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Marcia,

That stinks. Don't let them have any power though. I won't give any one any 'power over me' by letting their ignorant reactions make ME feel bad. I've been scoffed at once when I was using my cane and fell getting into the car anyway and a kid in the parking lot was actually laughing a few cars away. I felt so bad and humiliated, really bad, then I thought, "if I let other's reactions change the way I feel about myself, then everyone else has the power to dictate the way I feel about myself, and that ain't right". So I just began my 'I could give a flying shit what you think you see' campaign and I don't even give it a thought anymore; other people's reactions I mean.

It's makes you feel horribly undignified and it made it all come crashing down on me at once, I mean the fact that I actually deserve that blue handicapped sticker and that's what made me feel bad; that it was an in your face reminder of the reality of it all. But we can't help it and I forgave myself for having MS. I agree with whoever said to do something cathartic like a letter to the editor. Take that power back and screw 'em!

Lyon wrote:

patientx wrote: Maybe it's somewhat of a compliment that they felt it necesarry to send 2 cops "to take you down." (Sorry, bad joke.)

Ha! I was going to mention that.....

I realized that last part of my post might not sound so funny, and I definitely don't mean to make light of the situation. I was going to go back and edit it out, but Bob's just too damn quick on the keyboard.

Loobie wrote:I've been scoffed at once when I was using my cane and fell getting into the car anyway and a kid in the parking lot was actually laughing a few cars away.

I can't believe a punk kid would actually be laughing about this, let alone not come over and help. You guys are right - writing a letter would be a good idea, if nothing else to make people more aware.

.

Patientx -- I LOL'd picturing myself being tasered in my front yard in front of my 95 year old neighbor and my 7 year old triplets. See I said sometime I'd find humor in this. I'm 5'2" and weigh 110 lbs. Hee hee!!

That "good citizen" deserves a shot of interferon-beta! Lets see... My first Avonex shot produced a high fever for about 12 hours where, at its worst, all I could do was lay on my bed with an ice pack on my forehead and watch the color blobs on my ceiling. Yep, that ought to do it!

Oh, and don't forget to tightly wrap hot 50 grit sandpaper around their legs.


NHE

My 33 year old son was diagnose with MS in 2003 and because he can't walk from here to there without having to rest he has an handicap parking permit and one day a passer by yelled at him for parking there when my son was still in his car And the idiot told him that he hoped that some day my son wont be able to walk.  Some idiot think that handicap parking is only for the elderly I think.  Goes to prove that for some people stupidity is a virtue

I am very sorry to hear about this. Like Lyon, I don't have MS but feel passionate about it. I did a little google work and found this:

Scott Modell and Dave Cropp 2007 Police Officers and Disability: Perceptions and Attitudes

It's not exactly about this specific issue, but the paper is clear about the overall lack of thought police have had about people with disabilities. Law enforcement professionals should be encouraged to learn more about people with disabilities. Police need to know that the social damage here isn't much different than if someone had thrown a rock through your window with a nasty note written on it. We must not be silent. Ken

Hi SSMME,

Unfortunately, this will probably not be the last time something like this happens!

When I noticed people starting to look at me funny in public (more than usual!) I began carrying the cane! Wierd looks turned into concerned ones and doors opened! Literally! Plus ppl get out of your way!!!

2 canes double the effect!!!!

Hang tough!

A/C

SS, I am so sorry this happened to you!

I had a "good-citizen-incident" myself recently.

As I parked in a handicap zone I had a man yell in my direction, rushed to the car and started shouting how this is the zone for handicap people and such... I pointed at the handicap placard that I have, but it was not good enough as I was accused of using my grandma's placard just to get a good spot.

I finally pulled out my cane and moved my body out of the car (many of you know that it can be quite a task)...

My 9yo daughter was in the car with me - how would that feel to have your Mom who you (a child) look up to, accused of lying and breaking the law?

And yeah, people look at you "funny" when you just limp across the street...

Hugs to you. I know how embarrassing and degrading those incidents can be