.

I had a similar experience last summer when I used my handicap placard at my local grocery store. The heat and humidity of that day made it difficult to get in to the store with enough energy to do my shopping, so I used my handicapped placard to park close. When I came out, an elderly woman saw me getting in the passerger seat of my car and as she walked by said, "You're really handicapped, aren't you". She didn't even give me a chance to explain, she just kept walking to her car. I was really embarrassed. It made me feel like I didn't deserve to use the handicapped space.

But you know what, I got over it. I told myself that was her problem, not mine. If I need to park in a handicapped space to make my life workable, I will, and to hell with anyone that doesn't like it!

Jack

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RRMS since 01/07.

I live in England and if you park in a handicapp space without as permit you get a £60 ($120) fine on the spot! They're really vigilant about it too! Tis frustrating though as I can't use the disabled spaces - they won't give out a permit unless you have a diagnosis of your condition - something I don't have yet - give me 1 more week!