Hidden Disabilities & the Harassment many people face

When it comes to living with Becker’s Muscular Dystrophy - one of the biggest challenges I have had to face is dealing with people's ignorance when it comes to the use of accessible parking spaces. It truly drives me crazy having to deal with strangers who like to walk around as if they are accessible parking police. The types who like to jump into action whenever they see someone using these spaces who simply don’t fit their stereotypical view of a person living with a disability.

Accessible Parking Space Vigilantes

 

Automatically when they see you for some reason they feel obligated to stare you down and give you dirty looks. In my situation, some have even gone out of there way just to check and see if I have an accessible parking permit, others have cursing me out and even threatened to call the police. Then there are those who have left rude notes the nicest one being; “You need to save these spots for the people who really need it.” To this day I am truly amazed by the ignorance of some people concerning the use of these accessible parking spaces - but who's to blame? Unfortunately, a large majority of people still believe that if they don’t see a wheelchair or some sort of obvious sign of a disability, they jump to the conclusion they you must not have one. Maybe this kind of stupidity is the result of the international symbol for accessibility being someone in a wheelchair. In some ways it does end up sending a message that these spaces must be reserved for wheelchair users only – which is simply not the case.

The Harassment Needs to End

It is truly unfortunate that those living with hidden disabilities have to face this type of harassment, especially when they have every right to park in these spaces. In my opinion it's time for this type of stupidity to come to an end. That is why I am on a mission to educate the public on the use of accessible parking spaces as no one should be harassed for parking in a space they have every right to. In the end it is truly sad that some people have no clue what a disability is or what it looks like, after all anyone can be affected - even those of us who still have the ability to walk.