This post is authored by Don Peek, a former educator and past president of the training division of Renaissance Learning. He now runs
I Don’t Vent Often,
But…..
A blog is a great thing.
It gives a really even-tempered, laid-back guy like I am a chance to
vent his frustrations to the public. At
least my venting will be on topic. You
see, I have a big gripe. Ever since
disabled people got some rights, I believe that creators of parking lots have
gone way overboard. There are so many
handicapped spots at some Wal-Mart and Target stores, I believe they could
handle small handicapped conventions.
But, you know what?
That’s not why I’m using this blog to vent. I’m venting because people who are not
handicapped in any way whatsoever park in those spaces depriving real
handicapped people from using them. It
makes me crazy, and it should you, too.
Handicapped people have two perks that most of us
non-handicapped people don’t have.
Depending on their age and circumstances, they may receive a regular
check from the government. The second is
that they get to park close to stores and activities in special handicapped
parking spaces. I think stealing a
parking space is almost on the same level as stealing one of those checks.
My mother-in-law had a heart attack and a stroke about 15
years before she died. She had little or
no feeling in one hand and one leg. She
still drove her own car sometimes, but my wife and I drove her to the store
fairly often. All too often, we found
that the places closest to the stores were already taken. No handicapped tag on the car. No special license plates. No little sign hanging from the rearview
mirror.
That’s not all.
Sometimes the cars had the little hanging signs, but the people using
them were very obviously not handicapped.
That would have been easy enough for my wife and me to do. We could have hung the little sign up and
been right at the Wal-Mart door. We often
had one in our glove compartment even when my handicapped mother-in-law was not
with us. I don’t remember ever
considering it.
For many, many years handicapped people got very little
consideration from most of us. Narrow
doorways, no elevators, no special restrooms, no special curricula, no close
parking spaces. It just really irritates
me when people with no physical problems go out of their way to steal the few
rights to which handicapped people are entitled.
If you are legitimately handicapped, go to the doctor and
get a sign. If you have someone with you
who has a back problem, is extremely overweight, has weak knees, or some other
problem, drive them to the entrance and let them out while you park in a proper
space. If you see people parking in
handicapped spaces and their vehicles have no handicapped sticker or sign, turn
them in. If you absolutely believe they
are not handicapped and their car does have a sticker or sign, turn them in.
All too few fines are paid for this offense. I don’t see the police patrolling too often
to make sure the law is followed properly.
I truly believe that if most offenders had to pay just one fine, they
would not consider using a handicapped parking space again unless they truly
qualified to do so.
Let’s get angry people.
Let’s make sure handicapped spaces are open for use by handicapped
people.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Grant Info:
Grant Name:
Finish Line Youth Foundation Grants
Funded By:
Finish Line Youth Foundation
Description: Giving on a national basis in areas of
company operations, supporting organizations involved with athletics and youth
development. Special emphasis is directed toward programs designed to promote
active lifestyles and team building skills; and camps designed to promote
sports and active lifestyles, and serve disadvantaged and special needs kids.
Program Areas: After-School, Disabilities, Health/PE, Special
Education
Recipients:
Public School, Other 501(c)(3)
Proposal Deadline:
3/31/12
Average Amount: $1,000.00 - $75,000.00
Contact Person:
Micca Stewart, Program Director
Email:
[email protected]
Availability:
All States
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